Marine Ecology Progress Series
MEPS is a leading hybrid research journal on all aspects of marine, coastal and estuarine ecology. Priority is given to outstanding research that advances our ecological understanding.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps207201
copiedA long-term perspective on the Chrysochromulina bloom on the Norwegian Skagerrak coast 1988: a catastrophe or an innocent incident?
- Jakob Gjøsæter
- Kyrre Lekve
- Nils Chr. Stenseth
- Hans Petter Leinaas
- Hartvig Christie
- Einar Dahl
- Didrik S. Danielssen
- Bente Edvardsen
- FrodeOlsgard ???
- Eivind Oug
- Eystein Paasche
ABSTRACT: The long-term effects of the 1988 algal bloom (Chrysochromulina polylepis Manton et Parke) along the Norwegian Skagerrak coast are evaluated and discussed on the basis of several monitoring programmes. Effects on individual growth andsurvival of coastal cod and its population dynamics are analysed. Cod suffered a high mortality from June until November, and the 1988 year-class was strongly reduced. Growth was only slightly affected. Furthermore, the effects at the community level areevaluated for the coastal fish community and the benthic communities. These communities were strongly affected on a short time scale, but recovered surprisingly fast. Populations of most organisms had recovered within months, and after 1 yr few traces ofthe toxic bloom could be observed; after 4 to 5 yr all communities had essentially recovered. As part of the review we also discuss to what extent harmful blooms are likely to reoccur, and conclude that blooms have reoccurred and will continue to do so.However, nothing can be concluded about the toxicity of such blooms. We expect that even large perturbations are unlikely to leave any profound long-lasting effects. The effects of the 1988 bloom are discussed within a theoretical framework includingstability, resilience and inertia. In conclusion we emphasise the importance of long-term monitoring data; without such data the analyses reported in this paper would have been impossible.
KEYWORDS
Jakob Gjøsæter (Co-author)
- Institute of Marine Research, Flødevigen Marine Research Station, 4817 His, Norway
Kyrre Lekve (Co-author)
- Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1050 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
Nils Chr. Stenseth (Corresponding Author)
- Institute of Marine Research, Flødevigen Marine Research Station, 4817 His, Norway
- Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1050 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
Hans Petter Leinaas (Co-author)
- Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1050 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
Hartvig Christie (Co-author)
- Norwegian Institute forNature Research, PO Box 736 Sentrum, 0105 Oslo, Norway
Einar Dahl (Co-author)
- Institute of Marine Research, Flødevigen Marine Research Station, 4817 His, Norway
Didrik S. Danielssen (Co-author)
- Institute of Marine Research, Flødevigen Marine Research Station, 4817 His, Norway
Bente Edvardsen (Co-author)
- Section for Marine Botany, Department of Biology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1069 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
FrodeOlsgard ??? (Co-author)
- Division of Marine Chemistry and Marine Zoology,Department of Biology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1050 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway
Eivind Oug (Co-author)
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Regional Office Grimstad, Televeien 1, 4890 Grimstad, Norway
Eystein Paasche (Co-author)
- Section for Marine Botany, Department of Biology, University of Oslo, PO Box 1069 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway