Department of Ecology, Maritime Institute in Gdańsk Sopot, June 2008

1. Tasks and selected results of the project„Ecosystem approach to marine spatial planning – Polish marine areas and the Natura 2000 network” Department of Ecology, Maritime Institute in Gdańsk Sopot, June 2008 L. Kruk-Dowgiałło, A. Osowiecki, P. Brzeska, R. Opioła, M. Błeńska

2. Areas of research

3. Batymetric map of the Rowy boulder area (coastal waters Stilo-Ustka) Sonar map of the Rowy boulder area (coastal waters Stilo-Ustka) Methodology Selection of sampling sites: based on habitats delineated by experts using sonar and bathimetric maps

4. 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

5. Baltic habitat classification Classification based on: • Species composition • Biomass • Type of the sediment • % vegetation cover • Photos and video films

6. EUNIS Habitat Classification A Marine habitats Level 1 Littoral A1 (rock) A2 (sediment) Substrate non-mobile Yes Level 2 mobile Characterised by macroalgae/1.9xSecchi d. Yes No A4 Circalittoral rock and other hard substrata A5 Sublittoral sediment A3 Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata A5.1 Sublittoral coarse sediment (gravel, coarsesand) Level 3 A4.1High energy circalittoral rock A3.1 High energy infralittoral rock A5.2 Sublittoral sand A4.2 Moderate energy circalittoral rock A3.2 Moderate energy infralittoral rock A5.3 Sublittoral mud A4.3Low energy circalittoral rock A3.3 Low energy infralittoral rock A5.4 Sublittoral mixed sediments A5.5 Sublittoral macrophyte dominated sediment Level 4 & 5 LIST OF POTENTIAL HABITAT TYPES

7. 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

8. Puck BayA5: 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

9. Puck BayA5: Sublittoral sediment A5.2 – Sublittoral macrophyte-dominated sediment A5.54 – Angiosperm communities in reduced salinity A5.545 – Zostera beds in reduced salinity infralittoral sediments

10. Puck BayA5: Sublittoral sediment A5.2 – Sublittoral macrophyte-dominated sediment A5.2x –Macroalgae communitiesin reduced salinity proposal A5.2xx –Chara baltica dominated sublittoral sediment proposal

11. Results Słupsk Bank boulderarea A3 Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata A5 Sublittoral sediment

12. 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

13. EUNIS Habitat Classification A Marine habitats Level 1 Littoral A1 (rock) A2 (sediment) Substrate non-mobile Yes Level 2 mobile Characterised by macroalgae/1.9xSecchi d. Yes No A4 Circalittoral rock and other hard substrata A5 Sublittoral sediment A3 Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata ?Offshore Infralittoral... ?Offshore Circalittoral... A5.1 Sublittoral coarse sediment (gravel, coarsesand) Level 3 A4.1High energy circalittoral rock A3.1 High energy infralittoral rock A5.2 Sublittoral sand A4.2 Moderate energy circalittoral rock A3.2 Moderate energy infralittoral rock A5.3 Sublittoral mud A4.3Low energy circalittoral rock A3.3 Low energy infralittoral rock A5.4 Sublittoral mixed sediments A5.5 Sublittoral macrophyte dominated sediment Level 4 & 5 LIST OF POTENTIAL HABITAT TYPES

14. Słupsk Bank boulder areaA5: Sublittoral sediment A5.6 – Sublittoral biogenic reefs A5.62 – Sublittoral mussel beds on sediment? Biogenic reefs or mosaic sediments?

15. A Marine habitats Level 1 → Littoral A1 (rock) A2 (sediment) Substrate non-mobile X32 ?? Mosaic of mobile and non-mobile substrata in the infralittoral zone Yes Characterised by macroalgae/1.9xSecchi d. mobile Level 2 → Yes No A4 Circalittoral rock and other hard substrata A5 Sublittoral sediment A3 Infralittoral rock and other hard substrata ?Offshore Infralittoral... ?Offshore Circalittoral... A5.1 Sublittoral coarse sediment (gravel, coarsesand) X32.1 High energy Mosaic of mobile and non-mobile substrata in the infralittoral zone Level 3 → A4.1High energy circalittoral rock A3.1 High energy infralittoral rock A5.2 Sublittoral sand A4.2 Moderate energy circalittoral rock X32.2 Moderate energy Mosaic of mobile and non-mobile substrata in the infralittoral zone A3.2 Moderate energy infralittoral rock A5.3 Sublittoral mud A4.3Low energy circalittoral rock A3.3 Low energy infralittoral rock A5.4 Sublittoral mixed sediments X32.3 Low energy Mosaic of mobile and non-mobile substrata in the infralittoral zone A5.5 Sublittoral macrophyte dominated sediment Level 4 & 5 → List of potential habitat types

16. Tasks to do for Department of Ecology 3.2.3.1Model for identifying the habitats of PMA in reference to EUNIS classification and the results of methodology studies. (9%) 3.2.3.4Developing maps of the coastal water habitats from Stilo to Ustka. Vector map of habitats. (10%) 2.1.5Determining the elements and processes that characterize habitats for biological and socioeconomic valorization. Methodology instructions.(18%)

17. Criteria of natural valuation of marine water areas

18. Problems to be disscussed • Energy levels in the Baltic Sea. • Adding new habitat classes to EUNIS classificaton: • mosaic sediments • offshore habitats, e.g. Słupsk Bank boulder 3. Criteria for natural valuation