Distribution and extent of benthic habitats in Puck Bay (Gulf of Gdańsk, southern Baltic Sea)

The majority of the southern Baltic Sea seabed encompasses homogenous soft-bottom sediments of limited productivity and low biological diversity, but shallow productive areas in the coastal zone such as wetlands, vegetated lagoons and sheltered bays show a high variety of benthic habitat types offer...

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Main Authors: Adam Sokołowski, Emilia Jankowska, Piotr Balazy, Agnieszka Jędruch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences 2021-07-01
Series:Oceanologia
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0078323421000312
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author Adam Sokołowski
Emilia Jankowska
Piotr Balazy
Agnieszka Jędruch
author_facet Adam Sokołowski
Emilia Jankowska
Piotr Balazy
Agnieszka Jędruch
author_sort Adam Sokołowski
collection DOAJ
description The majority of the southern Baltic Sea seabed encompasses homogenous soft-bottom sediments of limited productivity and low biological diversity, but shallow productive areas in the coastal zone such as wetlands, vegetated lagoons and sheltered bays show a high variety of benthic habitat types offering favourable biotopic conditions for benthic fauna. Within Polish marine areas, semi-enclosed Puck Bay (the western part of the Gulf of Gdańsk) features an exceptionally diverse environment covering a range of benthic habitats which underscores its unique biological value and aesthetic quality and providing an impetus for conservation and ecosystem-based development. Full-coverages maps on benthic habitats in this area are therefore a necessary foundation for maritime spatial planning and implementation of strategies for sustainable management and protection of the coastal environment. This study presents the first comprehensive description and distribution of benthic habitats in Puck Bay which were categorised using the revised EUNIS 2019 classification system. Typological analyses were carried out based on inventory datasets from 1995 to 2019 including scientific publications, satellite images, open databases, topographic and geological maps, reports, theses, information available on websites and unpublished data shared willingly by individual researchers and administrative institutions. Collating various spatial data sources, that were first georeferenced and then visualized using techniques available in ArcMap 10.4.1 software (Esri), resulted in the mapping of benthic habitats and sites of important and protected plant species, which can contribute to the high confidence in environmental assessments and monitoring activities.
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spelling doaj-art-1aec3edc85fb4442be5383f09602be2f2025-08-20T03:54:24ZengInstitute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of SciencesOceanologia0078-32342021-07-0163330132010.1016/j.oceano.2021.03.001Distribution and extent of benthic habitats in Puck Bay (Gulf of Gdańsk, southern Baltic Sea)Adam Sokołowski0Emilia Jankowska1Piotr Balazy2Agnieszka Jędruch3University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Institute of Oceanography, Gdynia, Poland; Corresponding author at: University of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Institute of Oceanography, al. Marszałka Piłsudskiego 46, 81–378 Gdynia, Poland.Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, Sopot, PolandInstitute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, Sopot, PolandUniversity of Gdańsk, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, Institute of Oceanography, Gdynia, PolandThe majority of the southern Baltic Sea seabed encompasses homogenous soft-bottom sediments of limited productivity and low biological diversity, but shallow productive areas in the coastal zone such as wetlands, vegetated lagoons and sheltered bays show a high variety of benthic habitat types offering favourable biotopic conditions for benthic fauna. Within Polish marine areas, semi-enclosed Puck Bay (the western part of the Gulf of Gdańsk) features an exceptionally diverse environment covering a range of benthic habitats which underscores its unique biological value and aesthetic quality and providing an impetus for conservation and ecosystem-based development. Full-coverages maps on benthic habitats in this area are therefore a necessary foundation for maritime spatial planning and implementation of strategies for sustainable management and protection of the coastal environment. This study presents the first comprehensive description and distribution of benthic habitats in Puck Bay which were categorised using the revised EUNIS 2019 classification system. Typological analyses were carried out based on inventory datasets from 1995 to 2019 including scientific publications, satellite images, open databases, topographic and geological maps, reports, theses, information available on websites and unpublished data shared willingly by individual researchers and administrative institutions. Collating various spatial data sources, that were first georeferenced and then visualized using techniques available in ArcMap 10.4.1 software (Esri), resulted in the mapping of benthic habitats and sites of important and protected plant species, which can contribute to the high confidence in environmental assessments and monitoring activities.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0078323421000312Benthic habitatsMappingSpatial characteristicsPuck BaySouthern Baltic Sea
spellingShingle Adam Sokołowski
Emilia Jankowska
Piotr Balazy
Agnieszka Jędruch
Distribution and extent of benthic habitats in Puck Bay (Gulf of Gdańsk, southern Baltic Sea)
Oceanologia
Benthic habitats
Mapping
Spatial characteristics
Puck Bay
Southern Baltic Sea
title Distribution and extent of benthic habitats in Puck Bay (Gulf of Gdańsk, southern Baltic Sea)
title_full Distribution and extent of benthic habitats in Puck Bay (Gulf of Gdańsk, southern Baltic Sea)
title_fullStr Distribution and extent of benthic habitats in Puck Bay (Gulf of Gdańsk, southern Baltic Sea)
title_full_unstemmed Distribution and extent of benthic habitats in Puck Bay (Gulf of Gdańsk, southern Baltic Sea)
title_short Distribution and extent of benthic habitats in Puck Bay (Gulf of Gdańsk, southern Baltic Sea)
title_sort distribution and extent of benthic habitats in puck bay gulf of gdansk southern baltic sea
topic Benthic habitats
Mapping
Spatial characteristics
Puck Bay
Southern Baltic Sea
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0078323421000312
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AT piotrbalazy distributionandextentofbenthichabitatsinpuckbaygulfofgdansksouthernbalticsea
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