Potentially Pathogenic spp. in Algal Wrack Accumulations on Baltic Sea Sandy Beaches.

The bacteria known to cause infections to humans and wildlife have been largely overlooked in coastal environments affected by beach wrack accumulations from seaweed or seagrasses. This study presents findings on the presence and distribution of potentially pathogenic species on coastal beaches that are used for recreation and are affected by red-algae-dominated wrack. Using species-specific primers and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we identified , .

Diverse sources of fecal contamination in macroalgae wrack-affected environment adjacent to river outflow along the Baltic Sea coast.

We investigated the dynamics of feces-associated microorganisms in areas with wrack accumulation in the southeastern part of the Baltic Sea. Our study covered single-day (2021 ) and multi-day (2022) observations during the recreational season. We collected water, sand, and wrack samples and assessed the abundance of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB), as well metagenomic analysis was conducted to monitor changes in microbial composition.

Temporal and spatial differences in nitrogen and phosphorus biogeochemistry and ecosystem functioning of a hypertrophic lagoon (Curonian Lagoon, SE Baltic Sea) revealed via Ecological Network Analysis.

In coastal lagoons, eutrophication and hydrology are interacting factors that produce distortions in biogeochemical nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycles. Such distortions affect nutrient relative availability and produce cascade consequences on primary producer's community and ecosystem functioning. In this study, the seasonal functioning of a coastal lagoon was investigated with a multielement approach, via the construction and analysis of network models.

Impact of beach wrack on microorganisms associated with faecal pollution at the Baltic Sea Sandy beaches.

We investigated whether higher quantities of faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are in the areas with red algae-dominated wrack compared to areas without it and if the birds are the primary source of faecal pollution on sandy beaches of the Baltic Sea. Water, sand and wrack samples were collected during the recreational season, and abundances of FIB, HF183 (human faecal pollution) and GFD (bird faecal pollution) markers, as well as the presence of Salmonella and Campylobacter, were assessed. Significantly higher levels of Enterococcus spp.

Macrophytes and their wrack as a habitat for faecal indicator bacteria and Vibrio in coastal marine environments.

Waterborne pathogenic bacteria, including faecal indicator bacteria and potentially pathogenic Vibrio, are a global concern for diseases transmitted through water. A systematic review was conducted to analyse publications that investigated these bacteria in relation to macrophytes (seagrasses and macroalgae) in coastal marine environments. The highest quantities of FIB were found on brown algae and seagrasses, and the highest quantities of Vibrio bacteria were on red algae.

Improved hyperspectral inversion of aquatic reflectance under non-uniform vertical mixing.

Estimating the concentration of water constituents by optical remote sensing assumes absorption and scattering processes to be uniform over the observation depth. Using hyperspectral reflectance, we present a method to direct the retrieval of the backscattering coefficient (b(λ)) from reflectance (> 600 nm) towards wavebands where absorption by water dominates the reflectance curve. Two experiments demonstrate the impact of hyperspectral inversion in the selected band set.

Detecting Climate Driven Changes in Chlorophyll-a Using High Frequency Monitoring: The Impact of the 2019 European Heatwave in Three Contrasting Aquatic Systems.

The frequency of heatwave events in Europe is increasing as a result of climate change. This can have implications for the water quality and ecological functioning of aquatic systems. We deployed three spectroradiometer WISPstations at three sites in Europe (Italy, Estonia, and Lithuania/Russia) to measure chlorophyll-a at high frequency.

Hot moments and hotspots of cyanobacteria hyperblooms in the Curonian Lagoon (SE Baltic Sea) revealed via remote sensing-based retrospective analysis.

A temporally and spatially detailed historical (1985-2018) analysis of cyanobacteria blooms was performed in the Curonian Lagoon (Lithuania, Russia), the largest coastal lagoon in the Baltic Sea. Satellite data allowed the mapping of cyanobacteria surface accumulations, so-called "scums", and of chlorophyll-a concentration. The 34-year time series shows a tendency towards later occurrence (October-November) of the cyanobacteria scum presence, whereas the period of its onset (June-July) remains relatively constant.

GIS-based multi-criteria site selection for zebra mussel cultivation: Addressing end-of-pipe remediation of a eutrophic coastal lagoon ecosystem.

Farming of shellfish and seaweeds is a tested tool for mitigating eutrophication consequences in coastal environments, however as many other marine economic activities it should be a subject of marine spatial planning for designating suitable sites. The present study proposes site selection framework for provisional zebra mussel farming in a eutrophic lagoon ecosystem, aimed primarily at remediation purposes. GIS-based multi-criteria approach was applied, combining data from empirical maps, numerical models and remote sensing to estimate suitability parameters.

The relevance of marine chemical ecology to plankton and ecosystem function: an emerging field.

Marine chemical ecology comprises the study of the production and interaction of bioactive molecules affecting organism behavior and function. Here we focus on bioactive compounds and interactions associated with phytoplankton, particularly bloom-forming diatoms, prymnesiophytes and dinoflagellates. Planktonic bioactive metabolites are structurally and functionally diverse and some may have multiple simultaneous functions including roles in chemical defense (antipredator, allelopathic and antibacterial compounds), and/or cell-to-cell signaling (e.

Assessing impacts of invasive phytoplankton: the Baltic Sea case.

There is an increasing understanding and requirement to take into account the effects of invasive alien species (IAS) in environmental quality assessments. While IAS are listed amongst the most important factors threatening marine biodiversity, information on their impacts remains unquantified, especially for phytoplankton species. This study attempts to assess the impacts of invasive alien phytoplankton in the Baltic Sea during 1980-2008.