BIOMARE PRIMARY SITES: DETAILED QUESTIONNAIRE FORM
Proposer:
Name: Eva Sandberg-Kilpi
e-mail address: eva.sandberg@helsinki.fi
Proposed Primary Site: Tvärminne
Primary site at the entrance of the Gulf of Finland. The "core area" of the site is a protected nature conservation area situated in the middle of a 52 000 ha Natura 2000 area including a 4000 ha archipelago national park. The protected area (160 ha land consisting mainly of islands and 600 ha of water) is owned by the University of Helsinki and the Finnish state (15 ha land, 195 ha of water). The field station, Tvärminne Zoological Station (founded 1902) is situated at the site.
PRISTINESS: Primary sites should be as free as possible from anthropogenic stressors, and natural stressors atypical of the region (e.g. reduced salinity, high turbidity).
List potential sources of pollution that are likely to impinge on the site:-
Industrial pollution:
A steelfactory is situated app. 3 km north of the border of the area owned by the University. The factory was founded 1960. It produces iron ore based continuous cast steel billets (ca 550 000 tons/a) and has one blast furnace and 380 employees. The raw material is brought to the factory by ships. Since 1980 a changed process system (increased recirculation of process waters, new filtersystem for effluents from the blast furnace etc.) lead to a significant decrease of effluents e.g. heavy metals to the water.
The effluents effects on the water quality, benthos and fish is regularly monitored.
The factory was certified under ISO 14001 in 1999.
Agricultural pollution:
negligible
Mining:
none
Dumping:
none
Dredging:
none
What is the human population of the site in total and per unit area? What is the average population growth per year?
Eight permanent residents at the field station.
Per unit area 0.01/ha.
The population growth of permanent residents is more or less zero at the station.
Annually ca 200 scientists and 600 students are living at the station. Mean duration of stay is for scientists 15 days and students 5 days.
In the vicinity of the station:
- Tvärminne village (app. 5 km W from the site) with 25 permanent residents.
- Lappohja (app. 11 km N of the site) with 900 permanent residents.
The nearest towns, Hanko (20 km W of the station) has 10 000 permanent residents and Ekenäs (30 km NE of the station) 14 000 permanent residents.
How is sewage disposed of? If possible give an estimate of the quantity and quality of the output.
The station has its own sewage treatment plant.
Mean values of effluents/year from1996-2000:
BOD7 3mg/l (99% cleaning capacity)
Phosphorous 0.5 mg/l (95%)
Nitrogen 30 mg/l (55%)
Total amount of sewage water 11m3/d
Sewage from the Tvärminne village is collected in tanks and transported to a sewage treatment plant in Hanko.
Lappohja has its own sewage treatment plant.
A large-scale plan for collecting all the sewage waters at the southern Cape Hankoniemi to a central treatment plant situated close to the City of Hanko has been done by environmental authorities.
Describe the extent of commercial fishing in the area. Please specify the kinds of gear used (trawling, seine netting, lobster pots etc.)
No commercial fishing is allowed in the site area. Only fishing for scientific purposes allowed in the protected area. Some minor herring trawling seasonally app. 5 km from the site, outside of the archipelago.
Give an account of tourist activities in the area (how many tourists per year; what do they do?).
No tourist activities at the site as the area is protected. It is prohibited at the site to land and move about on the islands or on other land areas and to move on the water or on the ice outside official routes without a special permission of the Tvärminne Zoological Station.
Provide evidence that there are no natural stressors such as high turbidity or reduced salinity that are atypical of the region.
Salinity and temperature fluctuates naturally at the site due to changes in the water masses originating from the Baltic surface water, deep water upwelling from the layer near the permanent halocline, and from surface water from the inner archipelago (mainly from the semi-enclosed fjord-like Pojo Bay north of the site).
Give references to any chemical or physical data that support the claim that this is a pristine site.
In a recent publication (Kauppila & Bäck 2001) the authors state that the site is relatively non-polluted. No notable loading from local point sources is evident at the site, but the trophic status has increased during recent decades due to the general eutrophication of the Gulf of Finland.
