Fish community responses to restoration of a eutrophic coastal bay

• 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.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Naturresursteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Environmental Engineering (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Lantbruksvetenskap, skogsbruk och fiske -- Fisk- och akvakulturforskning (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries -- Fish and Aquacultural Science (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Baltic Sea

Bjornofjarden

Eutrophication

Fish

Measures

Nutrient reduction

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)