research
System analysis and ecological modelling
Mathematical modellers together with biologists develop ecological models for lagoon and coastal ecosystems, with particular reference on hydrodynamics, coupling between physical and biological processes, trophic interactions, population dynamics and invasive species impact on recipient ecosystems. Modern computer based methods are involved in development of scientific software, spatial databases and analysis tools.
Projects: NATO CCMS “Coastal Lagoon Modelling for Sustainable Management”, EU FP 6 MARBEF and ALARM.
Plankton and benthic ecology of transitory ecosystems
Spatio-temporal dynamics of plankton and benthic communities is investigated in respect to environmental gradients in lagoon and marine coastal ecosystems. Different aspects of ecosystem functioning (grazing, benthic-pelagic coupling, sediment modifying ability of benthos, etc) are analysed. Biodiversity studies are mainly focused on identification and mapping of coastal and lagoon benthic biotopes.
Projects: EU FP 6 MARBEF, ELME, ALARM and INTAS “Population Biology and trophic function of the shrimp species Crangon allmanni in the White Sea and the southern North Sea”.
Fishery biology and riverine ecosystem remediation
Studies are focused on coastal zone and salmon river ecosystems in the western region of Lithuania, covering fishery biology, salmonid population genetics, hydrochemistry, and environmental assessment. These studies result in elaboration of recommendations for coastal fishery management and protection of rare and endangered fish species. Remediation of river ecosystems, important for migratory fish, covers all stages from research to hydrotechnical solutions.
Projects: EU FP 6 ALARM, governmental salmonid population remediation program.
Aquatic invasive species
Studies on population ecology of invasive species are carried out with special focus on their life strategy in stressed coastal habitats and impact on native ecosystems. Transfer of unwanted alien species in ballast waters of ships is investigated at the Baltic Sea and trans-regional scale. IT specialists together with biologists developed the online Baltic Sea Alien Species Database covering different aspects of invasive ecology in the whole Baltic Sea region.
Projects: EU FP 6 MARBEF, ALARM, DAISIE.
Functional analysis of the coastal zone
The main objective is to evaluate natural and anthropogenic impact to the coastal zone and to develop the background for sustainable use and protection of the coastal resources as well as for effective solutions of the socio-economical conflicts, related to port industry development, fishery, recreation, pollution, coastal erosion etc. Field studies are directed towards the sedimentation and hydrodynamic processes, bathymetry, Klaipeda port dredging effects.