The Baltic is a young sea in geological terms, with relatively few species. Freshwater species live in its brackish waters alongside truly marine species more associated with saltwater conditions. All of the species in the Baltic have adapted to cope with its cold winter temperatures. Though few species may be present, the certain species can be extremely abundant in numerical terms.
This section of the portal describes life in the Baltic Sea, firstly in terms of the ecosystems in different parts of the sea: the open sea, the sea bed, littoral zones and the sea ice; and then also within three main marine species groups: microbes, plants and animals.
