Skip to main content

Coupling the Sub-Systems — the Baltic Sea as a Case Study

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: NATO Conference Series ((MARS,volume 13))

Abstract

Even if we adopt two commonly used criteria for defining a subsystem, namely, stronger interactions within the system than over the boundaries (Webster, 1979) and physically recognized boundaries (Rowe, 1961) we can differentiate two types of subsystems, the geographical, for example the coastal region, and the ecological such as the pelagic zone. This does not exclude the possibility of treating the coastal region as an ecological system but usually the region would include several clear-cut ecosystems more or less highly connected. Being a higher organizational level the regions have a slower dynamic response and determine the climate for the enclosed ecosystems. The urgent need for better knowledge of the processes and flows of the biological systems (Platt et al., 1981) has been exemplified by stressing the importance of primary production, respiration, excretion feeding, etc. This is certainly of importance but there is an equal lack of understanding of the degree of connection between the phytal, pelagic and softbottom subsystems or between the coastal and offshore areas. We should therefore not concentrate our efforts on one organizational level alone but through continuously climbing up and down the hierarchical ladder bring our knowledge towards an increasing understanding of the total system’s behaviour.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Literature Cited

  • Ackefors, H., Hernroth, L., Lindahl, O., and Wulff, F., 1978, Ecological production studies of the phytoplankton and zooplankton in the Gulf of Bothnia, Finn. Mar. Res., 244: 116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersin, A. -B., Lassig, J., Parkonen, L., and Sandler, H., 1978, The decline of macrofauna in the deeper parts of the Baltic and the Gulf of Finland, Kieler Meeresforsch. Sonderh., 4: 23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aneer, G., 1975, Composition of food of Baltic herring (Clupea harengus var, membras L.), fourhorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus quadricornis L.), and ellpout (Zoarces viviparus L.) from deep soft bottom trawling in the Askö-Landsort area during two consecutive years. Merentutkimuslaitoksen Julk./Havsforskningsinst. Skr. 239: 146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aneer, G., Lindqvist, A., and Westin, L., 1978, Winter concentrations of Baltic herring (Clupea harengus var membras L.), Contr. Askö Lab. Univ. Stockholm, 21: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aneer, G., 1979, On the ecology of the Baltic herring- studies on spawning areas, larval stages, locomotory activity patterns, respiration, together with estimates of production and energy budgets, Ph. D Thesis, Dep. Zool. Univ. Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aneer, G., 1980, Estimates of feeding pressure on pelagic and benthic organisms by Baltic herring (Clupea harengus v. membras L.), Ophelia, Suppl. 1: 265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ankar, S., 1979, Annual dynamics of a Northern Baltic soft bottom, In: “Cyclic phenomena in marine plants and animals,” E. Naylor and R.G. Hartnoll, eds., Pergamon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ankar, S., and Elmgren, R., 1976, The benthic macro- and meiofauna of the Askö-Landsort area — A stratified random sampling survey, Contr. Askö. Lab. Univ. Stockholm, 11: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arntz, W.E., 1971, Biomasse und Produktion des Makrobenthos in den tieferen Teil der Kieler Bucht im Jahr 1968, Kieler Meeresforsch, 27: 36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arntz, W.E., 1978, The “upper part” of the benthic food web: the role of macrobenthos in the Western Baltic, Rapp. P. -V Reun. Cons, int. Explor. Mer., 173: 85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bagge, P., Ilus, E., and Motzelius, F., 1975, Line census of fish made by the SCUBA diving method in the archipelago of Loviisa (Gulf of Finland), Merentutkimuslait. Julk/Havsforskningsinst. Skr., 240: 57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennet, J.R., 1974, On the dynamics of wind-driven lake currents, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 4: 400.