Reference:
Kauppila, P. & Bäck, S. (2001). The state of the Finnish coastal zone in 1990s. – The Finnish Environment 472, 134 pp.
HABITATS: The site should comprise a mosaic of habitats in a well-defined area that are representative of the region.
List the range of habitats present at the site:-
Littoral
Rock: yes
Sand: yes
Mud: yes
Sublittoral
Rock: yes
Sand: yes
Mud: yes
Seagrass beds: yes
How representative is this site of its region (i.e. what regional habitats are missing)?
The site is very representative of the region. All the different archipelago zones represented and the habitats presented above.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The site should already be well-studied (i.e. biodiversity studies should not rely entirely on new research).
For what groups of organisms are comprehensive inventories available? Please list major taxa in each category below, and list publications.
Macrobenthos:
Community studies
Aschan, M. 1988. Soft bottom macrobenthos in a Baltic archipelago: Spatial variation and optimal sampling strategy. - Ann. Zool. Fennici 25: 153-164
Aschan, M. 1990. Changes in softbottom macrofauna communities along environmental gradients. - Ann. Zool. Fennici 27: 329-336.
Hällfors, G., Kangas, P. & Lappalinen, A. 1975. Littoral benthos of the northern Baltic Sea. III. Macrobenthos of the hydrolittoral belt of filamentous algae on rocky shores in Tvärminne. – Int. Rev. Ges. Hydrobiol. 60: 313-333
Karjala. L. & Lassig, J. 1985. Studies on the benthic macrofauna in the Tvärminne area, Gulf of Finland 1964-1967 and 1973-1976. Hydrobiological Researches 15: 169-181.
Lappalainen, A., Hällfors, G. & Kangas, P. 1977. Littoral benthos of the northern Baltic Sea. IV. Pattern and dynamics of macrobenthos in a sandy-bottom Zostera marina community in Tvärminne. – Int. Rev. ges. Hydrobiol. 62: 465 – 503
Sarvala, J,. 1982. Biomass and production of macrobenthos in a Finnish coastal area near the entrance to the Gulf of Finland. – VI Soviet-Finnish Symp. Pärnu
Segerstråle, SG 1933. Studien über die Bodentierwelt in südfinnländischen Küstengewässern II. Übersicht über die Bodentierwelt, mit besonderer Berucksichtigung der Produktionsverhältnisse. - Comm. Biol. 4, 9 : 1-77
Segerstråle, S. 1949. The brackish-water fauna of Finland. – Oikos 1: 127-141.
Segerstråle, SG 1973. Results of bottomfauna sampling in certain localities in the Tvärminne area (inner Baltic) with special reference to the so-called Macoma-Pontoporeia theory. Comment. Biol. 67: 3-12
Turbellaria
Ax, P. 1954. Die Turbellarienfauna der Küstengrundwassers am finnischen Meerbusen. – Acta Zool. Fennica 81: 1-54
Karling, T. 1994. Turbellarian fauna of the Baltic Proper. Identification, ecology and biogeography. – Soc. Pro Fauna Flora Fennica 27 : 1-101.
Crustacea
Haahtela, I. 1965. Morphology, habitats and distribution of species of the Iaera albifrons group (Isopoda) in Finland. – Ann. Zool 2: 309-314.
Naylor, E. & Haahtela, I. 1967. Quantitative ecological distribution of the Iaera albifrons group of species in the Baltic. – Ophelia 4 : 19-27
Salemaa, H. 1985. Karyological studies in Idotea spp. (Isopoda, Valvifera). - Crustaceana 48: 74-87.
Salemaa, H. 1986. Karyology of the northern Baltic peracardian Crustacea. - Sarsia 71: 17-25.
Salemaa, H., Tyystjärvi-Muuronen, K. & Aro, E. 1986. Life histories, distribution and abundance of Mysis mixta and Mysis relicta in the Northern Baltic Sea. - Ophelia, Suppl.4: 239- 247.
Salemaa, H. & Heino, T. 1990. Chromosome numbers of Fennoscandian glacial relict Crustacea. - Ann. Zool. Fennici 27: 207-210.
Salemaa, H. & Hietalahti, V. 1993. Hemimysis anomala G.O. Sars (Crustacea: Mysidacea) - Immigration of a Pontocaspian mysid into the Baltic Sea. - Ann. Zool. Fennici 30: 271-276.
Sarvala, J. 1986. Interannual variation of growth and recruitment in Pontoporeia affinis (Lindström) (Crustacea: Amphipoda) in relation to abundance fluctuations. - J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 101: 41-59.
Uitto, A. & Sarvala, J. 1990. Perspectives on the ecological factors regulating Pontoporeia populations in the northern Baltic Sea. - Ann. Zool. Fennici 27: 297-301.
Sarvala, J. & Uitto, A. 1991. Production of the benthic amphipods Pontoporeia affinis and P. femorata in a Baltic archipelago. - Ophelia 34: 71-90.
Väinölä, R. & Varvio, S.-L. 1989. Molecular divergence and evolutionary relationships in Pontoporeia (Crustacea: Amphipoda). - Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 46: 1705-1713.
Mollusca
Koli, L. 1961. Die Molluskenfauna des Brackwassergebietes bei Tvärminne Südwestfinnland. – Ann. Zool. Soc. Vanamo 22:
Lassig, J. 1965. The distribution of marine and brackishwater lamellibranchs in the northern Baltic area. – Comment. Biol. Soc. Sci. Fenn. 28 :5, 1-41.
Varvio, S.-L., Koehn, R.K. & Väinölä, R. 1988. Evolutionary genetics of the Mytilus edulis complex in the North Atlantic region. - Marine Biology 98: 51-60.
Öst, M. & Kilpi, M. 1997. A recent change in size distribution of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) in the western part of the Gulf of Finland. - Ann. Zool. Fennici 34: 31-36.
Öst, M. & Kilpi, M. 1998. Blue mussels Mytilus edulis in the Baltic: good news for foraging eiders Somateria mollissima. - Wildl. Biol. 4: 81-89.
Oligochaeta
Laakso, M. 1967. Records of aquatic Oligochaeta from Finland. – Ann. Zool. Fenn. 4 : 560-566
Laakso, M. 1969. Oligocaheta from brackish water near Tvärminne, south west Finland.- Ann. Zool. Fenn. 4 : 560-566
Insecta
Silfvenius, A.J. 1905. Zur Kenntnis der Trichopterenfauna von Tvärminne. – Festschrift für Palmén. No. 14: 1-31
Meiobenthos:
Community studies
Keynäs, K. & Keynäs, L. 1978. Meiofauna in soft bottom sediments at Tvärminne, northern Baltic. Methods and preliminary results. – Mem. Soc. Fauna Flora Fennica 54 : 65-68.
Purasjoki, K. 1945. Quantitative Untersuchungen über die Mikrofauna des Meeresbodens in der Umgebung der Zoologiske Station Tvärminne and der Südküsten Finnlands. – Comm. Biol. Soc. Scient. Fennica 9 : 14, 1-24.
Ostracoda
Hagerman, L. 1967. Ostracods of the Tvärminne area, Gulf of Finland. – Comment. Biol. Soc. Scient. Fenn. 30: 2, 1-12.
Hirschmann, N. 1912. Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Ostracodenfauna des Finnischen Meerbusens. Zweite Mitteilung. – Acta Soc. Fauna Flora Fennica 36:2, 1-65
35
Nematoda
Gerlach, S. 1953. Die Nematodenfauna det Ufersonen und des Küstengrundwassers am Finnischen Meerbusen. – Acta Zool. Fenn. 73: 1-32.
Jensen, P. 1979. Nematodes from the brackish waters of the southern archipelago of Finland. Phytal species. – Ann. Zool. Fennici 16 : 281-285.
Jensen, P. 1979. Nematodes from the brackish waters of the southern archipelago of Finland. Benthic species. – Ann. Zool. Fennici 16 : 151-168.
Jensen, P. 1981. Species distribution and a microhabitat theorie for marine mud dwelling Comesomatidae (Nematoda) in European waters. – Cahiers de Biologie Marine XXII : 231-241.
Jensen, P. 1984. Ecology of benthic and epiphytic nematodes in brackish waters. – Hydrobiology 108 : 201-217.
Schneider, G. 1906. Beitrage zur Kenntnis der im Uferschlamm des Finnischen Meerbusens frei lebenden Nematoden. – Acta Soc. Fauna Flora Fennica 27 : 1-40.
Schneider, G. 1906. Zur Kenntnis der frei im Finnischen vorkommenden Nematoden. – Zool- Anz. 29 : 625-627
Schneider, G. 1926. Zweiter Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Brackwassernematoden Finlands. – Acta Soc. Fauna Flora Fennica 56 : 1-47.
Microbenthos:
Zooplankton:
Microzooplankton
Kivi, K. 1986. Annual succession of pelagic protozoans and rotifers in the Tvärminne Storfjärden, SW coast of Finland. - Ophelia, Suppl. 4: 101-110
Vørs,N. 1992. Heterotrophic amoebae, flagellates and heliozoa from the Tvärminne area, Gulf of Finland in 1988-1990. - Ph. D. Thesis, Inst. Sporeplanter, Univ. Copenhagen. Ophelia 36: 1-109.
Zooplankton
Halme, E. 1958. Planktologische Untersuchungen in der Pojo-Bucht und angrenzenden Gewässer. IV. Zooplankton – Ann. Zool. Soc. Vanamo 19:3, 1-62
Halme, E. 1960. Planktologische Untersuchungen in der Pojo-Bucht und angrenzenden Gewässer. IV. Zur Verteilung des Zooplanktons im Raum. – Ann. Zool. Soc. Vanamo 22:3, 1-90.
Purasjoki, K.J. 1947. Plankton gesammelt in den Jahren 1899-1910 an den küsten Finnlands. – Finnländische Hydrographisch-Biologische Untersuchungen No. 11 : 1-40.
Mesozooplankton
Kaitala, S., Kivi, K. & Kuosa, H. 1987. Nutrient and zooplankton control on phytoplankton succession. - Baltic Sea Env. Proc. 19: 350-358.
Koski, M., Viitasalo, M. & Kuosa, H. 1999. Seasonal development of mesozooplankton biomass and production on the SW coast of Finland. – Ophelia 50: 69–91.
Viitasalo, M. 1992. Mesozooplankton of the Gulf of Finland and northern Baltic proper. - A review of monitoring data. - Ophelia 35: 147-168
Viitasalo, M., Vuorinen, I. & Saesmaa, S. 1995. Mesozooplankton dynamics in the northern Baltic Sea: implications of variations in hydrography and climate. - J. Plankton Res. 17: 1857-1878.
Viitasalo, M. & Katajisto, T. 1994. Mesozooplankton resting eggs in the Baltic Sea: identification and vertical distribution in laminated and mixed sediments. - Mar. Biol. 120: 455-465.
Phytobenthos:
Bäck, S., Collins, J.C. & Russell, G. 1990. Aspects of reproductive biology of Fucus vesiculosus from SW coast of Finland. - Ophelia 34: 129-141.
Bäck, S. & Ruuskanen, A. 2000. Distribution and maximum growth depth of Fucus vesiculosus along the Gulf of Finland. – Marine Biology 136: 303–307.
Hällfors, G. & Munsterhjelm, R. 1982. Some epiphytic Chamaesiphonales from fresh and brackish water in southern Finland. – Ann. Bot. Fennici 19 : 147-176.
Hällfors, G., Kangas, P. & Niemi, Å. 1984. Recent changes in the phytal at the south coast of Finland. - Ophelia, Suppl. 3: 51-59.
Hällfors, G. & Heikkonen, K. 1992. Chorda tomentosa Lyngbye in Finnish coastal waters. - Acta Phytogeogr. Suec. 78: 79-84.
Kangas, P. & Hällfors, G. 1985. On the decline of Fucus vesiculosus at the south coast of Finland. - Hydrobiol. Res. 15: 127-134.
Luther, H. 1951. Verbreitung und Ökologie der höheren Wasserpflanzen im Brackwasser der Ekenäs-Gegend in Südfinnland. I. Allgemeiner Teil. – Acta Bot. Fennica 49: 1-231
Luther, H. 1951. Verbreitung und Ökologie der höheren Wasserpflanzen im Brackwasser der Ekenäs-Gegend in Südfinnland. II. Spezieller Teil. – Acta Bot. Fennici 50: 1-370.
Munsterhjelm, R. 1997. The aquatic macrophyte vegetation of flads and gloes, S coast of Finland. – Acta Bot. Fennica 157: 1–68.
Ruuskanen, A. 2000. Ecological responses of Fucus vesiculosus L. along environmental gradients in the northern Baltic Sea. – Walter and Andrée de Nottbeck Foundation Sci. Rep. 21: 1 – 20 + 5 reprints
Russell, G. 1985. Recent evolutionary changes in the algae of the Baltic Sea. - Br. phycol. J. 20: 87-104.
Russell, G. 1988. The seaweed flora of a young semienclosed sea: The Baltic. Salinity as a possible agent of flora divergence. - Helgoländer Meeresunters. 42: 243-250.
Skottberg, C. 1911. Beobachtungen über einige Meeresalgen aus der gegend von Tvärminne im Südwestlichen Finnland. – Acta Soc. Fauna Flora Fennica 34 : 11, 1-18.
Microphytobenthos
Leskinen, E. & Hällfors, G. 1990. Community structure of epiphytic diatoms in relation to eutrophication by the Hanko peninsula, S coast of Finland. - In: Simola, H. (ed.), Proceedings of the Tenth International Diatom Symposium: 323-333. Koeltz Scientific Books, Koenigstein.
Leskinen, E. & Hällfors, G. 1994. Dynamics of epiphytic diatoms on Cladophora glomerata in the Tvärminne archipelago, Northern Baltic Sea. - Memoirs of the California Acad. Sci. 17: 425-435. ( Proc. 11th Int. Diatom Symp. 1990)
Leskinen, E. & Hällfors, G. 1997. Tabularia waernii (Diatomophyceae) in the northern Baltic Sea. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 34: 141-147.
Mölder, K. 1943. Studien über die Ökologie und Geologie der Bodendiatomeen in der Pojo-Bucht. – Ann. Bot. Soc. Vanamo 18:2, 1-204
Snoeijs, P., Leskinen, E., Sundbäck, K., Kuylenstierna, M., Witkowsky, A. & Hällfors, G. 1990. Microphytobenthic cell density and species composition in the surface sediment in a shallow brackish-water bay (Gulf of Finland). - Aqua Fennica 20: 103-114.
Snoeijs, P., Hällfors, G. & Leskinen, E. 1991. Taxonomy and ecology of catacombas obtusa comb. nov. - Diatom Research 6: 155-164.
Tamminen, T. & Leskinen, E. 1985. Comparison of planktonic and periphytic microalgal parameters as indicators of eutrophication in a Baltic archipelago: Annual succession of community parameters. - Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 22: 2195-2202.
Phytoplankton:
Halme, E. & Mölder, K. 1958. Planktologische Untersuchungen in der Pojo-Bucht and angrenzenden Gewässer. III. Phytoplankton – Ann. Zool. Soc. Vanamo 30:3, 1-71
Huttunen, M. & Kuparinen, J. 1986. Species succession and productivity of ultraphytoplankton in the pelagic off Tvärminne, SW coast of Finland. - Ophelia, Suppl. 4: 73-83.
Hällfors, G. & Niemi, Å. 1989. Anabaena lemmermanni P. Richter (Nostocophyceae). Baltic Sea Phytoplankton Identification Sheet No. 1. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 26: 89-90.
Hällfors, G. 1989. Chrysochromulina birgeri G. Hällfors & Niemi (Prymnesiophyceae). Baltic Sea Phytoplankton Identification Sheet No. 2. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 26: 91-92.
Kaitala, S., Kivi, K. & Kuosa, H. 1987. Nutrient and zooplankton control on phytoplankton succession. - Baltic Sea Env. Proc. 19: 350-358.
Kononen, K. & Niemi, Å. 1986. Variation in phytoplankton and hydrography in the outer archipelago at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland in 1968-1975. - Finnish Mar. Res. 253: 35-51.
