Our compartments
Here you can find more information about the compartments available in the MUDAB.
Biota
The biota compartment refers to marine life such as fish or mussels. Fish are taken out of the water and samples are taken. For example, the tissue is examined for pollutants or diseases. To catch mussels, nets are thrown out over a certain period of time, where they then settle.
Water
Water is the largest compartment in the MUDAB. Water samples or probes are used to examine the medium for nutrients, pollutants and contamination. These include temperature, salinity, eutrophication, acidification and various compounds such as phosphorus and nitrogen. The measurements are carried out at different depths so that specific statements can be made about the condition.
Sediment
When examining sediment, samples are taken from the seabed. Contaminants such as metals or other pollutant concentrations in different sediment layers can then be analyzed in the laboratory.
Biology
The compartment of biology can be divided into several areas: phytoplankton (algae), phytobenthos, zooplankton (animal part of the plankton) and zoobenthos. These are small marine organisms that drift passively with the ocean current. The measurements usually consist of examining the occurrence of the organisms per liter of water.
Marine Mammals
When dead marine mammals such as seals or dolphins are found on the beaches of the North Sea or Baltic Sea, various examinations and measurements are carried out on them. This results in valuable information about pollution or diseases.
PLC
PLC stands for Pollution Load Compilation and assesses the air and water input of nutrients and other hazardous substances into the Baltic Sea. PLC has been carried out since 1987 as part of the HELCOM assessment system and is an important contribution to the assessment of the environmental status of the Baltic Sea.