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bock, K. -H., 1971, Monatskarten des Dichte des Wassers in der Ostsee dargestellt für verschiedene Tiefenhorizonte. Ergänzungsh, Dtsch. Hydrogr. Z., Reihe B: 13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brattberg, G., 1980, Kvävefixering i marin miljö — Östersjön, In: “Processer i kvävets kretslopp,” T. Rosswall, eds., SNV PM 1213: 95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cederwall, H., 1977, Annual macrofauna production of a soft bottom in the northern Baltic proper, In: “Biology of bentic organisms,” B.F. Keegan, P. O’Ceidigh and P.J.S. Boaden, eds., Pergamon Press, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cederwall, H., and Elmgren, R., 1980, Biomass increase of benthic macrofauna demonstrates eutrophication of the Baltic Sea, Ophelia, Suppl. 1: 287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Csanady, G.T., 1978, The coastal jet conceptual model in the dynamics of shallow seas, In: “The Seas,” Vol. 6., E. D. Goldberg, I.N. McCave, J.J. O’Brien and J.H. Steele, eds., John Wiley & Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cushing, D.H., 1971, A comparison of production in temperate seas and the upwelling areas, Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr. 40: 17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ekman, F.L., 1893, Den svenska hydrografiska expeditionen år 1877, I.K. Sven Vetenskapsakad Handl., 25: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elmgren, R., 1978, Structure and dynamics of Baltic benthic communities, with particular reference to the relationship between macro- and meiofauna, Kieler Meeresforsch. Sonderh., 4: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elmgren, R., 1982, Ecological and trophic dynamics in the enclosed, brackish Baltic Sea, ICES Symposium on Biological Productivity if Continental Shelves in the Temperate Zone of the North Atlantic, Kiel, March 1982, No 27: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elmgren, R., Rosenberg, R., Andersin, A. -B., Evans, S., Kangas, P., Lassig, J., Leppakoski, E., and Varmo, R., in press, Benthic macro- and meiofauna in the Gulf of Bothnia (Northern Baltic) Pr. morsk. Inst. ryb. Gdyni.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engwall, A. -G., 1978, Ammonium release at the sediment water interface. In situ studies of a Baltic sediment during negative redox turnover, Contr. Microbial Geochemistry, Dept. of Geology Univ. Stockholm, 2: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falkenmark, M., and Mikulski, Z., 1974, “Hydrology of the Baltic sea,” International Hydrological Decade Project No. 1, Stockholm-Warzawa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fonselius, S.H., 1969, Hydrography of the Baltic deep basins III. Fishery Board of Sweden Ser. Hydrogr. Rep., 23: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gill, A.E., Green, J.S.A. and Simmons, A.J., 1974, Energy partition in the large scale ocean circulation and the production of mid-ocean eddies, Deep-Sea Res., 21: 499.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guterstam, B., Wallentinus, I., and Iturriaga, R., 1978, In situprimary production of Fucus vesiculosus and Cladophora glomerata, Kieler Meeresforsch. Sonderh., 4: 257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guterstam, B., 1979m In situ-Untersuchungen uber Sauerstoffumsatz und Energiefluss in Fucus-gemeinschaften der Ostsee, Ph.D. Thesis, Christian-Albrechts-Universitat, Kiel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagström, A., and Larsson, U., in press, Diel and seasonal variation in growth rates of pelagic bacteria, In; “Heterotrophic Activity in the Sea,” J. Robbie and P.J.LeB. Williams, eds., Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, D., and Rattray, M., 1966, New dimensions in estuary classification, Limnol. Oceanogr., 11: 319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansson, S., 1980, Distribution of food as a possible factor regulating the vertical distribution of fourhorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus quadricornis L.) in the Bothnian Bay, Ophelia, Suppl. 1: 277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernroth, L., 1977, Zooplankton dynamics of a spring bloom in the northern Baltic proper, (Mimeo), Dept. of Zoology, Univ. Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernroth, L. and Ackefors, H., 1979, The zooplankton of the Baltic proper, Report, Fish. Bd. Sweden, Inst. Mar. Res., 2: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillbricht-Ilkowska, A., 1977, Trophic relations and energy flow in pelagic plankton, Pol. ecol. Stud., 3: 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobro, R., 1979, Annual phytoplankton successions in a coastal area in the northern Baltic, In: “Cyclic phenomena in marine plants and animals,” E. Naylor and R.G. Hartnoll, eds., Oxford and New York, Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobro, R., Larsson, U., and Wulff, F., in press, Dynamics of a phytoplankton spring bloom in a coastal area of the northern Baltic, Prace morsk. Inst. Ryb. Gdyni.