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Assessment of biopollution in aquatic ecosystems
Olenin, S.; Minchin, D.; Daunys, D. (2007). Assessment of biopollution in aquatic ecosystems. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 55(7-9): 379-394. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2007.01.010
In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. Macmillan: London. ISSN 0025-326X; e-ISSN 1879-3363, more
Also appears in:
Occhipinti-Ambrogi, A.; Sheppard, C. (Ed.) (2007). Marine bioinvasions: a collection of reviews. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 55(Spec. Issue 7-9). Elsevier: Amsterdam. 299-401 pp., more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Alien species
    Community
    Ecosystem disturbance
    Environments > Aquatic environment > Marine environment
    Habitat
    Impacts
    Indigenous species
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    xenodiversity; biological pollution; community; habitat; ecosystem;alien species

Authors  Top 
  • Olenin, S., more
  • Minchin, D.
  • Daunys, D., more

Abstract
    The introduction of alien species (AS) in marine environments is a factor of disturbance that can be viewed as a pollution agent. Using basic information on abundance and distribution of alien species, we developed an index that classifies AS impacts on native species, communities, habitats and ecosystem functioning. This method can be used to evaluate impact at five different levels of biopollution, fitting within the existing schemes for water quality assessment. Both spatial and temporal comparisons are possible. The assessments may also be used to evaluate management performance where avoidance measures were necessary and assist in preventing further unwanted introductions. Such assessments made for the same areas over time provide opportunities for measuring change in biopollution. We have tested the method using four different well-studied areas within the Baltic Sea (brackish to freshwater environments) for two different times, 20 years apart. Further developments of the scheme may be needed to cover some specific cases and taxonomic groups according to their life history.

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