Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Curonian Lagoon

  • Chapter
Ecology of Baltic Coastal Waters

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 197))

Curonian lagoon (Fig. 9.1) is a large (1,584 km2) (Žaromskis 1996) coastal water body connected to the south-eastern Baltic Sea by a narrow (0.4–1.1 km) strait (Klaipėda port area). The mean depth of the lagoon is approximately 3.8 m (Žaromskis 1996). The strait is ca. 11 km long, with artificially deepened waterways down to 14 m depth. The eastern side of the lagoon (mainland shore) represents a shallow plain, gently sloping westward down to a depth of 1–2 m, whereas the western side (the Curonian Spit shore) reaches up to 4 m depth (Table 9.1).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Aristova GI (1965) Benthos of the Kurskij Gulf (in Russian). Proc. AtlantNIIRO, Kaliningrad, 14:19–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Aristova GI (1971) Biocenosis of Dreissena polymorpha in the Curonian Lagoon (in Russian). Proc AtlantNIIRO, Kaliningrad, 25:9–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Baršien J (2002) Genotoxic impacts in Klaipėda Marine Port and Būtingė Oil terminal areas. Mar Environ Res 54:475–479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bružinskienė A, Virbickas J (1988) Commercial and sport fishery (in Lithuanian). Mokslas, Vilnius

    Google Scholar 

  • Bubinas A (1983) Zoobenthos. In: Biogeochemistry of the Curonian Lagoon (in Russian). Mokslas, Vilnius, pp 44–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Bukantis A (1994) The Lithuanian climate (in Lithuanian). Vilnius University

    Google Scholar 

  • Četkauskaiteė A, Zarkov D, Stoškus L (2001) Water quality control, monitoring and wastewater treatment in Lithuania 1950–1999. Ambio 30:297–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Daunys D (2001) Patterns of the bottom macrofauna variability and its role in the shallow coastal Lagoon. Summary of PhD dissertation, Klaip da University

    Google Scholar 

  • Daunys D, Olenin S (1999) Littoral bottom communities of the northern part of the Curonian Lagoon (in Lithuanian, with English summary). Ekologija 2:19–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Daunys D, Schiedek D, Olenin S (2000) Species strategy near its boundary: the Marenzelleria cf. viridis (Polychaeta, Spionidae) case in the south-eastern Baltic Sea. Int Rev Hydrobiol 85:639–651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daunys D, Zemlys P, Olenin S, Zaiko A, Ferrarin C (2006) Impact of the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha invasion on the budget of suspended material in a shallow lagoon ecosystem. Helgoland Mar Res 60:113–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaigalas K (2001) Fish in the Curonian Lagoon basin, their resources and fishery (in Lithuanian). Egl , Klaip da

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaigalas K, Gerulaitis A, Kesminas V, Milerien E, Repečka R, Valušienė V, Žiliukas V, Žiliukienė V (1992) Rare fishes of Lithuania (in Lithuanian). Academia, Vilnius

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasiūnaitė ZR (2000) Coupling of the limnetic and brackishwater plankton crustaceans in the Curonian lagoon (Baltic Sea). Int Rev Hydrobiol 85:653–662

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gasiūnaitė ZR, Didžiulis V (2000) Ponto-Caspian invader Cercopagis pengoi (Ostroumov, 1891) in Lithuanian coastal waters. Sea Environ 2:97–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasiūnaitė ZR, Olenina I (1998) Zooplankton–phytoplankton interactions: a possible explanation of the seasonal succession in the Kursiu Marios lagoon. Hydrobiologia 363:333–339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gasiūnaitė ZR, Razinkovas A (2000) The role of plankton and nektobenthic crustaceans in the pathways of the primary production transformation in the Curonian lagoon (in Lithuanian, with English summary). Ekologija 3:22–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasiūnaitė ZR, Razinkovas A (2002) The salinity tolerance of two cladoceran species from the Curonian lagoon: an experimental study. Sea Environ 2:28–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasiūnaitė ZR, Razinkovas A (2004) Temporal and spatial patterns of the crustacean zooplankton dynamics in transitional lagoon ecosystem. Hydrobiologia 514:139–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gasiūnaitė ZR, Cardoso AC, Heiskanen A-S, Henriksen P, Kauppila P, Olenina I, Pilkaityt R, Purina I, Razinkovas A, Sagert S, Schubert H, Wasmund N (2005) Seasonality of coastal phytoplankton in the Baltic Sea: influence of salinity and eutrophication. Estuarine Coastal Shelf Sci 65:239–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gasiūnas I (1959) Forage macrozoobenthos of the Kuršių; marios (in Russian with German summary). In: Jankevičius K, Gasiūnas I, Gediminas A, Gudelis V, Kublickas A, Maniukas I (eds) Kuršių Marios. Pergal , Vilnius, pp 191–292

    Google Scholar 

  • Gulbinskas S (1995) Distribution of recent bottom sediments in the Curonian Lagoon–Baltic Sea sedimentation area (in Lithuanian). Geogr Yearbook 28:296–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Jagminienė I (1995) The dynamics of the structure and productivity of benthocenosis in the northern part of the Kuršių Marios Lagoon (in Lithuanian with English summary). Fishery and Aquaculture in Lithuania 1:97–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Jankavičiūtė GJ, Jankevičius KK (1978) Quantitative and qualitative changes of phytoplankton in the northern part of the Curonian lagoon under anthropogenic impact (in Russian). In: Baranauskien A, Budrien S, Dušauskien -Duž R, Malamien B, Petrauskas B, Raziulyt R, Jankevičius K, Jankavičiūtė G (eds) Physiologo–biochemical conditions of the development of plankton organisms in the northern part of the Curonian lagoon. Vilnius, pp 33–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Jankevičius K, Baranauskien AJ (1978) Hydrobiological research in the Curonian lagoon (in Russian). In: Baranauskien A, Budrien S, Dušauskien -Duž R, Malamien B, Petrauskas B, Raziulyt R, Jankevičius K, Jankavičiūtė G (eds) Physiologo–biochemical conditions of the development of plankton organisms in the northern part of the Curonian lagoon. Vilnius, pp 3–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Jankevičius KK, Antanynien AS, Baranauskien JJ, Budrien SF, Mažeikaitė SI, MalomienėVA, Šlapkauskaitė GV, Šalienė RI, Jankavičiūtė GJ (1979) Anthropogenic eutrophication of the northern part of the Curonian lagoon in 1974 and 1975 (in Russian). Works of the Academy of Science of Lithuanian SSR 87:49–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Jurevičius R (1959) Hydrochemical characteristic of the Kuršių Marios Lagoon (in Russian with German summary). In: Jankevičius K, Gasiūnas I, Gediminas A, Gudelis V, Kublickas A, Maniukas I (eds) Kuršių Marios. Pergalė, Vilnius, pp 69–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Kesminas V, Virbickas T, Repečka R (2003) The present state of salmon (Salmo salar L.) in Lithuania. Acta Zool Lithuanica 13:176–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiselytė T (1959) Zooplankton of the Kuršių Marios lagoon (in Russian with German summary). In: Jankevičius K, Gasiūnas I, Gediminas A, Gudelis V, Kublickas A, Maniukas I (eds) Kuršių Marios. Pergalė, Vilnius, pp 169–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Klimašauskienė VP (1979) The impact of the sewage on the zooplankton in Nemunas delta, central and northern parts of the Kuršių Marios lagoon. Works of the Academy of Science of Lithuanian SSR 85:1–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazauskienė L, Bubinas A, Klimašauskienė V, Jagminienė I, Vaitonis G (1996) Assessment of fish forage resources in Kuršių Marios Lagoon, Nemunas Delta and Baltic Sea nearshore areas. Fishery and Aquaculture in Lithuania 2:46–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundbeck J (1935) Über die Bodenbevölkerung besonders der Chironomidenlarven des Frischen und Kurischen Haffes. Int Rev Ges Hydrobiol Hydrograph 32:265–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Maniukas J (1959) The ichthyofauna, the state of resources and commercial fishing in the Curonian Lagoon (in Russian with German summary). In: Jankevičius K, Gasiūnas I, Gediminas A, Gudelis V, Kublickas A, Maniukas I (eds) Kuršių Marios. Pergalė, Vilnius, pp 293–401

    Google Scholar 

  • Mažeikaitė SI (1978a) Zooplankton species composition, abundance and biomass in the northern part of the Curonian lagoon under anthropogenic pollution (in Russian). In: Baranauskienė A, Budrienė S, Dušauskienė-Duž R, Malamienė B, Petrauskas B, Raziulytė R, Jankevičius K, Jankavičiūtė G (eds) Physiologo–biochemical conditions of the development of plankton organisms in the northern part of the Curonian lagoon. Vilnius, pp 87–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Mažeikaitė SI (1978b) Zooplankton of the northern part of the Curonian lagoon in 1974 and 1975 (in Russian). Works of the Academy of Science of Lithuanian SSR 64:55–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Naumenko E (1996) Seasonal and long-term dynamics of zooplankton community composition, abundance and biomass in the Curonian lagoon of the Baltic Sea. Monogr Syst Ecol 1:23–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Olenin S (1987) Zoobenthos of the Curonian Lagoon: results of biological monitoring, 1980–1984 (in Russian). In: Chemistry and biology of seas. Proceedings of the State Oceanographic Institute, Hydrometeoizdat, Moscow, pp 175–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Olenin S (1988) Some aspects of biocenotic and trophological structure of the bottom fauna in the Curonian Lagoon (in Russian with English summary). Reg Hydrometeorol 12:46–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Olenin S (1997) Comparative study of the south-eastern Baltic coastal zone and the Curonian Lagoon bottom communities. In: Andrushaitis A (ed) Proceedings of the 13th Baltic Marine Biologists Symposium, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Latvia, Riga, pp 151–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Olenin S, Daunys D (2004) Coastal typology based on benthic biotope and community data: the Lithuanian case study. In: Schernewski G, Wielgat M (eds) Baltic Sea typology. Coastline Rep 4:65–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Olenin S, Leppäkoski E (1999) Non-native animals in the Baltic Sea: alteration of benthic habitats in coastal inlets and Lagoons. Hydrobiologia 393:233–243

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olenina I (1997) Phytoplankton development in the Curonian lagoon and south-eastern Baltic Sea coastal area. PhD Thesis, Institute of Botany, Vilnius

    Google Scholar 

  • Olenina I (1998) Long-term changes in the Kuršių Marios lagoon: eutrophication and phytoplankton response. Ekologija 1:56–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Pilkaitytė R (2003) Phytoplankton seasonal succession and abundance in the eutrophic estuarine lagoons. Summary of Doctoral Dissertation, Klaipeda

    Google Scholar 

  • Pilkaitytė R (2004) Phytoplankton community response to the nutrient enrichment: an example from N-limited ecosystems. Jūra ir aplinka 1:76–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Pilkaitytė R, Razinkovas R (2006) Factors controlling phytoplankton blooms in a temperate estuary: nutrient limitation and physical forcing. Hydrobiologia 555:41–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plokštienė D (2002) Development and changes of the vegetation of the Kuršių Marios lagoon (in Lithuanian). Sea Environ 2:33–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Pustelnikovas O (1998) Geochemistry of Sediments of the Curonian Lagoon (Baltic Sea). Institute of Geography, Vilnius

    Google Scholar 

  • Razinkov A (1990) Production processes in the opossum shrimps populations of water basins of the river Nemunas basin (in Russian). PhD Thesis. Institute of Zoology, Minsk

    Google Scholar 

  • Razinkovas A (1997) Spatial distribution and migration patterns of the mysids in the Curonian Lagoon. In: Andrushaitis A (ed) Proceedings of the 13th Baltic Biologists Symposium. Riga, pp 113–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Razinkovas A, Pilkaitytė R (2002) Factors limiting phytoplankton development in the Curonian lagoon (in Lithuanian). Sea Environ 1:39–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Razinkovas A, Zemlys P (2000) Balance of the organic matter in the ecosystem of the Curonian lagoon. Sea Environ 1:32–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Razinkovas A, Bliudziute L, Erturk A, Ferrarin C, Lindim C, Umgiesser G, Zemlys P (2005) Curonian lagoon: a modelling study–Lithuania. In: Russo RC (ed) Modeling nutrient loads and response in river and estuary systems. Report No. 271., Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Brussels, pp 194–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Repečka R (1995) Investigations of the fish fauna in the Lithuanian part of the Curonian lagoon. Coastal Conservation and the Management in the Baltic Region. In: Proceedings of the EUCC-WWF Conference. Riga-Klaipeda-Kaliningrad, pp 117–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Repečka R (1996) Assessment and monitoring of coastal fish resources, Lithuania. In: Assessment and monitoring of coastal fish resources in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Sweedmark Consultancy Report, pp 1–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Repečka R (1999) Biology and resources of the main commercial fish species in the Lithuanian part of the Curonian lagoon. In: Freshwater fish and the herring population in the coastal lagoons. Environment and Fisheries, Symposium Proceedings, Sea Fisheries Institute, pp 185–195

