Abstract
This project will integrate marine and terrestrial ecology to examine the magnitude of marine inflow on shore-lines, and the effect from this inflow on the terrestrial system. Earlier studies show that this marine inflow enters the terrestrial system mainly through two pathways; as adult chironomids with larval stage at sea, and as algal detritus. Chironomids are in turn consumed by spiders on the shore-line and indirectly increase spider densities, while algal detritus either fertilize plants or increase terrestrial detritivore densities. To examine the relative importance of these pathways, we will use; (a) GIS-models to predict the inflow magnitude of algal detritus on the shore-line depending on exposure, wave movement and algal productivities, (b) a spatial gradient in algal isotope ratios (15N) to validate the model, (c) a nutrient/salinity gradient from a sewage treatment plant in the Himmerfjärden Bay area to examine the consequence from varying chironomid productivities and detritus quantity/quality on the relative importance of the two pathways, and (d) a spider removal experiment to examine effects on the densities of terrestrial herbivores and plants.
Sweden