<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Benthic species associated with hard substrate are known to form communities characterized by high abundance and biomass. Although the bottom of the Southern Baltic Sea is dominated by soft sediments, such communities find favorable conditions to thrive on artificial substrates of offshore constructions. The aim of this research was to characterize both short-term and long-term benthic communities associated with artificial hard bottom provided by man-made structures in the Southern Baltic Sea. Species composition as well as the abundance and biomass were examined at various sites. An inactive World War II torpedo testing facility in the Gulf of Gdansk served as a site for sampling long-term communities while short-term communities were sampled using settlement panels and PVC cylinders. Panels were deployed at the torpedo testing facility for 127 days. PVC cylinders were deployed for 141-190 days in the Polish Exclusive Economic Zone. Twenty six macrofaunal taxa, including 12 crustaceans, were identified during the research. <italic>Mytilus edulis</italic> and <italic>Amphibalanus improvisus</italic> were the most abundant invertebrates at sampled surfaces. Six non-indigenous species were found. For the first time adult individuals of <italic>Mytilopsis leucophaeata</italic> were found in the Polish Marine Areas indicating that it is possible for this non-indigenous species to reproduce in this region.</p>
</abstract>

Benthic species associated with hard substrate are known to form communities characterized by high abundance and biomass. Although the bottom of the Southern Baltic Sea is dominated by soft sediments, such communities find favorable conditions to thrive on artificial substrates of offshore constructions. The aim of this research was to characterize both short-term and long-term benthic communities associated with artificial hard bottom provided by man-made structures in the Southern Baltic Sea. Species composition as well as the abundance and biomass were examined at various sites. An inactive World War II torpedo testing facility in the Gulf of Gdansk served as a site for sampling long-term communities while short-term communities were sampled using settlement panels and PVC cylinders. Panels were deployed at the torpedo testing facility for 127 days. PVC cylinders were deployed for 141-190 days in the Polish Exclusive Economic Zone. Twenty six macrofaunal taxa, including 12 crustaceans, were identified during the research. Mytilus edulis and Amphibalanus improvisus were the most abundant invertebrates at sampled surfaces. Six non-indigenous species were found. For the first time adult individuals of Mytilopsis leucophaeata were found in the Polish Marine Areas indicating that it is possible for this non-indigenous species to reproduce in this region.

Artificial hard substrate as a habitat for hard bottom benthic assemblages in the southern part of the Baltic Sea – a preliminary study

Department of Experimental Ecology of Marine Organisms

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Benthic species associated with hard substrate are known to form communities characterized by high abundance and biomass. Although the bottom of the Southern...

Artificial hard substrate as a habitat for hard bottom benthic assemblages in the southern part of the Baltic Sea – a preliminary study

Article Category: Original research paper

Published Online: Mar 10, 2016

Page range: 121 - 130

Received: Jun 15, 2015

Accepted: Aug 31, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ohs-2016-0012

Keywords
artificial substrates, hard bottom, biofouling, offshore constructions, marine man-made structures

© Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdañsk, Poland. All rights reserved.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Artificial hard substrate as a habitat for hard bottom benthic assemblages in the southern part of the Baltic Sea – a preliminary study

Article Category: Original research paper

Published Online: Mar 10, 2016

Page range: 121 - 130

Received: Jun 15, 2015

Accepted: Aug 31, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ohs-2016-0012

Keywordsartificial substrates, hard bottom, biofouling, offshore constructions, marine man-made structures

© Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdañsk, Poland. All rights reserved.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
artificial substrates, hard bottom, biofouling, offshore constructions, marine man-made structures