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holland, W. and Lin, L., 1973, On the generation of mesoscale eddies and their contribution to the oceanic general circulation, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 5: 642.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holm, N., 1978, Phosphorus exchange through the sediment-water interface. Mechanism studies of dynamics processes in the Baltic Sea, Contrib. in Microbial Geochemistry, Dep. Geology, Univ. Stockholm, 3: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horstmann, U., 1975, Eutrophication and mass production of bluegreen algae in the Baltic, Merentutkimuslait. Julk/Havsforskningsinst. Skr., 239: 83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansson, A.M., 1974, Community structure, modelling and simulation of the Cladophora ecosystem in the Baltic Sea, Contr. Askö Lab. Univ. Stockholm, 5: 1130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansson, B. -O., 1972, Ecosystem approach to the Baltic problem, Bulletins from the Ecological Committee NFR 16: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansson A.M., and Zuchetto, J., 1978, Energy, economy and ecological relationships for Gotland, Sweden. A regional systems study, Ecol. Bull. Stockholm, 28: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansson, A. -M. and Kautsky, N., 1977, Quantitative survey of hard bottom communities in a Baltic archipelago, In: “Biology of bethic organisms,” B.F. Keegan, P. O’Ceidigh and P.J.S. Boaden, eds., Pergamon Press, London and New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansson, B. -O., 1978, The Baltic — a systems analysis of a semienclosed sea, In: “Advances in Oceanography,” H. Charnock and Sir G. Deacon, eds., Plenum Publ, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansson, B. -O., 1983, Baltic Sea ecosystem analysis: critical areas for future research, Limnologica, In press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansson, B. -O. and Wulff, F., 1977, Ecosystems analysis of a shallow sound in the northern Baltic — A joint study by the Askö group, Contr. Askö Lab. Univ. Stockholm, 18: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansson, B. -O., and Hagström, A., 1978, Sea-bed respiration: core samples for oxygen consumption measurements, XI Conference of the Baltic Oceanographers, Paper Nr 62, 806.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, M.G. and Brinkhurst, R.O., 1971, Production of benthic macroinvertebrates of Bay of Quinte and Lake Ontario, J. Fish Res Bd Canada, 28: 1699.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kankaala, P., in press, Resting eggs, seasonal dynamics, and production of Bosmina longispina maritima (P.E. Muller) (Cladocera) in the northern Baltic proper, J. Plankton Res.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahru, M., Aitsam, A., and Elken, J., 1981, Coarse-scale spatial structure of phytoplankton standing crop in relation to hydrography in the open Baltic Sea, Marine Ecology Progress Series, 5: 311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karlgren, L., 1978, Närsalternas roll i kustvatten, In: “Diagnos Östersjon,” A. Akerblom, ed., Statens Naturvardsverk, Solna, Sweden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kautsky, H., Widbom, B., and Wulff, F., 1981, Vegetation, macrofauna and benthic meiofauna in the phytal zone of the archipelago of Lulea — Bothnian Bay, Ophelia, 20: 53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kautsky, N., 1981a, On the trophic role of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) in a Baltic coastal ecosystem and the fate of the organic matter produced by the mussels, Kieler Meeresforsch. Sonderh., 5: 454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kautsky, N., 1981b, On the role of the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis L. in the Baltic ecosystem, Unpubl. Ph. D. Thesis summary, Dep. Zoology, Univ. Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kautsky, N., 1982a, Growth and size structure in a Baltic Mytilus edulis L. population, Mar. Biol. 68: 117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kautsky, N., 1982b, Quantitative studies on the gonad cycle, fecundity, reproductive output and recruitment in a Baltic Mytilus edulis L. population, Mar. Biol., 68: 143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kautsky, N., and Wallentinus, I., 1980, Nutrient release from a Baltic Mytilus-red algal community and its role in benthic and pelagic productivity, Ophelia, Suppl. 1: 17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kullenberg, G., 1974, An experimental and theoretical investigation of the turbulent diffusion in the upper layer of the sea, Rep 25, Inst. Phys. Oceanogr. Univ. of Copenhagen, Denmark.