Long-term Development of the Hydroecosystem of the Lake Engure and its Influencing Factors

Spriņģe, Gunta; Briede, Agrita; Druvietis, Ivars; Grīnberga, Līga; Konosonoka, Inga; Parele, Elga; Rodinovs, Valērijs; Skuja, Agnija

doi:10.2478/v10145-011-0034-y

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Gasi ūnait ė et al [68] found that the range of phytoplankton biomass was similar to our study, varying from 10.3 to 30.2 mg/L (the Mērsrags N had a higher biomass formed by diatoms in 2020) and reaching the highest values during an intense A. flos-aquae bloom in 2002 [69]. Compared to the lagoon-type lake Engures, which is connected to the Baltic Sea and is located near the Mērsrags lagoon, where long-term studies have been carried out [70], differences in species composition and phytoplankton biomass are very low (0.13-0.39 mg/L). Contrary to the lagoon phytoplankton communities, lake phytoplankton community structure was more homogeneous.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Characteristics of Two Lagoons in the Coastal Area of the Baltic Sea

Purmalis,

Grinberga,

Dobkevica

et al. 2024

Limnological Review

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The proposed study is focused on an ecological analysis of Latvian coastal lagoons, emphasizing their unique but vulnerable nature. Coastal lagoons are recognized as fragile ecosystems of significant ecological, social, and economic value, as recognized by the European Directive 92/43/EEC (Habitats Directive). Despite their protected status, the existence of these ecosystems can be threatened by morphological, hydrological, and anthropogenic changes. The uniqueness of these ecosystems can be determined by the large number of influencing factors and their dynamics. They are affected by seawater, their level of fluctuation, wind exposure, overgrowing with macrophytes, freshwater sources, and water flow generated streams affecting sediment transport and accumulation. All the influencing factors determine a highly trophic ecosystem, which in the studied lagoons is rated as medium to poor ecological status, which confirms the above-mentioned vulnerability and fragility. The aim of this study was to analyze two lagoons in the coastal area of the Baltic Sea in the Riga Gulf, by characterizing, for the first time, their current conditions and ecological parameters because understanding such ecosystems is only partial. The physicochemical composition of lagoon sediments and water shows the impact of seawater by increased electrical conductivity and the concentration of SO42− and Cl− in water, while the presence of detritus in sediments is almost non-existent; thus, the content of organic matter is low with relatively variable pH. The results show that the diversity of studied benthic macroinvertebrates, macrophytes, zooplankton, and even phytoplankton species is low, but there is higher diversity in lagoons and their parts with regular water exchange with the sea. The study provides valuable insight into the ecological dynamics of coastal lagoons in Latvia, shedding light on their current conditions, anthropogenic impact, and the need for sustainable management measures.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Characteristics of Two Lagoons in the Coastal Area of the Baltic Sea

Purmalis,

Grinberga,

Dobkevica

et al. 2024

Limnological Review

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“…during 60 years of our observations, this influence is not so obvious without special detailed studies. The trend analysis of temperature series for the period 1970-2009 has shown a statistically significant increase of annual mean temperature (Spriòìe et al, 2011).…”

Section: Climatementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unfortunately, there are no data on concentrations of biogenic elements before 1995. Since 1995, no major changes have been observed in concentrations of biogenic elements (Spriòìe et al, 2011). For water birds, the most important habitats are (1) coastal, island and slough areas covered with meadow vegetation, and (2) emergent vegetation.…”

Section: Vegetation Successionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors influencing the number of breeding water birds in Lake Engure, Latvia

Viksne¹,

Janaus²,

Mednis³

2011

Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences.

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Factors influencing the number of breeding water birds in Lake Engure, Latvia Lake Engure has attracted great interest since the middle of the 19th century when the water level of the lake was lowered by construction of a canal. The lake area decreased from 90 km2to about 45 km2, and favourable conditions were created for development of emergent vegetation (presently covers 58.6% of area). A nature protection regime was established in 1957. The lake was included in the Important Bird Area list in 1994, in the Ramsar lists in 1995, and as part of the Natura 2000 network in 2004. The present paper deals mostly with data collected by the Laboratory of Ornithology, Institute of Biology, in the period 1948-2011. Direct and indirect impacts of climate, human activities, water level, vegetation succession, anthropogenic and natural food and predation on water birds (coot, waders, ducks, larids and grebes), as well as relationships between these water bird groups, were demonstrated. The impact of vegetation succession via overgrowing of meadows with reed and bushes, merging of the mosaic of small stands of emergents into huge reed dominated massives (thus reducing areas of habitats suitable for water birds) is described. The relation of Black-headed Gull population size with availability/unavailability of anthropogenic food and the associated changes in breeding duck numbers, as well as predation structure are discussed.

