Enhanced warming and bacterial biomass production as key factors for coastal hypoxia in the southwestern Baltic Sea.

Hepach, Helmke , Piontek, Judith, Bange, Hermann W. , Barthelmess, Theresa, von Jackowski, Anabel and Engel, Anja (2024) Enhanced warming and bacterial biomass production as key factors for coastal hypoxia in the southwestern Baltic Sea. Open Access Scientific Reports, 14 (1). Art.Nr. 29442. DOI 10.1038/s41598-024-80451-w.

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Abstract

Coastal ecosystems are affected by a multitude of anthropogenic stressors. As the Baltic Sea ecosystems rank among the most altered marine ecosystems worldwide, they represent ideal model regions to study ecosystem responses to anthropogenic pressures. Our statistical analysis of data including dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen, as well as bacterial abundance and -biomass production from the time-series station Boknis Eck in the southwestern Baltic Sea reveals that bacterial biomass production intensifies towards summer following the phytoplankton spring bloom. Moreover, warming, especially very high temperatures in summer, enhances stratification and bacterial biomass production despite long-term reduction in nutrient input. A strong decrease in oxygen in the bottom layer is possibly linked to this. We detect an increasing trend in bacterial biomass production along with intensifying warming and stratification, and more frequently occurring hypoxia despite ongoing restoration efforts. If this trend continues, the coastal Baltic Sea ecosystem is likely to be altered even further. Coastal ecosystems play pivotal roles in mitigating impacts of climate change but if destroyed, they may amplify climate change further calling for stronger ecosystem management strategies.

Document Type: Article
Funder compliance: BMBF: 03F0910A
Keywords: Coastal hypoxia; Baltic sea; Bacterial biomass production; Time-series measurements; Stratification; Climate change; Long-term monitoring; Oxygen minimum events
Research affiliation: Leibniz
OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB2 Marine Biogeochemistry > FB2-CH Chemical Oceanography
IOW
OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB2 Marine Biogeochemistry > FB2-BI Biological Oceanography
Main POF Topic: PT6: Marine Life
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: Yes
Publisher: Nature Research
Related URLs:
Projects: Boknis Eck, CoastSens, CREATE
Date Deposited: 27 Nov 2024 08:58
Last Modified: 16 Dec 2024 08:07
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/61002

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