Changes in coastal ecosystem of the eastern Baltic Sea under eutrophication and climate variability

This paper focuses on dynamics and changes in coastal shallow water ecosystem in the eastern Baltic Sea that is main habitat for representatives of malacostracan crustaceans and the most sensitive ecotone subjected to eutrophication and climate changes. Global warming has facilitated the rapid dispersal of everythermic crustaceans from Ponto-Caspian and Mediterranean basins to the Baltic Sea and further their high ecological significance in coastal communities. Climatic changes influence primarily on water temperature, hydrology and nutrient balance that can be environmental limits leading to deceleration of species number and abundance and change in trophic links within community. It analyses history, current distribution of malacostracan crustaceans and shifts in recipient communities in the north-eastern part (primarily Gulf of Finland) and compares with similar patterns in south-eastern part of the Baltic Sea (mainly Curonian and Vistula lagoons). Species and community responses to climate influence differ strongly between cold and warm years.