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“…Connection with the sea through the canal does not substantially affect the fish species communities, mostly being casual as for example migration of salmon Salmo salar, whitefish Coregonus lavaretus and flounder Platichthys flesus in the northern part of the Lake. However, smaller aquatic organisms of benthos have formed specific oligo-and mesohaline species communities in the location where the Lake and sea waters mixing occurs, thereby increasing species diversity of Lake's benthos community (Springe et al, 2011;Kokorîte u.c., 2013). In 1966, the goldfish Carassius auratus auratus was introduced to the Lake.…”

Section: Lake Engurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…For the Lake Engure Nature Park, the core area of the Engure LT(S)ER region, maps of distribution of vegetation, plant and bird species were prepared. The data on soil, sediment and water chemistry (Briede et al, 2000;Kïaviòð et al, 2011a;2011b;Kïaviòð u.c., 2013), analysis of the main influencing factors of Lake Engure (Springe et al, 2011), plant community structure and species distribution (Auniòð et al, 2000;Gavrilova and Baroniòa, 2000;Laime, 2000;Gavrilova et al, 2011;Laiviòð u.c., 2013;Rûsiòa u.c., 2013), available long-term data on population structure of birds (Vîksne, 1997;Vîksne et al, 2011), freshwater and marine aquatic communities (Strâíe, 2000;Kokorîte u.c., 2013;Strâíe u.c., 2013) and sea pollution (Seisuma and Kuïikova, 2000;Seisuma et al, 2011); lake and coastal marine fish (Aleksejevs un Birzaks, 2013;Strâíe u.c., 2013), insect communities (Karpa, 2000;Melecis et al, 2000; were collected and analysed in relation to human activity, including fishery, agriculture, and tourism (Rozîte and Vinklere, 2011;Pençze et al, 2013;Strautnieks and Grîne, 2013). Synthesis of these data allowed to come up with a conceptual integrated model of socio-economic biodiversity pressures and drivers for the Engure LT(S)ER platform.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Conceptual Model of the Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research Platform of Engure Ecoregion, Latvia

Melecis¹,

Kļaviņš²,

Laiviņš³

et al. 2014

Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences.

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The article discusses the results of the national project aimed at elaboration of a conceptual integrated model of the Engure LT(S)ER (Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research) platform of Latvia. The platform represents the drainage basin of costal Lake Engure (644 km2) together with the coastal marine zone of the Gulf of Rîga. The core zone of the ecoregion is the Lake Engure Nature Park (LENP), which is a Ramsar site. The conceptual model is a slightly modified version based on the DPSIR (Drivers-Pressures-States-Impacts-Responses) concept. The socioecological system was spatially demarcated and drivers were subdivided in two groups - external and local ones. The Engure ecoregion was subdivided into seven zones or sub-regions mostly demarcated by natural geological and geographical barriers. Each zone has a specific set of drivers and pressures as well as a specific ecosystem structure and elements of biodiversity. Analysis of the governing drivers and pressures was performed separately for each sub-region during three time periods: 19th century - beginning of 20th century, period of Soviet occupation (1940-1991), and period after restoration of independence of Latvia (1991 - up to now). Characteristics of the state of ecosystems and biodiversity are given. Responses of the socioeconomic component of the socio-ecological system are represented mainly by external factors to the ecoregion, including environmental legislation and funding necessary for research and ecological management. Two alternative scenarios of the development of the Engure ecoregion are discussed: (i) depopulation and land abandonment, and (ii) intensification of agriculture, small-scale industry and building construction. In both cases the present state of ecosystems and the structure of species diversity would be subjected to significant change. Sustainable development of the ecoregion can be provided only by implementation of certain environmental management measures accompanied by long-term socio-ecological research and ecological monitoring.

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Long-term Development of the Hydroecosystem of the Lake Engure and its Influencing Factors

Cited by 5 publications

References 12 publications

Characteristics of Two Lagoons in the Coastal Area of the Baltic Sea

Characteristics of Two Lagoons in the Coastal Area of the Baltic Sea

Factors influencing the number of breeding water birds in Lake Engure, Latvia

Conceptual Model of the Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research Platform of Engure Ecoregion, Latvia

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