By authors from the Network for Studies on Coastal Zone Processes Consortium of Polish Marine Research Institutes

(IOPAN, IEPAN, IBWPAN, IG, IOUG, MIR, KIŚPG, IPUG, PAP

J.M.Węsławski, S.Massel, I.Sagan, E.Andrulewicz, E.Kuzebski, K.Olańczuk-Neyman, G.Różyński, M.Mendel,

K.Skóra, Z.Witek, H.Piekarek-Jankowska, B.Urban-Malinga, K.Jankowska, L.Kotwicki, J.Zachowicz, S.Uścinowicz

The value of Southern Baltic coastal ecosystem.Does it matter ?

The value of Southern Baltic coastal ecosystem.Does it matter ?

Świnoujście

Szczecin

Kołobrzeg

Darłowo

Ustka

Łeba Puck Hel

Gdynia

Sopot

Gdańsk

Elbląg

Poland

Sweden

Germany

Goods and services:- that are not human-mediated (e.g. solar radiation)- those which might be changed (e.g. microbial activity)

Goods and services:- that are not human-mediated (e.g. solar radiation)- those which might be changed (e.g. microbial activity)

Selection of marine protected areas in Poland

• Important birds nesting & resting grounds

• Rare coastal plants communities

• Unique habitat on the seabottom - stone/boulder pits

• Reservoir of concentrated species and habitats – Puck Bay

• Grey seal resting site ?

Protected coastal areas in Poland

Most valued habitat and structuring species – seagrass beds

Most typical habitat in shallow sublittoral, poor in diversity, important in microbial functions

Rare habitat of low ecological importance ?

RESULTS(side scan sonar)

Habitat mapping

Species of restricted habitat area

Sandhopper, the only macroscopic consumer of lignin in marine environment, occurrs along the whole 500 km of Polish sea

coast, but effectively on less than 2 km2

Species of restricted habitat area

Sandhopper, the only macroscopic consumer of lignin in marine environment, occurrs along the whole 500 km of Polish sea

coast, but effectively on less than 2 km2

Why Peracarida for biodiversity surogate ?

• large, conspicious species

• widely known, relatively easy identification

• brooders

• speciose taxon, widely dispersed

• vulnerable for contaminants

Svalbard, 1800 taxa

Baltic, 400 taxa

UK, 2500 taxa

macrozoobentos

Amphipoda

Isopoda

Tanaidacea

Cumacea

Decapoda

Euphausiacea

Mysidacea

Mediterr e , 5000 taxa晡甀晡甀

Malacostraca - percent of regional macrofauna

55

10 15 20 25 30

60

65

< 2

5%

25-4

0%

40-7

5%

>75

%

la titude E [ ]o

long

itude

N [

]o

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

A B C D E F G H

B a ltic spec ies

B A LT IC

200 X 200 km

Peracarida species occurrence in Baltic shows salinity/habitatgradient effect on species richness

55

20 25 30

123456789

101112131415

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S

CENTRAL BALTICproper 50 x 50 km grid macrofauna -

Crustaceans percent of species noted

la titude E [ ]o

< 2

5%

25

-40

%

40

-75

%

>7

5%

For the large areas of uniform seascape, localbays serves as diversity reservoires

Do we value in a similar way ? Do we value in a similar way ? Do we value in a similar way ? Do we value in a similar way ?

For many, the plastic net cover on cliff and the coastal motorway is more attractive than underdeveloped shore

Example of valuation: annual value of sandy beach and shallow littoral

Example of valuation: annual value of sandy beach and shallow littoral

Tourism – 8 mln pers./y – 500 mln euro

Artisanal & sport fishery – 10 mln euro

Organic matter mineralisation – 0.15 mln euro

Carbon sink – 0.015 mln euro

Biofiltration – 5.5 mln euro

Nursery grounds – 1 mln euro

Model organisms - ?

Erosion control – ?

Services provided by Polish EEZServices provided by Polish EEZ

Climate regulation

Disturbance regulation

Erosion control

Remineralisation

Provision of biological resources

Monitoring and modelling

Recreation

Culture, education & Science

CO2 sink, DMS production

Oil spill degradation

Algal mats, TEP production

Microbial decomposition

Nursery grounds

Bioindicators & biomarkers

Tourism, sea sports

Popular scientific products

Valuation possible

no data

no data

Limited information

Valuation possible

Limited information

Limited information

no data

Goods provided by Polish EEZGoods provided by Polish EEZ

Mineral resources Gravel, sand Limited exploitation (?)

Oil, gas Exploited (40 mln euro?)

AmberExtensive grey zone.

Over 20 mln euro?

Biological resourcesComercial artisanal

and sport fishery

Extensively exploited and regulated: 60 mln euro

(100?)

other Mineral resources Planned investm.

5 bln euro