Scientific articles

Research and new knowledge are needed to make well-informed decisions for the Baltic Sea. Here we have compiled the scientific articles published as part of the BalticWaters project and its funding schemes. Together, they provide an overview of the Foundation’s contribution to advancing knowledge about the sea.

ReCod - release of small cod in the Baltic Sea

Schmidt N, Limburg KE, Hüssy K et al. (2026) Marking the otoliths of hatchling cod: A method comparison. Vol 603 Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2026.152211

Schmidt N, Hauber MM, Hylander S et al. (2026) Egg and larval production of Eastern Baltic cod in captivity over one spawning season. Journal of Fish Biology 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.70563

Garate-Olaizola M, Fröjd J, Behrens JW, Sørensen SR, Cortázar-Chinarro M, Laurila A (2026) Eastern Baltic cod larvae in a salinity gradient: choice of salinity and the role of neutral buoyancy. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 596: 152174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2026.152174

Garate-Olaizola M, Fröjd J, Larsson Åberg V, Hodzic Vázquez A, Heimbrand Y, Nissling A, Behrens JW, Cortázar-Chinarro M, Bergström U, Laurila A (2026) Assessing local adaptation and divergence at early life stages within Eastern Baltic cod (Gadus morhua). Journal of Fish Biology, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.70466.

Schmidt N, Garate-Olaizola M, Laurila A (2024) Acclimatizing laboratory-reared hatchling cod (Gadus morhua) to salinity conditions in the Baltic Sea. Aquaculture 579(3–4), 740255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2023.740255

Schmidt N, Staveley TAB (2025) Fish communities in Baltic Sea coastal bays; using eDNA metabarcoding to assess vertical profile and traditional method comparison. Fisheries & Aquatic Life. 33: 72–90. https://doi.org/10.2478/aopf-2025-0007

Thriving bays

Wallner-Hahn S, Kumblad L, Tornberg F et al. (2026) Assessing sense of place and cultural ecosystem services in shallow Baltic Sea bays to inform coastal restoration. Ambio. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-026-02500-0

Wikström SA, Krevet IF, Austin ÅN, et al. (2026) Sediment properties and aquatic vegetation affect resuspension from boats in shallow coastal bays. Vol 416 Journal of Environmental Management. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.130714

Zinke J, Hansen JP, Hermans M et al. (2026) Spatial variability of greenhouse gas concentrations and fluxes in shallow coastal bays of the western Baltic Sea. Vol 23: 4. Biogeosciences. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-23-1653-2026

Seiferth C, Olin AB, Vaziourakis KM et al. (2026) Learn to listen and listen to learn: reflections from a co-production process between researchers and composers. Sustainability Science 21, 1023–1038. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-026-01800-4

Wikström SA, Gubri B, Asplund ME et al. (2025) Influence of landscape characteristics and submerged aquatic vegetation on sediment carbon and nitrogen storage in shallow brackish water habitats. Scientific Reports 15, 7808. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92217-z

Gubri B, Hansen JP, Wikström SA et al. (2025) Shallow Coastal Bays as Sediment Carbon and Nutrient Reservoirs in the Baltic Sea. Estuaries and Coasts 48, 136. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12237-025-01541-0

Circular NP – Better nutrient cycle for animal manure

Pantelopoulos A, Aronsson H (2026) Organic waste and their respective hydrochars: Characteristics, carbon stability and nutrient release dynamics in soil. 400 Journal of Environmental Management. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2026.128674

Lima PDM, Edström M, Aronsson H, Strand L, Björs M. (2024) Farmers’ perceptions on organic fertilisers towards circularity – a case study in Sweden. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica B — Soil & Plant Science, 74:1, 2290247, DOI: 10.1080/09064710.2023.2290247

Lima PDM, Edström M, Aronsson H, Nordberg Å, Sindhøj E (2025) Comparative analysis of manure treatment scenarios on climate change and eutrophication in the Baltic Sea. Resources, Conservation & Recycling212(2025)108017

CLUPEA

Goodall J, Pettersson ME, Anastasia Andersson, Laikre L (2026) The population structure in the Baltic herring reflects natural selection and local adaptation. PNAS. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7372-9076

Program for research projects and pre-studies

Andrews AH, Welte C, Haghipour N, Lougheed BC, Heimbrand Y, Östman Ö, Rittweg T, Vitale F (2025) A complete otolith-based bomb radiocarbon chronology for the Baltic Sea and its use in the age validation of regional fishes. ICES Journal of Marine Science, Volume 82, Issue 12, fsaf220. https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsaf220

Bieroza M, Hallberg L, Livsey J, Wynants M (2024) Climate change accelerates water and biogeochemical cycles in temperate agricultural catchments Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175365

Wynants M, Strömqvist J, Hallberg L, Livsey J, Lindström G, & Bieroza M (2024) How to achieve a 50% reduction in nutrient losses from agricultural catchments under different climate trajectories? Earth's Future, 12, e2023EF004299. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EF004299

Scholarship program for researchers at the beginning of their careers

Goodall J, Pettersson ME, Bergström U, Cocco A, Delling B, Heimbrand Y, Karlsson OM, Larsson J, Waldetoft H, Wallberg A, Wennerström L, Andersson L (2024) Evolution of fast-growing piscivorous herring in the young Baltic Sea. Nature Communications 15, 10707. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-55216-8

Garate-Olaizola M, Fröjd J, Larsson Åberg V, Hodzic-Vázquez A, Heimbrand Y, Nissling A, Behrens JW, Cortázar-Chinarro M, Bergström U, Laurila A (2026) Assessing local adaptation and divergence at early life stages within Eastern Baltic cod (Gadus morhua). Journal of Fish Biology, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.70466

Maria CC, Garate-Olaizola M, Fröjd JL, Heimbrand Y, Behrens JW, Laurila A (2025) Gill-associated microbiome as indicators of population stress and condition in Eastern Baltic Cod. bioRxiv 2025.12.16.694594. https://doi.org/10.64898/2025.12.16.694594

Ries SR, Faust E, Johannesson K, Jonsson PR, Moksnes P-O, Pereyra RT, Jahnke M (2023) Genetic structure and diversity of the seagrass Zostera marina along a steep environmental gradient, with implications for genetic monitoring. Frontiers in Climate, 5:1303337. https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2023.1303337

Todisco V, Fridolfsson E, Axén C, Dahlgren E, Ejsmond MJ, Hauber MM, Hindar K, Tibblin P, Zöttl M, Söderberg L, Hylander S (2024) Thiamin dynamics during the adult life cycle of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Journal of Fish Biology, 104(3), 807–824. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15584