Vanishing seagrass (Zostera marina, L.) in Swedish coastal waters.
Along the Swedish Skagerrak coast eelgrass (Zostera marina) is a dominant phanerogam on shallow soft bottoms. Eelgrass meadows are important biotopes for many crustacean and fish species being either migratory or stationary. During the 1980s, inventories of the shallow coastal areas with eelgrass have been carried out along the Swedish west coast as a basis for coastal zone management. In the present study we revisited 2000 ha of eelgrass meadows in 5 coastal regions along 200 km of the Skagerrak coast. The inventory was made with the same methods (aquascope) as during the 1980s, but increasing the mapping accuracy by using a Global Positioning System (GPS). The results from this study show that the areal extension of Zostera marina has decreased 58% in 10-15 years with great regional variations. The decline was mainly restricted to the shallow parts of the meadow. The causes and ecological consequences are discussed.
Baden
Susanne
S
Department of Marine Ecology, Göteborg University, Kristineberg Marine Research Station, Fiskebäckskil, Sweden. susanne.baden@kmf.gu.se
Gullström
Martin
M
Lundén
Bengt
B
Pihl
Leif
L
Rosenberg
Rutger
R
D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D011157:Population Dynamics; D013548:Sweden; D035962:Zosteraceae