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kullenberg, G., 1976, Note on the entrainment velocity in natural stratified vertical shear flow, The 10th Conference of Baltic Oceanogr., Gothenburg, Sweden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsson, U., and Hagström, A., 1979, Phytoplankton exudate release as an energy source for the growth of pelagic bacteria. Mar. Biol., 52: 199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larsson, U., and Hagström, A., 1982, Fractionated phytoplankton primary production, exudate release and bacterial production in a Baltic eutrophication gradient, Mar. Biol., 67: 57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindqvist, A., Hagström, O., Hakansson, N., and Kollberg, S., 1977, Preliminary results from echo integrations in the Baltic, 1976 and 1977, ICES CM. 1977/P: 13:1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lumley, J., 1975, Modelling turbulent flux of passive scalar quantities in inhomogeneous flows, J. Phys. of Fluids, 18: 619.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magaard, L., and Rheinheimer, G., 1974, “Meereskunde der Ostsee,” Springer Verlag, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKellar, H. and Hobro, R., 1976, Phytoplankton Zooplankton relationships in 100 liter plastic bags, Contr. Askö. Lab. Univ. Stock holm, 13: 183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Möhlenberg, F. and Riisgard, H.U., 1978, Efficiency of particle retention in 13 species of suspension feeding bivalves, Ophelia, 17: 234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nehring, D., 1979, Relationships between salinity and increasing nutrient concentration in the mixed winter surface layer of the Baltic from 1969 to 1978, ICES C.M. 1979/C.: 24:1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumann, E., 1977, Activity and distribution of benthic fish in some Baltic archipelagos with special reference to temperature, Ambio Spec. Rep., 5: 47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neumann, E., 1982, Species composition and seasonal migrations of the coastal fish fauna in the southern Bothnian Sea. In: “Coastal Research in the Gulf of Bothnia,” K. Muller, ed., Dr. W. Junk Publ., The Hague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nilsson, L., 1980, Wintering diving duck populations and available food resources in the Baltic, Wildfowl, 31: 131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Odum, H.T., 1967, Biological circuits and the marine systems of Texas, In: “Pollution and marine ecology,” T.A. Olsson and F.J. Burgess, eds., Interscience Publ., New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Odum, H.T. and Hoskins, C.M., 1958, Comparative studies on the metabolism of marine waters, Publ. Inst. mar. Sci. Univ. Texas, 5: 16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Omstedt, A. and Sahlberg, T., 1982, Vertical mixing restratification in the Bay of Bothnia during cooling, SMHI Report RH032, Norrköping, Sweden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pawlak, J., 1980, Land-based inputs of some major pollutants to the Baltic Sea, Ambio 9: 163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Platt, T., Mann, K.H., and Ulanowicz, R.E., eds., 1981, “Mathematical models in biological oceanography,” The UNESCO Press, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reichle, D.E., O’Neill, R.V., and Harris, W.F., 1975, Principles of energy and material exchange in ecosystems, In: “Unifying concept in ecology,” W.N. van Dobben and A.H. LoweMcConnell, eds., Junk Publ., the Hague.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, J., 1895, On the dynamical theory of incompressible viscous fluids and the determination of the criteria, Phil. Trans. of the Royal Soc. of London, Series A, 186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rheinheimer, G., 1981, Investigations on the role of bacteria in the food web of the Western Baltic, Kieler Meeresforsch., Sonderh., 5: 284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodhe, H., Söderlund, R., and Ekstedt, J., 1980, Deposition of airborne pollutants on the Baltic, Ambio 9: 168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowe, J.S., 1961, The level of integration concept and ecology. Ecology 42: 420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schippel, F., Hallberg, R.O., and Oden, S., 1973, Phosphate exchange at the sediment water interface, Oikos, Suppl 15: 64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, C., 1980, Some aspects of marine algae decomposition, Ophelia, Suupl. 