Fish community responses to restoration of a eutrophic coastal bay

Abstract

Interest in coastal restoration measures is increasing, but information about subsequent ecosystem recovery processes is limited. In Bjornofjarden on the Baltic Sea coast, Stockholm archipelago, a pioneering case study to reduce coastal eutrophication led to improvements and initially halved phosphorus levels. Here, we evaluate the effects of the restoration on the local fish assemblage over one decade after the measures. The study gives a unique possibility to evaluate responses of coastal fish to nutrient variables and abatement in a controlled natural setting. Cyprinid abundance decreased and perch partially increased with decreasing turbidity levels, while mean trophic level increased over time in the restored area. Responses were overall weak, likely attributed to an attenuation of the eutrophication abatement effect over time. The results suggest that nutrient reduction gives slow responses in fish compared to alternative measures such as fishing closures.

Keywords

Baltic Sea; Bjornofjarden; Eutrophication; Fish; Measures; Nutrient reduction

Published in

AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment
2024, volume: 53, number: 1, pages: 109-125
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Bergström, Lena

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Fredriksson, Ronny

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Bergström, Ulf

  • Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Associated SLU-program

Coastal and sea areas

Global goals (SDG)

SDG14 Life below water

UKÄ Subject classification

Fish and Aquacultural Science
Environmental Sciences

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-023-01907-3

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/123700