Danger looming from individuals possessing multiple areas of expertise
In recent months, several Danish water areas have been affected by severe oxygen depletion, including the southern Funen Archipelago, the southern Little Belt, Aabenraa Fjord, Schlei, Flensburg Fjord, Fehmarn Belt, and Aarhus Bay. This oxygen depletion is due to the explosive growth of plankton and opportunistic filamentous algae, particularly in the summer months, as a result of high nutrient input from agriculture.
The smell of rotten eggs permeates the air in these affected areas, a telltale sign of the decomposition of these algae. The filamentous brown algae causing the oxygen depletion include Pylaiella littoralis, Ectocarpus penicillatus, as well as some green and red algae species. Some of these algae are thrown onto the shore by the waves, while others rot in the water and could potentially deplete the entire oxygen supply on the seabed.
During their decomposition, microorganisms consume large amounts of oxygen, contributing to the oxygen depletion. This has led to the death of fish in some areas, such as the inner Haderslev Fjord at the end of July.
One of the most affected species is the large brown alga, bladder wrack. Since the 1960s, bladder wrack has significantly declined in the Baltic Sea and can now only be found in many parts of the Baltic Sea in the first three meters. However, the marine expert Dorothea Seeger warns that large storms can tear the filamentous algae from their hard substrate and drift them freely in the sea, potentially causing further damage.
Despite this, bladder wrack is 'quite robust' and could recover despite low light at low temperatures in winter. A study by Swedish scientists shows that bladder wrack populations north of Stockholm have recovered, suggesting that strict regulations for agriculture may allow bladder wrack to spread again, as Sweden implemented in the 1960s.
In an effort to combat this issue, a research project called 'CliPA' is investigating whether bladder wrack can be cultivated on offshore wind turbines to filter nutrients from the water and bind carbon. The alga can be harvested year-round and used as a pasta alternative, for ointments, and in biogas plants. The residues would provide a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to artificial fertilizer.
The Thünen Institute is leading this research project, aiming to create a sustainable solution to the problem of nutrient pollution in Danish waters. If successful, this could help to restore the balance of marine life and prevent future oxygen depletion events.
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