1: 257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaffer, G., 1975, Baltic coastal dynamics project — the fall down-welling regime off Askö, Contr. Askö Lab. Univ. Stockholm, 7: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaffer, G., 1979a, On the phosphorus and oxygen dynamics of the Baltic Sea, Contr. Askö Lab. Univ. Stockholm, 25: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaffer, G., 1979b, Conservation calculations in natural coordinates, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 9: 847.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simons, T.J., 1980, Circulation models of lakes and inland seas, Dept. of Fish. and Oceans Bull., 203, Ottawa, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sjöberg, S., Wåhlstrom, P., and Wulff, F., 1972, Computer simulations of hydrochemical and biological processes in the Baltic, Contr. Askö Lab. Univ. Stockholm, 1: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sjöberg, S. and Wilmot, W., 1977, Systems analysis of a spring phyto-plankton bloom in the Baltic, Contr. Askö Lab. Univ. Stockholm, 20: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smeda, M., and Wilmot, W., 1978, A mixed layer model of wind and density driven mixing during a phytoplankton bloom, Report DM-24, Dept. of Meteorol. Univ. of Stockholm, Sweden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svensson, J. and Wilmot, W., 1978, A numerical model of the circulation in Öresund, SMHI Report RH0–15, Norrköping, Sweden, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thurow, F., 1980, The state of fish stocks in the Baltic, Ambio, 3–4: 153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toll, T., Wilmot, W., and Kjerve, B., 1982, Nutrient transports in a Swedish estuary, Manuscript.

    Google Scholar 

  • Voipio, A., ed., 1981, “The Baltic Sea,” Elsevier, Amersterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walin, G., 1972a, Some observations of temperature fluctuations in the coastal region of the Baltic, Tellus24: 187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walin, G., 1972b, On the hydrographic response to transient meteorological disturbances, Tellus, 24: 169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walin, G., 1977, A theoretical framework for the description of estuaries, Tellus, 29: 128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallentinus, I., 1978, Productivity studies on Baltic macro-algae, Botanica Marina, 21: 365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallentinus, I., 1979, Environmental influences on benthic macrovegetation in the Trosa-Askö area, northern Baltic proper II, Contr. Askö Lab. Univ. Stockholm, 25: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webster, J.R., 1975a, Hierarchial organization of ecosystems. In: “Theoretical systems ecology,” E. Halfon, ed., Acad. Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welander, P., 1974, A two-layer exchange in an estuary with special reference to the Baltic Sea, J. Phys. Oceanogr., 4: 542.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westin, L., 1970, The food ecology and the annual food cycle in the Baltic population of fourhorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus quadricornis (L.), Pisces. Rep. Inst. Freshwater Res. Drottningholm., 50: 168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Westin, L., 1971, Locomotory activity patterns of fourhorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus quadricornis (L.) (Pisces). Rep. Inst. Freshwater Res. Drottningholm, 51: 184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, P.J. LeB., 1981, Incorporation of microheterotrophic processes into the classical paradigon of the planktonic food web, Kieler Meeresforsch., Sonderh. 5:1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilmot, W., 1974, A numerical model of the gravitational circulation in the Baltic. ICES Special Meeting on Models of Water Circulation in the Baltic, Copenhagen, Denmark.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wulff, F., Flygh, C., Foberg, M., Hansson, S., Johansson, S., Kautsky, H., Klintberg, T., Samberg, H., Skärlund, K., Sörlin, T., and Widbom, B., 1977, Ekologiska undersökningar i Luleå Skärgård 1976, Slutrapp. Statens Naturvardsverk, Kontr. 5860401–8 (In Swedish).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1984 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Jansson, BO., Wilmot, W., Wulff, F. (1984). Coupling the Sub-Systems — the Baltic Sea as a Case Study. In: Fasham, M.J.R. (eds) Flows of Energy and Materials in Marine Ecosystems. NATO Conference Series, vol 13. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-0387-0_21

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-0387-0_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-0389-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4757-0387-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics