Abstract
This report is a part of the SKB project 'SAFE'. The aim of SAFE is to update the previous safety analysis of SFR-1. SFR is for the repository of low and intermediate level radioactive waste. The aim of this report is to provide background information of the quantitative distribution of macroscopic (>1 mm) plants and animals on the sea floor (the phytobenthic communities) above the SFR. The phytobenthic plant and animal communities in the Bothnian Sea may constitute over half of the total production of the ecosystem in the coastal zone. Data will be used in a simulation model of the area. The attached plant and animal communities of the sea floor can be the major component to find radioactive isotopes when a leakage should occur from the SFR below the investigated area. Their ability to bioaccumulate the isotopes and the abundance of the plants and animals might to a large extent determine the amount of radionuclides that could be retained in the biological system. This might then affect the form of further dispersal of the radionuclides over larger areas, whether they are kept within and accumulated in the food chain or retained in the sediments or diluted in the
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Citation Formats
Kautsky, H, Plantman, P, and Borgiel, M.
Quantitative distribution of aquatic plant and animal communities in the Forsmark-area.
Sweden: N. p.,
1999.
Web.
Kautsky, H, Plantman, P, & Borgiel, M.
Quantitative distribution of aquatic plant and animal communities in the Forsmark-area.
Sweden.
Kautsky, H, Plantman, P, and Borgiel, M.
1999.
"Quantitative distribution of aquatic plant and animal communities in the Forsmark-area."
Sweden.
@misc{etde_21330053,
title = {Quantitative distribution of aquatic plant and animal communities in the Forsmark-area}
author = {Kautsky, H, Plantman, P, and Borgiel, M}
abstractNote = {This report is a part of the SKB project 'SAFE'. The aim of SAFE is to update the previous safety analysis of SFR-1. SFR is for the repository of low and intermediate level radioactive waste. The aim of this report is to provide background information of the quantitative distribution of macroscopic (>1 mm) plants and animals on the sea floor (the phytobenthic communities) above the SFR. The phytobenthic plant and animal communities in the Bothnian Sea may constitute over half of the total production of the ecosystem in the coastal zone. Data will be used in a simulation model of the area. The attached plant and animal communities of the sea floor can be the major component to find radioactive isotopes when a leakage should occur from the SFR below the investigated area. Their ability to bioaccumulate the isotopes and the abundance of the plants and animals might to a large extent determine the amount of radionuclides that could be retained in the biological system. This might then affect the form of further dispersal of the radionuclides over larger areas, whether they are kept within and accumulated in the food chain or retained in the sediments or diluted in the water column. In the investigated area divers described the sea floor substrate and the dominating plant and animal communities along transect lines. In addition, the divers collected quantitative samples. Three transects were placed just above SFR, and two transects were placed from the shore of islands adjacent to SFR. In total, divers collected 54 quantitative samples. Also, divers collected 6 sediment cores for analysis of the organic contents and chlorophylla. The results from the divers estimates of plant and animal species distribution and cover degree, as well as the quantitative samples, indicated the area being fairly rich. An eroded moraine (boulders, stones, gravel and sand) dominated the substrate with occasional rock outcrops. At several sites, on the hard, more stable substrates (boulders, rock) a luxuriant growth of the bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) could be seen. Also, the moss Fontinalis dalecarlica was not unusual. This moss is frequently observed in the Gulf of Bothnia but does not occur in the Baltic proper. Among the animals, the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) was to a large extent missing, although suitable substrate was present. In the Bothnian Sea the marine mussel Mytilus extends up to the Northern Quark, but usually only scattered, few individuals are found at each site along the whole coast. The blue mussel never has the same mass-occurrence as can be observed in the Stockholm archipelago and further south in the Baltic proper. Thus, the ecosystem of the SFR-area has a function somewhat different from the Baltic proper as the filter feeders lack to a large extent. The species biomass was determined by collecting 54 quantitative samples (usually 12 samples per transect). At comparable depths, when excluding the bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) and the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) the total depth distribution of plant and animal biomass was similar those of the Graesoe-Singoe area (ranging between 30-60 g dry weight m{sup -2} of plants and 20-50 g of animals). However, the total biomass of both the bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) and the filter feeding blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) was considerable lower in the Forsmark area. This can to some extent be explained by the difference in dominating substrate (mostly rocky) as well as a larger influence from the Baltic proper in the Graesoe-Singoe area. For the low amounts of Mytilus see explanation given above.}
place = {Sweden}
year = {1999}
month = {Dec}
}
title = {Quantitative distribution of aquatic plant and animal communities in the Forsmark-area}
author = {Kautsky, H, Plantman, P, and Borgiel, M}
abstractNote = {This report is a part of the SKB project 'SAFE'. The aim of SAFE is to update the previous safety analysis of SFR-1. SFR is for the repository of low and intermediate level radioactive waste. The aim of this report is to provide background information of the quantitative distribution of macroscopic (>1 mm) plants and animals on the sea floor (the phytobenthic communities) above the SFR. The phytobenthic plant and animal communities in the Bothnian Sea may constitute over half of the total production of the ecosystem in the coastal zone. Data will be used in a simulation model of the area. The attached plant and animal communities of the sea floor can be the major component to find radioactive isotopes when a leakage should occur from the SFR below the investigated area. Their ability to bioaccumulate the isotopes and the abundance of the plants and animals might to a large extent determine the amount of radionuclides that could be retained in the biological system. This might then affect the form of further dispersal of the radionuclides over larger areas, whether they are kept within and accumulated in the food chain or retained in the sediments or diluted in the water column. In the investigated area divers described the sea floor substrate and the dominating plant and animal communities along transect lines. In addition, the divers collected quantitative samples. Three transects were placed just above SFR, and two transects were placed from the shore of islands adjacent to SFR. In total, divers collected 54 quantitative samples. Also, divers collected 6 sediment cores for analysis of the organic contents and chlorophylla. The results from the divers estimates of plant and animal species distribution and cover degree, as well as the quantitative samples, indicated the area being fairly rich. An eroded moraine (boulders, stones, gravel and sand) dominated the substrate with occasional rock outcrops. At several sites, on the hard, more stable substrates (boulders, rock) a luxuriant growth of the bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) could be seen. Also, the moss Fontinalis dalecarlica was not unusual. This moss is frequently observed in the Gulf of Bothnia but does not occur in the Baltic proper. Among the animals, the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) was to a large extent missing, although suitable substrate was present. In the Bothnian Sea the marine mussel Mytilus extends up to the Northern Quark, but usually only scattered, few individuals are found at each site along the whole coast. The blue mussel never has the same mass-occurrence as can be observed in the Stockholm archipelago and further south in the Baltic proper. Thus, the ecosystem of the SFR-area has a function somewhat different from the Baltic proper as the filter feeders lack to a large extent. The species biomass was determined by collecting 54 quantitative samples (usually 12 samples per transect). At comparable depths, when excluding the bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) and the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) the total depth distribution of plant and animal biomass was similar those of the Graesoe-Singoe area (ranging between 30-60 g dry weight m{sup -2} of plants and 20-50 g of animals). However, the total biomass of both the bladder wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) and the filter feeding blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) was considerable lower in the Forsmark area. This can to some extent be explained by the difference in dominating substrate (mostly rocky) as well as a larger influence from the Baltic proper in the Graesoe-Singoe area. For the low amounts of Mytilus see explanation given above.}
place = {Sweden}
year = {1999}
month = {Dec}
}