BEAST 
Biological Effects of Anthropogenic Chemical Stress: Tools for the Assessment of Ecosystem Health
Begin date 1.1.2009
End date 31.12.2011
Grant: 1 629 342€
The pan-Baltic BEAST project is targeted at
developing integrated measures of chemical pollution and tools needed to detect
and understand human-induced pressure on the Baltic Sea ecosystem. We will test
and validate integrated monitoring and assessment approaches for their
applicability in the Baltic Sea, taking carefully into account the specific
abiotic and biotic characteristics of the sea area. Using sub-regional
assessments we will provide scientifically based recommendations for the
implementation of an integrated chemical-biological effects monitoring strategy
for the assessment of ecosystem health. This supports ecosystem-based
management to safeguard the sustainable use of ecosystem’s goods and services.
To establish links between responses related to chemical pollution within the
individuals and effects observed at higher biological levels we will generate
an integrated “multi-level toolbox” including biomarkers as sensitive
diagnostic tools. Capacity building, networking, exchange and intercalibration
of methodologies, and training are another integral part of the project.
Sixteen partners from all Baltic Sea countries are involved in BEAST; the work
consists of field and experimental research using both established and novel
methods on 5 Baltic Sea sub-regions so far with limited information on
biological effects of hazardous substances. The outcome will be communicated to
national and regional stakeholders and co-operation with HELCOM MONAS will be
established.
Keywords
Biological effects, chemical pollution, ecosystem health, biomarkers, integrated assessment
List of Participants and Principal Scientists
|
Finnish Environment Institute, Finland |
Kari Lehtonen (Coordinator) |
|
Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Germany |
Katja Broeg |
|
Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fishery; Institute of Fishery Ecology, Germany |
Thomas Lang |
|
Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Germany |
Rolf Schneider |
|
National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark |
Doris Schiedek |
|
Department of Applied Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Sweden |
Brita Sundelin |
|
Sea Fisheries Institute, Poland |
Henryka Dabrowska |
|
Atlantic Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography AtlantNIRO, Russia |
Galina Rodjuk |
|
Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia |
Sirje Vilbaste |
|
Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Finland |
Pekka Vuorinen |
|
Institute for Applied Ecology Ltd., Germany |
Jens Gercken |
|
Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, Latvia |
Elmira Boikova |
|
Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University, Lithuania |
Janina Baršienė |
|
Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Latvia |
Maija Balode |
|
Scientific Research Center for Ecological Safety RAS, Russia |
Sergey Kholodkevich |
|
Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia |
Sergey Golubkov |
Reports
Year 1 progress reportPlease visit the BEAST webpage for more information!