Transcript Habitat Classification

Tasks and selected results of
the project
„Ecosystem approach to marine spatial planning –
Polish marine areas and the Natura 2000 network”
L. Kruk-Dowgiałło, A. Osowiecki, P. Brzeska, R. Opioła, M. Błeńska
Department of Ecology, Maritime Institute in Gdańsk
Sopot, June 2008
Areas of research
Methodology
A3 .5
A3 .7
B
A3 .4
Baltic Sea
E
F
A
C
Research
Area
D
A5 .1
G
H
H [m]
A5 .2
Sonar map of the Rowy boulder area (coastal
waters Stilo-Ustka)
Batymetric map of the Rowy boulder area
(coastal waters Stilo-Ustka)
Selection of sampling sites: based on habitats delineated by experts using sonar
and bathimetric maps
Methodology
Sampling of benthic flora and fauna:
- scuba diver
- DAK, van Veen grab
- video and photo documentation
- type of sediment
- % vegetation cover
DAK device for collecting biological samples
Samples preservation:
- benthic flora - frozen
- benthic fauna - preserved in 4% formaldehyde solution
Analyses:
- qualitative - species composition
- quantitative: flora - dw·g/m2, fauna - ww·g/m2, abundance
Baltic habitat classification
Classification based on:
 Species composition
 Biomass
 Type of the sediment
 % vegetation cover
 Photos and video films
EUNIS Habitat Classification
A
Marine habitats
Littoral
A1 (rock)
A2 (sediment)
Substrat
e
non-mobile
Yes
Characterised by
macroalgae/1.9xSecchi d.
Yes
A3 Infralittoral rock and
other hard substrata
Level 1
Level 2
mobile
No
A4 Circalittoral rock and
other hard substrata
A3.1 High energy
infralittoral rock
A4.1High energy
circalittoral rock
A3.2 Moderate
energy infralittoral
rock
A4.2 Moderate
energy circalittoral
rock
A3.3 Low energy
infralittoral rock
A4.3Low energy
circalittoral rock
A5 Sublittoral sediment
A5.1 Sublittoral
coarse sediment
(gravel, coarse sand)
Level 3
A5.2 Sublittoral sand
A5.3 Sublittoral mud
A5.4 Sublittoral
mixed sediments
A5.5 Sublittoral
macrophyte
dominated sediment
Level 4 & 5
LIST OF POTENTIAL HABITAT TYPES
Results
Puck Bay
A5: Sublittoral sediment
A5.2 – Sublittoral sand
A5.3 – Sublittoral mud
A5.4 – Sublittoral mixed sediments
A5.5 – Sublittoral macrophyte-dominated sediment
Puck Bay
A5: Sublittoral sediment
A5.2 – Sublittoral sand
A5.21 – Sublittoral sand sediment in low or reduced
salinity
A5.211 – Baltic level sandy bottoms of the infralittoral
photic zone with little or no macrophyte
vegetation
Puck Bay
A5: Sublittoral sediment
A5.2 – Sublittoral macrophyte-dominated sediment
A5.54 – Angiosperm communities in reduced salinity
A5.545 – Zostera beds in reduced salinity infralittoral
sediments
Puck Bay
A5: Sublittoral sediment
A5.2 – Sublittoral macrophyte-dominated sediment
A5.2x – Macroalgae communities in reduced salinity
proposal
A5.2xx – Chara baltica dominated sublittoral sediment
proposal
Results
Słupsk Bank boulder area
A3 Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata
A5 Sublittoral sediment
Słupsk Bank boulder area
A3: Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata
A3.4 : Baltic exposed infralittoral rock
A3.5 : Baltic moderately exposed infralittoral rock
A3.6 : Baltic sheltered infralittoral rock
Energy level need to be determined
A.3?? Mytilus edulis and Furcellaria lumbricalis
community - proposal
EUNIS Habitat Classification
A
Marine habitats
Littoral
A1 (rock)
A2 (sediment)
Substrat
e
non-mobile
Yes
Characterised by
macroalgae/1.9xSecchi d.
