Skip to main content
Publications | Persons | Institutes | Projects
[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Spatial structure and biodiversity of macrofauna around marine munition dumpsites – A case study from the Baltic Sea
Vedenin, A.A.; Kröncke, I.; Beck, A.J.; Bodenbinder, A.; Chrysagi, E.; Gräwe, U.; Kampmeier, M.; Greinert, J. (2024). Spatial structure and biodiversity of macrofauna around marine munition dumpsites – A case study from the Baltic Sea. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 198: 115865. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115865
In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. Macmillan: London. ISSN 0025-326X; e-ISSN 1879-3363, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Retusa truncatula (Bruguière, 1792) [WoRMS]; Spio goniocephala Thulin, 1957 [WoRMS]; Varicorbula gibba (Olivi, 1792) [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Marine munition; Macrofauna biodiversity; TNT concentrations; GETM-TNT model; Kolberger Heide

Authors  Top 
  • Vedenin, A.A.
  • Kröncke, I.
  • Beck, A.J.
  • Bodenbinder, A.
  • Chrysagi, E.
  • Gräwe, U.
  • Kampmeier, M.
  • Greinert, J., more

Abstract
    Coastal German waters contain about 1.6 million tons of dumped munition, mostly left after World Wars. This study investigated the benthic macrofauna around the ‘Kolberger Heide’ munition dumpsite (Baltic Sea). A total of 93 macrofauna grab samples were obtained in the proximity of the munition dumpsite and in reference areas. Environmental variables analysed included the latitude/longitude, depth, terrain ruggedness, sediment grainsize distribution, TNT concentration in the bottom water and distance to the centre of munition dumpsite. The overall abundance, biomass and diversity varied among these groups, though demonstrated no clear differences regarding the proximity to munition and modelled near-bottom dissolved TNT. Among individual taxa, however, a total of 16 species demonstrated significant correlation with TNT concentration. Moreover, TNT may serve as a predictor for the distribution of three species: molluscs Retusa truncatula, Varicorbula gibba and polychaete Spio goniocephala. Possible reasons for the species distribution including their biological traits are discussed.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors