<p>This work is about finding an appropriate modelling complexity for a mass-balance model for phosphorus in Lake Vänern, Sweden. A statistical analysis of 30 years of water quality data shows that epilimnion and hypolimnion have different water quality and should be treated separately in a model. Further vertical division is not motivated. Horizontally, the lake should be divided into the two main basins Värmlandssjön and Dalbosjön. Shallow near shore ares, bays and areas close to point sources have to be considered as specific sub-basins if they are to be modelled correctly.</p><p>These results leads to the use of a model based on ordinary differential equations. The model applied is named LEEDS (Lake Eutrophication Effect Dose Sensitivity) and considers phosphorus and suspended particles. Several modifications were made for the application of the model to Lake Vänern. The two major ones are a revision of the equations governing the outflow of phosphorus and suspended particle through the outflow river, and the inclusion of chemical oxygen demand (COD) into the model, in order to model emissions from pulp and paper mills. The model has also been modified to handle several sub-basins.</p><p>The LEEDS model has been compared to three other eutrophication models applied to Lake Vänern. Two were simple models developed as parts of catchment area models and the third was a lake model with higher resolution than the LEEDS model. The models showed a good fit to calibration and validation data, and were compared in two nutrient emission scenarios and a scenario with increased temperature, corresponding to the green house effect.</p>

This work is about finding an appropriate modelling complexity for a mass-balance model for phosphorus in Lake Vänern, Sweden. A statistical analysis of 30 years of water quality data shows that epilimnion and hypolimnion have different water quality and should be treated separately in a model. Further vertical division is not motivated. Horizontally, the lake should be divided into the two main basins Värmlandssjön and Dalbosjön. Shallow near shore ares, bays and areas close to point sources have to be considered as specific sub-basins if they are to be modelled correctly. These results leads to the use of a model based on ordinary differential equations. The model applied is named LEEDS (Lake Eutrophication Effect Dose Sensitivity) and considers phosphorus and suspended particles. Several modifications were made for the application of the model to Lake Vänern. The two major ones are a revision of the equations governing the outflow of phosphorus and suspended particle through the outflow river, and the inclusion of chemical oxygen demand (COD) into the model, in order to model emissions from pulp and paper mills. The model has also been modified to handle several sub-basins. The LEEDS model has been compared to three other eutrophication models applied to Lake Vänern. Two were simple models developed as parts of catchment area models and the third was a lake model with higher resolution than the LEEDS model. The models showed a good fit to calibration and validation data, and were compared in two nutrient emission scenarios and a scenario with increased temperature, corresponding to the green house effect.

Natural resources management is one of the world‟s greatest concerns. It is a difficult task due to its complex nature. Natural resources are limited and scarce. Unfortunately and worst of all, they are under pressure, and stress due to unprecedented increase in their demand and inefficient use. But it is still possible to tackle this complex problem. This study focuses on understanding the value of the ecosystem services that human well-being depend on, as for more sustainable environment strategy on aquatic ecosystems management, such as lakes and rivers. Changing behavior and attitude can be a crucial complement and likely can stimulate our conscious effort towards saving our ecosystems beyond money contribution. This way of thinking seems to be overlooked and most people think that the development of technology and advancement in knowledge alone can provide solution. One way to overcome the problem of pressure and stressing of the environment is to develop adequate strategy and environmental policy. This policy should include economics measures where, when necessary and feasible. Since there are "no one solution and no one answer" to achieve the desired outcome of a sustainable future, it becomes necessary to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to environmental management and the understanding of the value and dynamism change of the ecosystem services. Adoption of efficient management is not enough; we have to adjust our attitude as well. To discuss this issue, the aquatic ecosystem, which the lake Vänern in Kristinehamn Municipality served as a case study.

Over recent decades recreational fisheries have grown substantially throughout the world. Despite this increase, catches from recreational fisheries have often been ignored in fisheries management, although this is now being remedied. Monitoring recreational fisheries can be expensive, and the primary means used for monitoring is angler (creel) surveys, typically funded from sales of fishing licences. The studies presented in this thesis examine different approaches to monitoring recreational trolling fisheries’ catch and effort, where fishing licenses are not required and there are no reporting requirements. I present results from a complemented roving/mail-in survey undertaken during 2013-2014 to estimate recreational effort and catch of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (S. trutta) in the largest lake in the European Union, Lake Vänern, Sweden. I also evaluate different angler catch reporting methods (mail-in, tournament reports and face-to-face interviews) and compare catch rates within and among spring and fall fishing periods. In addition, mail-in survey data are examined for recall bias.   I estimate that 28.7 tonnes of salmon and trout combined were harvested by the recreational trolling fishery in 2014, more than the commercial and subsistence fisheries combined. Seasonal differences in both recreational effort and catch were observed. Effort, in boat hours, was significantly higher in spring than in fall. Catch rates of trout were higher in fall than in spring, but there were no seasonal differences in catches of salmon. Harvest per boat day did not differ significantly among catch reporting methods, indicating that all three methods could be useful for managers interested in harvest rates. In contrast, total and released catch per boat day differed among reporting methods, with tournament anglers catching more fish in total. Finally, there was little evidence for recall bias in mail-in surveys, indicating that mail-in surveys are useful for collecting unbiased catch data. My study is the most comprehensive angler survey to date for Lake Vänern, and my results should be of immediate use to local fisheries managers and should also be of interest to researchers and managers interested in estimating catch and effort for fisheries at large spatial scales. / Over the past several decades recreational fisheries have grown substantially throughout the world. Until recently, however, recreational catch has been ignored in the management of many important fisheries. The studies presented in this thesis examine different approaches to monitoring recreational trolling fisheries’ catch and effort in Lake Vänern, Sweden, the largest lake in the European Union. Paper I presents results from a complemented roving/mail-in survey, designed to estimate recreational effort and catch of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (S. trutta). The results show that the recreational trolling fishery today harvests more salmon and trout annually than the commercial and subsistence fisheries combined, and that there are seasonal patterns in effort and catch. Paper II evaluates different angler catch reporting methods (mail-in, tournament reports, and face-to-face interviews), compares catch rates within and among spring and fall fishing periods and examines mail-in data for recall bias. Harvest per boat day did not differ significantly among catch reporting methods, indicating that all three could be useful for estimating harvest rates. However, tournament anglers had higher rates for released catch. Finally, there was little evidence for recall bias in mail-in surveys. In summary, this thesis has developed the framework for a recreational angler survey program for Lake Vänern, and should be of interest to researchers and managers interested in estimating catch and effort for fisheries at large spatial scales.

I Vänern, Sverige, fångades årligen ca 75 ton lax och öring av yrkesfisket, sportfisket och fritidsfisket under 1990-talet och början av 2000-talet. Fångsterna av lax och öring verkar ha sjunkit under de senaste åren men det råder stor osäkerhet över fångstuppskattningar. För en ökad förståelse över smolts mortalitet släpps varje år ett visst antal Carlin-märkta laxar och öringar ut i Vänern och Klarälven. Syftet med studien var att sammanställa och analysera databasen för Carlin-märkt lax och öring i Vänern under åren 1965 till 2005. Målet var att åskådliggöra långsiktiga tendenser över återfångster av Carlin-märkt lax och öring i både Vänern och Klarälven samt bedöma om återfångster varierar beroende på utsättningsplats (Vänern eller Klarälven). Microsoft Excel användes för att sammanställa och analysera återfångad och inrapporterad lax och öring från 1965 till 2005. För att bedöma trender för återfångster av de fyra stammarna, Gullspångs- och Klarälvs-, lax och öring, användes linjär regression. Totalt 299 165 Carlin-märkta fiskar fördelade över 388 utsättningsgrupper har släppts ut i Vänern med tillflöden under 40 års tid. Sammanlagt återfångades 14 504 fiskar, vilket motsvarar knappt 5 % av antalet Carlin-märkta och utsläppta fiskar. Återfångsterna har varierat genom åren (&lt;1 % - &gt;20 %), högst var återfångsterna under 1970-och 1980-talet, sedan 1990-talet har de minskat betydligt. Dessa tendenser är liknande för alla fyra stammar. De flesta återfångsterna sker i Vänern. Fisk utsläppt i Vänern återfångas som regel i något högre grad i Vänern än fisk utsläppt i Klarälven. Slutligen framkom att ingen lax eller öring utsläppt i Vänern återfångades i Klarälven. / In Lake Vänern, Sweden, commercial, sport, and subsistence fisheries in the 1990s and the beginning of 2000 caught about 75 tons of salmon and trout. Catches of salmon and trout appeared to have declined in recent years, although there is much uncertainty in catch estimates. In order to better understand smolt-adult mortality, a number of Carlin-tagged salmon and trout are released in Vänern and Klarälven each year. The aim of the study was to assemble and analyze the Carlin-tag database for salmon and trout in Vänern during the years 1965 to 2005. My objectives were to identify long-term trends in tag returns rates in both Vänern and Klarälven, and to assess whether return rates varied by release location (Vänern or Klarälven). Microsoft Excel was used to compile and analyze reported recoveries of Carlin-tagged salmon and trout from 1965 to 2005. Linear regression was used to assess trends in return rates of four stocks, Gullspångsälven and Klarälven salmon and trout. Total 299 165 tagged fish in 388 release groups have been released in Vänern over the 40-year period. Total recaptures were 14 504, which equates to just under 5 % of the number of Carlin-tagged and released fish. Recapture rates have varied throughout the years (&lt;1 % - &gt;20 %), the highest return rates were in the 1970s – 1980s, but they have decreased significantly since the 1990s. These trends are similar for all four stocks. Most of the recaptures occur in the lake, return rates of fish released in the lake are most often caught in the lake than are fish released in Klarälven. Finally, revealed that no salmon or trout that were released in the lake were recaptured in the Klarälven.

