Outline

Paleoecological reconstructions of marine soft-bottom
Ecological Status and in situ reference conditions:
calibrating benthic foraminifera with macrofauna and hydrographic data.

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The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires that assessments of aquatic ecological status are based on comparison with reference (background) conditions. Soft-bottom invertebrates represent one of the biological quality elements on which the assessments will be based. To date, no monitoring programs include methods which can adequately define biological reference conditions in soft-bottom coastal and transitional waters. The project aims to assess new, cost-efficient hind-casting tools for determining in situ ecologic status dating back over long time spans (e.g., decades to centuries) in coastal, fjordic and transitional soft-bottom habitats. The tools will include a foraminifera-macrofauna integrated classification system and an [O2]bottom water transfer function. Correlations between fossil foraminiferal and historic macrofauna/hydrographic data will be tested to see if the estimated values parallel the historical time-series data. The tools will enable reconstruction and assessment of the ecological status from pre-impacted (i.e., beyond the range of biologic and hydrographic time-series), through impacted to subsequent recovery situations. This will be demonstrated in areas subjected to different environmental forcing. Colonization of capped sediments in areas undergoing remediation will assess whether or not reference conditions are re-established. Consequently, the methods could also serve as predictive tools.

Principle objectives

  • Develop palaeoecology-based tools for reconstructing soft-bottom ecologic status, including reference conditions in coastal waters.
  • Develop a transfer function to reconstruct past [O2]bottom water.
  • The outcome will allow in situ determination of past conditions independently of prior knowledge of the areas.

Secondary objectives

  •  Develop sensitivity values for foraminiferal species.Define relationships between soft-bottom benthic foraminifera and macrofauna responses to environmental conditions in Skagerrak coastal waters exposed to environmental forcing.
  •  Compare macrofauna- and hydrographic time-series with fossil benthic foraminiferal assemblages of the same time-interval.
  •  Demonstrate the applicability of the foram-macrofauna integrated classification system and the [O2]bottom water transfer function.
  • Study recolonization processes.
Published Dec. 6, 2010 3:50 PM - Last modified Dec. 6, 2010 5:45 PM