Ecosystem dynamics in the Baltic Sea in a changing climate (EcoChange)

In the Baltic Sea area, climate change is expected to increase both temperature and precipitation. The freshwater will bring increasing amounts of pollutants and terrestrial organic matter to the already strained Baltic Sea. The Baltic contains several basins, which show fundamental differences in hydrology and food web structure. In order to predict the consequences of climate change in the different parts of the Baltic, basin-specific studies are therefore required.

The main goal in EcoChange is to describe and analyse key processes and factors of importance for the future structure and function of the Baltic Sea ecosystem. Human-induced change factors are important components in the complex picture. The results yield significant input to a sustainable management of the Baltic Sea.

The research is divided into the following five integrated themes:

• Theme 1: Effects of changes of environmental drivers on the structure and productivity of the microbial food web;
• Theme 2: Feedback of higher trophic levels and overharvesting;
• Theme 3: Future changes in food web transport of legacy and emerging POPs;
• Theme 4: Support for marine monitoring;
• Theme 5: Integrated synthesis of the research.