The publication “Charophytes in the estuarine Curonian Lagoon: Have the changes in diversity, abundance and distribution occurred since the late 1940s?” has been chosen as the best scientific article dedicated to the biology of the Baltic Sea, published in the journal Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies in 2017.
Authors of the article dr. Zofija Sinkevičienė from Nature Research Center in Vilnius and scientists of Marine Research Center of Klaipėda University – dr. Martynas Bučas, Raimonda Ilginė, dr. Diana Vaičiūtė, dr. Marija Kataržytė and dr. Jolita Petkuvienė received a Dr. Eng. Jerzy Masłowski Prize.
The article was prepared in the frame of the project „Distribution of Charophyta in the Curonian Lagoon and impact of environmental factors (MAURAKUMA)“ funded by the Research Council of Lithuania and leaded by dr. M Bučas. The aim of the project was to assess charophytes recent distribution and oospores bank in the sediments as possible tool for the restoration of underwater vegetation in the Curonian lagoon. In this project application of available water acoustic technique for charophyte distribution mapping have been tested and recommendations on the development of this method and its applicability for charophytes monitoring have been provided. Biological factors (e.g. helophytes) affecting charophytes and impact of associated epibenthic organism have been analyzed by classical and molecular methods in such type of lagoon. Generalization of both biological and physical-chemical impacts on charophytes was assessed by statistical predictive species habitat models, which were tested for use of ecological scenarios analysis.
Since 2012, it is the annual tradition at the Faculty of Oceanography and Geography of the University of Gdańsk, to choose two best papers of two categories (marine biology of the Baltic Sea and environmental protection of the Baltic Sea) published in Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies.
Among the Polish oceanographers, Jerzy Masłowski (1946-2009) was an unquestionable and highly respected authority. His academic achievements include many scientific articles, lectures at conferences and symposia, and commissioned works