Part I Introduction 1 The Baltic Sea
U. Schiewer 2 The Baltic coastal zones
U. Schiewer Part II Ecological Case Studies Part II.A Southern Baltic Coast 3 Darß-Zingst-, Northern Rügener Boddens and Schlei
U. Schiewer 4 Greifswalder Bodden, Wismar-Bucht and Salzhaff
U. Schiewer 5 The Szczecin (Oder-) Lagoon
T. Radziejewska and G. Schernewski 6 Near-shore zones Koserow and Tromper Wiek
U. Schiewer Part II.B Eastern Baltic Coast 7 Gulf of Gdansk and Puck Bay
L. Kruk-Dowgiallo and A. Szaniawska 8 The Vistula Lagoon
Chubarenko and P. Margonski 9 Curonian Lagoon
Z. R. Gasiunaite, D. Daunys, S. Olenin and A. Razinkovas 10 Gulf of Riga and Pärnu Bay
J. Kotta, V. Lauringson, G. Martin, M. Simm, I. Kotta, K. Herkül and H. Ojaveer 11 Haapsalu and Matsalu Bays
J. Kotta, A. Jaanus and I. Kotta Part II.C Northeastern Baltic Coast 12 Neva Estuary ecosystem
I. V. Telesh, S. M. Golubkov and A. F. Alimov 13 The Gulf of Finland
H. Pitkänen, J. Lehtoranta and H. Peltonen Part II.D Western Baltic Coast 14 Stockholm Archipelago
C. Hill and K. Wallström 15 Askö area and Himmerfjärden
H. Kautsky 16 Odense Fjord and Kerteminde Fjord/Kertinge Nor
H. U. Riisgård, M. M. Møller, M. H. Jensen, N. Rask and E. Glob Part III Synthesis 17 Synthesis
U. Schiewer

The Baltic Sea is one of the most investigated water bodies in the world. For decades, the many highly industrialised nations around the Baltic have financed basic and applied investigations, as well as the building and development of research stations and vessels. After World War II, research in the Baltic Proper was intensified and investi- tions became much more international. The main goals of such investigations were analysis of the eutrophication and pollution of the Baltic Sea, and development of mitigating strategies (e.g. the HELCOM-Program). In contrast, research into the coastal zones was carried out mainly under national sovereignty by individual governments due to differing political regimes. Consequently, there was a lack of international collaboration and publications regarding these regions. This changed following the collapse of the former socialist governments. Nevertheless, research activities in the coastal regions still lag behind those in the Baltic Proper. A general description is further hampered by the great variety of coastal water ecosystems. The aim of this book is to overcome this lack by presenting the important Baltic coastal zones in the form of ¿ecological case studies¿. In this way the book rep- sents an important supplement to literature concerning the Baltic Proper.