    Google Scholar 

  • Repečka R (2003a) The species composition of the ichthyofauna in the Lithuanian economic zone of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian lagoon and its changes in recent years Acta Zool Lithuanica 13:149–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Repečka R (2003b) Changes in biological indices and abundance of salmon, sea trout, smelt, vimba and twaite shad in the coastal zone of the Baltic sea and the Curonian lagoon at the beginning of spawning migration. Acta Zool Lithuanica 13:195–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Repečka R, Milerienė E (1991) Species composition and abundance in shore-zone fish communities of the Curonian lagoon during 1985–1989 (in Russian). Ekologija 4:68–80

    Google Scholar 

  • Repečka R, Žiliukas V, Stankus S (1996) The abundance of the commercial fish larvae and fry in the coastal zone of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian lagoon (in Lithuanian). Fishery and Aquaculture in Lithuania 2:95–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Rudinskaya LV (1994) Long term benthos dynamics in the Curonian Lagoon, Baltic Sea (in Russian). In: Hydrobiological Studies in the Atlantic Ocean and Baltic Sea Basin. AtlantNIIRO, Kaliningrad, pp 41–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt-Ries H (1940) Untersuchungen zur Kenntnis des Pelagials eines Strandgewässers. Z Fischerei 36:213–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Szidat L (1926) Beiträge zur Faunistik und Biologie des Kurischen Haffs. Schriften der Physical-ökonom Gesellschaft Königsberg in Pr 65:5–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Ūselytė S (1959) Phytoplankton of the Curonian lagoon and its seasonal dynamics (in Russian with German summary). In: Jankevičius K, Gasiūnas I, Gediminas A, Gudelis V, Kublickas A, Maniukas I (eds) Kuršių Marios. Pergale, Vilnius, pp 139–167

    Google Scholar 

  • Virbickas J, Repečka R (1996) Fishes and fishery in the Lithuanian coastal zone of the Baltic Sea and Curonian lagoon. In: Proceedings of the 1st Conference of Lithuanian Oceanologists, Klaipeda University, Klaipeda, 235–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Virbickas J, Domarkas A, Pašukonis J (1996) On exploitation of fish stocks in the Baltic Sea (Lithuanian economic zone) and Lithuanian aquatory of the Kurshiu Lagoon. Fishery and Aquaculture in Lithuania 2:61–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Willer A (1931) Vergleichende Untersuchungen an Strandgewässern. Verh Int Ver Theor Angew Limnol 5:197–231

    Google Scholar 

  • Willer A (1935) Das Kurische Haff als Grenzgewässer. Schriften der Physical-ökonom Gesellschaft Königsberg in Pr 38:5–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Zettler ML, Zettler A, Daunys D (2005) Bemerkenswerte Susswassermollusken aus Litauen. Aufsamlungen vom September 2004. Malakol Abh 23:27–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Žaromskis R (1996) Oceans, Seas, Estuaries (in Lithuanian). Debesija, Vilnius

    Google Scholar 

  • Žiliukas V (2003) Assessment of the dynamics of main ecological parameters of the fish fry community in the coastal zone of the Curonian Lagoon near Vente Cape. Acta Zool Lithuanica 13:167–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Žiliukienė V (1998) Ichthyoplankton of the Curonian lagoon (in Lithuanian). Fishery and Aquaculture in Lithuania 3:215–225

    Google Scholar 

  • Žiliukienė V (2003) Quantitative structure, abundance and biomass of zooplankton in the Lithuanian part of the Curonian lagoon in 1996–2002. Acta Zool Lithuanica 13:97–105

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Coastal Research and Planning Institute, Klaipėda University, H. Manto 84, 92294, Klaipėda, Lithuania

    Z. R. Gasiūnaitė, D. Daunys, S. Olenin & A. Razinkovas

Authors
  1. Z. R. Gasiūnaitė
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. Daunys
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Olenin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Razinkovas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Rostock, Germany

    Ulrich Schiewer

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gasiūnaitė, Z.R., Daunys, D., Olenin, S., Razinkovas, A. (2008). The Curonian Lagoon. In: Schiewer, U. (eds) Ecology of Baltic Coastal Waters. Ecological Studies, vol 197. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73524-3_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation