Närsalter och bottenlevande organismer i Mönsteråsviken
The focus of this study was to examine the nutrients and benthic organisms of the bay ?Mönsteråsviken?, which is influenced by eutrophication. The purpose was also to look at an interesting gradient forming in the bay, namely the distance from the river outflow of Lillån. At 18 sampling sites in the bay samples of water, sediments and benthic organisms were collected in late April of 2011. The water was analyzed for nitrate, phosphate and chlorophyll. The sediments were analyzed for nitrogen, phosphorus, water and organic level and the benthic organisms were determined to species when possible. The levels of nitrate, phosphate and chlorophyll were correlated with each other but also with the distance from the river outflow. This indicates that the river Lillån influences nutrients in the bay in the water this time of year. Spring nitrate levels in the water have decreased during 1995-2010 while phosphate levels remained constant. There has been no significant change in nutrient levels or organic matter in the sediments compared to an earlier study of the bay from the year 1993. However it is important to remember that it can take a long time before one can see measurable differences in the sediments. More studies of this kind are required to measure the effects of actions taken to reduce the inflow of nutrients to the bay.