Climate change causes large changes in marine systems, as for example increased temperature, acidification, and changed hydrology and influence from land. This, in turn, can have drastic consequences for processes such as eutrophication and pollutant accumulation in organisms inhabiting the ecosystems.
Environmental change is projected to be especially pronounced in northern ecosystems, and alterations may accentuate in semi-enclosed marine systems, such as the Baltic Sea, which are strongly affected by surrounding land. Here, surface water temperature is expected to increase by 4oC, whereas salinity will decrease as the freshwater inflow may increase by 30%. Sea ice cover is drastically reduced, changing the marine light regime and affecting pelagic productivity. At the same time the inflow of organic matter, nutrients, and pollutants from the terrestrial systems is forecasted to be elevated. The ongoing changes are expected to be particularly challenging for the organisms living in boreal marginal seas and affect productivity, biodiversity, trophic control and accumulation of pollutants as well as the organismal interactions, behavior, and movement pattern severely.
We welcome original and review research articles on the potential effects of climate change on the ecology in boreal marginal seas.
Climate change causes large changes in marine systems, as for example increased temperature, acidification, and changed hydrology and influence from land. This, in turn, can have drastic consequences for processes such as eutrophication and pollutant accumulation in organisms inhabiting the ecosystems.
Environmental change is projected to be especially pronounced in northern ecosystems, and alterations may accentuate in semi-enclosed marine systems, such as the Baltic Sea, which are strongly affected by surrounding land. Here, surface water temperature is expected to increase by 4oC, whereas salinity will decrease as the freshwater inflow may increase by 30%. Sea ice cover is drastically reduced, changing the marine light regime and affecting pelagic productivity. At the same time the inflow of organic matter, nutrients, and pollutants from the terrestrial systems is forecasted to be elevated. The ongoing changes are expected to be particularly challenging for the organisms living in boreal marginal seas and affect productivity, biodiversity, trophic control and accumulation of pollutants as well as the organismal interactions, behavior, and movement pattern severely.
We welcome original and review research articles on the potential effects of climate change on the ecology in boreal marginal seas.
