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BENTHIC INFAUNAL VARIATION IN GULLMARSFJORD, WESTERN SWEDEN - IS CLIMATE VARIATION A MAJOR FACTOR?
Citation:
Nelson, W G. AND B. G. Tunberg. BENTHIC INFAUNAL VARIATION IN GULLMARSFJORD, WESTERN SWEDEN - IS CLIMATE VARIATION A MAJOR FACTOR? Presented at 29th Annual Benthic Ecology Meeting, Wilmington, NC, March 9-12, 2000.
Description:
In October 1987, there was extensive mortality of benthic organisms in relatively shallow water areas of the inner part of the Gullmarsfjord on the Swedish west coast, probably caused by low oxygen levels. Benthic disturbance caused by a continuation of hypoxia was also seen in June 1988. By 1990, benthic communities had recovered dramatically. A less severe benthic disturbance occurred between 1991 and 1993. Cross correlation analyses suggest that at some stations, infaunal community variation is related to regional climatic variations linked to the North Atlantic Oscillation. Climate variation may alter surface freshwater inflows and nutrient input, deep water renewal, and pelagic production levels in the fjord which may result in benthic community alterations.