Enhanced warming and bacterial biomass production as key factors for coastal hypoxia in the southwestern Baltic Sea

Abstract

Coastal ecosystems are affected by a multitude of anthropogenic stressors. As the Baltic Sea ecosystems rank among the most altered marine ecosystems worldwide, they represent ideal model regions to study ecosystem responses to anthropogenic pressures. Our statistical analysis of data including dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen, as well as bacterial abundance and -biomass production from the time-series station Boknis Eck in the southwestern Baltic Sea reveals that bacterial biomass production intensifies towards summer following the phytoplankton spring bloom. Moreover, warming, especially very high temperatures in summer, enhances stratification and bacterial biomass production despite long-term reduction in nutrient input. A strong decrease in oxygen in the bottom layer is possibly linked to this. We detect an increasing trend in bacterial biomass production along with intensifying warming and stratification, and more frequently occurring hypoxia despite ongoing restoration efforts. If this trend continues, the coastal Baltic Sea ecosystem is likely to be altered even further. Coastal ecosystems play pivotal roles in mitigating impacts of climate change but if destroyed, they may amplify climate change further calling for stronger ecosystem management strategies.