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  • © 2017

Biological Oceanography of the Baltic Sea

  • The first comprehensive textbook on the biology and ecology of the Baltic Sea
  • Comprehensive summary of up-to-date Baltic Sea science (biology, ecology) for researchers in marine sciences
  • Highlights the special nature of biological variation in the Baltic Sea
  • Discusses ecosystem-based management
  • Highlights biological variation along the unique environmental gradients of the brackish Baltic Sea Area
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (18 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxxi
  2. The Baltic Sea environment

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Brackish water as an environment

      • Hendrik Schubert, Dirk Schories, Bernd Schneider, Uwe Selig
      Pages 3-21
    3. Why is the Baltic Sea so special to live in?

      • Pauline Snoeijs-Leijonmalm, Elinor Andrén
      Pages 23-84
  3. Ecological processes in the Baltic Sea

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 85-85
    2. Biogeochemical cycles

      • Bernd Schneider, Olaf Dellwig, Karol Kuliński, Anders Omstedt, Falk Pollehne, Gregor Rehder et al.
      Pages 87-122
    3. Patterns of biodiversity

      • Pauline Snoeijs-Leijonmalm
      Pages 123-191
    4. Biological invasions

      • Sergej Olenin, Stephan Gollasch, Maiju Lehtiniemi, Mariusz Sapota, Anastasija Zaiko
      Pages 193-232
    5. Genetic diversity and evolution

      • Risto Väinölä, Kerstin Johannesson
      Pages 233-253
    6. Physiological adaptations

      • Hendrik Schubert, Irena Telesh, Mikko Nikinmaa, Sergei Skarlato
      Pages 255-278
  4. Subsystems of the Baltic Sea ecosystem

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 279-279
    2. The pelagic food web

      • Agneta Andersson, Timo Tamminen, Sirpa Lehtinen, Klaus Jürgens, Matthias Labrenz, Markku Viitasalo
      Pages 281-332
    3. Life associated with Baltic Sea ice

      • David N. Thomas, Hermanni Kaartokallio, Letizia Tedesco, Markus Majaneva, Jonna Piiparinen, Eeva Eronen-Rasimus et al.
      Pages 333-357
    4. Deep soft seabeds

      • Urszula Janas, Erik Bonsdorff, Jan Warzocha, Teresa Radziejewska
      Pages 359-385
    5. The phytobenthic zone

      • Hans Kautsky, Georg Martin, Pauline Snoeijs-Leijonmalm
      Pages 387-455
    6. Sandy coasts

      • Teresa Radziejewska, Jonne Kotta, Lech Kotwicki
      Pages 457-482
    7. Estuaries and coastal lagoons

      • Hendrik Schubert, Irena Telesh
      Pages 483-509
  5. Monitoring and ecosystem-based management of the Baltic Sea

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 511-511
    2. Biological indicators

      • Michael L. Zettler, Alexander Darr, Matthias Labrenz, Sigrid Sagert, Uwe Selig, Ursula Siebert et al.
      Pages 513-526
    3. Bio-optical water quality assessment

      • Susanne Kratzer, Piotr Kowalczuk, Sławomir Sagan
      Pages 527-545

About this book

This is the first comprehensive science-based textbook on the biology and ecology of the Baltic Sea, one of the world’s largest brackish water bodies. The aim of this book is to provide students and other readers with knowledge about the conditions for life in brackish water, the functioning of the Baltic Sea ecosystem and its environmental problems and management. It highlights biological variation along the unique environmental gradients of the brackish Baltic Sea Area (the Baltic Sea, Belt Sea and Kattegat), especially those in salinity and climate. 

pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:#262626">The first part of the book presents the challenges for life processes and ecosystem dynamics that result from the Baltic Sea’s highly variable recent geological history and geographical isolation. The second part explains interactions between organisms and their environment, including biogeochemical cycles, patterns of biodiversity, genetic diversity and evolution, biological invasions and physiological adaptations. In the third part, the subsystems of the Baltic Sea ecosystem – the pelagic zone, the sea ice, the deep soft sea beds, the phytobenthic zone, the sandy coasts, and estuaries and coastal lagoons – are treated in detail with respect to the structure and function of communities and habitats and consequences of natural and anthropogenic constraints, such as climate change, discharges of nutrients and hazardous substances. Finally, the fourth part of the book discusses monitoring and ecosystem-based management to deal with contemporary and emerging threats to the ecosystem’s health.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Stockholm University , Stockholm, Sweden

    Pauline Snoeijs-Leijonmalm

  • Universität Rostock, Rostock, Germany

    Hendrik Schubert

  • Paleoceanography Unit, University of Szczecin Faculty of Geosciences, Szczecin, Poland

    Teresa Radziejewska

About the editors

Pauline Snoeijs is a professor in Pelagic Systems Ecology at the University of Stockholm. Her current research deals with the pelagic system of the brackish Baltic Sea and integrates ecology, ecophysiology and biochemistry.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access