Kukk, E. & Niemi, Å. 1987. Finnish-Soviet intercalibration of phytoplankton identification used for monitoring the conditions of the Gulf of Finland. - Meri 13: 7-42.
Kuosa, H. 1987. Finnish records of the green algal genus Scenedesmus (Chlorococcales) from coastal waters and rock-pools. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 24: 395-402.
Kuosa, H. 1986. The phytoplankton of a small brackish-water bay, Tvärminne Byviken, southern Finland. - Ophelia, Suppl. 4: 119-127.
Kuosa, H. 1988. First record of Paulinella chromatophora (Testacea, Rhizopoda) from the northern Baltic Sea. - Memoranda Soc. Fauna Flora Fennica 64: 77-78.
Kuosa, H. 1988. Horizontal mesoscale distribution of phytoplankton in the Tvärminne sea area, southern Finland. - Hydrobiologia 161: 69-73.
Kuosa, H. 1988. Occurrence of autotrophic picoplankton along an open sea - inner archipelago gradient in the Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea. - Ophelia 28: 85-93.
Kuosa, H. 1990. Picoplanktonic cyanobacteria in the northern Baltic Sea: role in the phytoplankton community. - In: Barnes, M. & Gibson, R.N. (eds.), Trophic relationships in the marine environment. Proc. 24th Eur. Mar. Biol. Symp.: 11-17.
Kuosa, H. & Hällfors, G. 1990. Koliella spiralis Kuosa (Chlorophyceae, Ulotrichales). - Ann. Bot. Fennici 27: 353-354.
Niemi, Å., Skuja, H. & Willén, T. 1970. Phytoplankton from the Pojoviken-Tvärminne area, S. coast of Finland. – Memor. Soc. Flora Fennici 46: 14-28.
Niemi, Å. & Åström, A.-M. 1987. Ecology of phytoplankton in the Tvärminne area, SW coast of Finland. IV. Environmental conditions, chlorophyll a and phytoplankton in winter and spring 1984 at Tvärminne Storfjärd. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 24: 333-352.
List any other publications relating specifically to the biodiversity or environment at the site.
Fish
Sundell, J. 1994. Dynamics and composition of littoral fish fauna along the coast of SW-Finland. - Aqua Fennica 24: 37-49.
Lappalainen, A., Rask, M., Koponen, H. & Vesala, S. 2001. Relative abundance, diet and growth of perch (Perca fluviatilis) and roach (Rutilus rutilus) at Tvärminne, northern Baltic Sea, in 1975 and 1997: responses to eutrophication? – Boreal. Env. Res. 6: 107-108.
Rock-pools
Long-term data (scientific publications) is available on the rock-pool communities.
Sea birds
Long-term data (scientific publications, inventories) available on the sea bird populations in the area
There is also a substantial amount of master thesis (in Finnish or Swedish) with information on the biodiversity at the site.
List publications relating to historical/time-series data at the site.
Macrobenthos:
Kauppi, P. & Bäck, S. 2001. The state of the Finnish coastal zone in 1990s. – The Finnish Environment 472, 134 pp.
Phytoplankton:
Kononen, K. & Niemi, Å. 1986. Variation in phytoplankton and hydrography in the outer archipelago at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland in 1968-1975. - Finnish Mar. Res. 253: 35-51.
Zooplankton:
Viitasalo, M. 1992. Mesozooplankton of the Gulf of Finland and northern Baltic proper. - A review of monitoring data. - Ophelia 35: 147-168
Is biodiversity information available in electronic form? If so, what is the nature of the database (CD-ROM, web-site)?
No
PROTECTION STATUS: The pristine nature of the site should be protected by legislation if it is to be a "flagship site" for future monitoring.
What conservation legislation (national, European, international) is currently in place, how well is it implemented and how long will it last?
National:
The site is a protected nature conservation area since 1981. Part of the area was protected earlier. Categorized as a marine reserve set aside primarily for the protection of the marine environment (HELCOM 1996. Coastal and marine protected areas in the Baltic Sea region. No 63).
European:
Included in a 52 000 ha large Natura 2000 area
FACILITIES: The infrastructure for biodiversity research should be available. There should also be a national commitment in terms of financing and scientific activity (i.e funding should not be entirely dependent on the success of any future EU programme).