Yes
A3 Infralittoral rock and
other hard substrata
?Offshore Infralittoral...
Level 1
Level 2
mobile
No
A4 Circalittoral rock and
other hard substrata
A5 Sublittoral sediment
?Offshore Circalittoral...
A3.1 High energy
infralittoral rock
A4.1High energy
circalittoral rock
A3.2 Moderate
energy infralittoral
rock
A4.2 Moderate
energy circalittoral
rock
A3.3 Low energy
infralittoral rock
A4.3Low energy
circalittoral rock
A5.1 Sublittoral
coarse sediment
(gravel, coarse sand)
Level 3
A5.2 Sublittoral sand
A5.3 Sublittoral mud
A5.4 Sublittoral
mixed sediments
A5.5 Sublittoral
macrophyte
dominated sediment
Level 4 & 5
LIST OF POTENTIAL HABITAT TYPES
Słupsk Bank boulder area
A5: Sublittoral sediment
A5.6 – Sublittoral biogenic reefs
A5.62 – Sublittoral mussel beds on sediment?
Biogenic reefs or mosaic sediments?
A
Marine habitats
Level 1
→
Littoral
A1 (rock)
A2 (sediment)
Level 2
→
Characterised by
macroalgae/1.9xSecchi d.
Yes
A3 Infralittoral rock and
other hard substrata
?Offshore Infralittoral...
Level 3
→
Substrat
e
non-mobile
Yes
X32 ??
Mosaic of mobile and non-mobile
substrata in the infralittoral zone
mobile
No
A4 Circalittoral rock and
other hard substrata
A5 Sublittoral sediment
?Offshore Circalittoral...
A3.1 High energy
infralittoral rock
A4.1High energy
circalittoral rock
A3.2 Moderate
energy infralittoral
rock
A4.2 Moderate
energy circalittoral
rock
A3.3 Low energy
infralittoral rock
A4.3Low energy
circalittoral rock
A5.1 Sublittoral
coarse sediment
(gravel, coarse sand)
X32.1 High energy
Mosaic of mobile and nonmobile substrata in the
infralittoral zone
A5.2 Sublittoral sand
X32.2 Moderate energy
Mosaic of mobile and nonmobile substrata in the
infralittoral zone
A5.3 Sublittoral mud
A5.4 Sublittoral
mixed sediments
A5.5 Sublittoral
macrophyte
dominated sediment
Level 4 & 5 → List of potential habitat types
X32.3 Low energy
Mosaic of mobile and nonmobile substrata in the
infralittoral zone
Tasks to do for
Department of Ecology
3.2.3.1 Model for identifying the habitats of PMA in
reference to EUNIS classification and the results of
methodology studies. (9%)
3.2.3.4 Developing maps of the coastal water habitats from
Stilo to Ustka. Vector map of habitats. (10%)
2.1.5 Determining the elements and processes that
characterize habitats for biological and socioeconomic
valorization. Methodology instructions.(18%)
Criteria of natural valuation of
marine water areas
Elements
Criteria
Benthic flora
presence of macrophytes (sandy or stony sediment) biomass of each taxon (angosperms, macroalgae)
Underwater meadows (habitats for fauna) ratio of Angiosperms biomass to benthic flora biomass
Presence of species used in restoration of degrated water areas Ratio of protected/endangered species biomass to benthic flora biomass
Trophy state % biomass of Pilayella and Ectocarpus in total benthic flora biomass
Benthic fauna
Biomarkers
Species richness/ diversity
Abundance of oppurtunists
Dominant species
Community trophic structure
Problems to be disscussed
1. Energy levels in the Baltic Sea.
2. Adding new habitat classes to EUNIS
classificaton:
- mosaic sediments
- offshore habitats, e.g. Słupsk Bank
boulder
3. Criteria for natural valuation