Sammanfattning

The intensified expansion of the Baltic Sea's hypoxic zone has been proposed as one reason for the current poor status of cod (Gadus morhua) in the Baltic Sea, with repercussions throughout the food web and on ecosystem services. We examined the links between increased hypoxic areas and the decline in maximum length of Baltic cod, a demographic proxy for services generation. We analysed the effect of different predictors on maximum length of Baltic cod during 1978-2014 using a generalized additive model. The extent of minimally suitable areas for cod (oxygen concentration >= 1 ml l(-1)) is the most important predictor of decreased cod maximum length. We also show, with simulations, the potential for Baltic cod to increase its maximum length if hypoxic areal extent is reduced to levels comparable to the beginning of the 1990s. We discuss our findings in relation to ecosystem services affected by the decrease of cod maximum length.

Nyckelord

Baltic Sea; Cod (Gadus morhua); Deoxygenation; Ecosystem services; Hypoxia; Maximum length

Publicerad i

AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment
2022, Volym: 51, nummer: 3, sidor: 626-637
Utgivare: SPRINGER

SLU författare

• Orio, Alessandro

  • Institutionen för akvatiska resurser (SLU Aqua), Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Heimbrand, Yvette

  • Institutionen för akvatiska resurser (SLU Aqua), Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Limburg, Karin

  • Institutionen för akvatiska resurser (SLU Aqua), Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF)

Associerade SLU-program

Kust och hav


Globala målen

SDG14 Bevara och nyttja haven och de marina resurserna på ett hållbart sätt för en hållbar utveckling


UKÄ forskningsämne

Fisk- och akvakulturforskning


Publikationens identifierare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-021-01572-4

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/112059