How accessible is the location?
The site is easily accessible. The field station is situated 130 km from Helsinki easily accessed by car and public transports (11 km from the railway station).
Is it limited seasonally (e.g. not accessible in winter)?
Not limited. Sampling etc. possible during the whole year.
Is it accessible by car or by boat (indicate means of transport and distance from laboratory facilities in km)?
The site is attached to the station area and easily accessed by boat.
What is the status of local facilities:
The main building (2 100 m2) was renovated in 1998 and the laboratory- and experimental facilities are modern.
The accomodation facilites were built in 1970 and have a good standard.
The station offers full board for its visitors.
Laboratory:
In the main building there are:
For experimental studies there are:
For experiments demanding natural daylight and temperature variation there are two buildings (100 m2) with transparent walls and roofs and sea-water.
For fieldsampling standard sampling gears for benthos -> plankton are available.
Boats:
6 outboard motor boats, three somewhat larger (20-27 ft) inboard working boats and a research vessel Saduria (48 ft equipped with a hydraulic crane, winches). For sampling during the winter (in case of ice) the station has a hydrocopter and a four wheel motorcycle.
Are these facilities available for guest researchers?
Yes, app. 20 % of the researchers working at the station are foreign researchers.
What facilities are there for SCUBA diving?
Diving equipment include a 200/300 bar compressor, sets of SCUBA diving gear, oxygen administration apparatus and underwater sampling gears.
What housing is available?
Student dormitory with 20 twin bedrooms and a dormitory for scientists with 10 twin bedrooms and a few larger flats and four summer houses.
During the summer the station can accommodate 100 persons and during the winter 80 persons.
List the sources of funding currently in place specifically for biodiversity research at this site (from where and how much).
The research done at the station is conducted by researchers with their own projects and own finances. The projects are funded by EU, the Finnish Academy and private foundations. There are two foundations that early finance research projects conducted at the station dealing with the Baltic Sea, the coastal zone and the archipelago. The amount of funding from these two foundations is app. 2.5 milj FIM per year.
The station has a permanent staff of 20 and from 2002 onward a professor in Baltic Sea research will be a new member of the permanent staff.
List by name the persons currently involved in biodiversity research at this site, their roles and the percentage of their time spent on this research.
Projects:
Functional diversity in planktonic ecosystems. Comparative study of ecological transfer efficiency in freshwater, brackish water, and oceanic coastal habitats
Financed by the Finnish Academy.
Project leader dr. Timo Tamminen from the Finnish Environment Institute
Ecology of shallow coastal archipelago waters
Financed by the Walter och Andrée de Nottbecks foundation.
Project leader dr. Markku Viitasalo from the Finnish Institute of Marine Research
Perennial macro algae composition a an indicator of long-term changes in water environment
Financed by the Walter och Andrée de Nottbecks foundation.
Project leader dr. Ari Ruuskanen from the University of Helsinki.
The role of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis in the north eastern Baltic Sea: factors determining the distribution of the species at the edge of its range
Financed by the Walter och Andrée de Nottbecks foundation
Project leader MSc Mats Westerbom from the University of Helsinki
Long-term monitoring:
Macrobenthos is monitored twice a year (data available from 1926). The monitoring is done in cooperation with the Finnish Environment Institute and the Finnish Institute of Marine Research
Zooplankton is monitored once per month since 1966.
The monitoring is done in cooperation with the Finnish Institute of Marine Research
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
Please use this section to add any additional supporting comments, for example what do you think is special about your site from the biodiversity point of view, why is it important to monitor biodiversity there, and what is the public awareness of this?
Research concerning the coastal biota and the archipelago at the site and in the adjacent area has been conducted since 1902 when the station was founded. Consequently there is a substantial amount of background information.
The site it is well suited for biodiversity monitoring due to
1) the background information available (publications, thesis works etc.)
2) the accessibility and,
3) the protection status.
The station is also very well known. It is often consulted by authorities in environmental issues concerning the coastal zone management etc.
As for the public awareness a lot of groups are visiting the station (app. 20/year) and they are provided with information on the station activities and the Baltic Sea as such.