Näringsämnena har en stor betydelse för sötvattnets organismer och ekosystem, varav de vanligaste näringsämnena som även är de viktigaste är fosfor (P), kväve (N) samt kol (C). Näringsämnena kommer inte enbart till sjön via nedfall och fixering utav mycket av näringsämnena kommer in till en sjö via vattendrag som till exempel älvar där Klarälven räknas in som en av Sveriges älvar. Syftet med denna studie är att ta fram en tidstrend mellan åren 1996 och 2013 för näringsämnena totalfosfor, totalkväve och TOC (totalt organiskt kol) för tio lokaler i norra Vänern för att kunna avgöra om de är lika, om det är något år som sticker ut, om det finns någon påverkan av Klarälven för de sjölokaler som tas upp och se om värdena av näringshalter kan kopplas till fiskförekomsten. Data samlades in och plottades i diagram för att kunna jämföras med varandra. Med sjölokalernas näringsvärde gjordes korrelationstester med älvarnas näringshalter för att se samband och därefter gjorde korrelation med sjölokalernas näringsvärden med andelen skördad fisk i samma lokaler. Resultatet visade att Ölman och Ölmeviken är väldigt eutrofierade medan resterande lokaler hade oligotrofa eller mesotrofa vatten och översvämningen i Karlstad 2000 visade avtryck i tidstrenden. Klarälvens påverkan på sjölokalerna visade sig inte vara så stor utan samband upptäcktes enbart mellan Kaplansådran och Hammarösjön för totalkvävet och för TOC upptäcktes samband mellan Hammarösjön och Sätterholmsfjärden med Kaplansådran. / The nutrient is very important for fresh water organisms and ecosystems, of which the most common nutrients also is the most important is phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C). The nutrients will not only come into a lake through deposition and fixation, much of the nutrients is coming into the lake through rivers such as Klarälven in Sweden. The purpose of this study is to develop a temporal and spatial trend during 1996-2013 for the nutrients total phosphorus, total nitrogen and TOC (total organic carbon) for ten premises in northern Lake Vänern to determine if they are equal, if it is a year that stands out from the rest, if there is any influence of Klarälven for the lake premises and see if the values of the nutrient concentrations can be linked to the presence of fish. Data were collected and plotted in graphs to be compared with each other. Correlation test was made with the lake premises nutrient values and rivers nutrient value to see if there was a connection between the locations, same correlation was also made between the lake premises nutrient values and the percentage of fish harvested in the same premises. The result showed that Ölman and Ölmeviken is very eutrophic, while the remaining premises hade oligotrophic or mesotrophic water and the flooding in Karlstad in 2000 showed imprint in the time trend. The impact of Klarälven on the lake premises proved to not be so great, but the context was detected only between Kaplansådran and Hammarösjön for the total nitrogen and correlation for TOC between Hammarösjön and Sätterholmsfjärden with Kaplansådran was also detected.

There are five endemic populations of migratory Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, Salmonidae) and brown trout (Salmo trutta, Salmonidae) remaining in Lake Vänern, whereof two are salmon and three are trout. There is one population of each species in Klarälven, also one of each in Gullspångsälven and there is a population of trout still remaining in Tidan River. Since the beginning of the 20th century endemic populations of salmon and trout have either vanished or declined dramatically due to the construction of hydropower in the rivers around the lake, and still today the future of the remaining populations remains uncertain. To manage salmonid fishes effectively more knowledge of their ecology throughout their different life-stages is needed. A large part of the Lake Vänern salmonoids lives are spent in the lake, where a mayor mortality factor is recreational fishing, especially angling. Estimation of fishing effort and catch is important in order to remain a sustainable fishery. In Lake Vänern commercial fishers are bound to report their catch, but anglers are not, -even though they are now thought to be responsible for the largest proportion of the catch. Angler interviews and access point surveys are the best ways to get accurate information in order to assess sport fish effort and catch. There are drawbacks of this method though that includes large costs, logistical problems and biased results due to the higher chance of interviewing the most avid anglers. To hand out mail-surveys is a kind of off-site survey that is less costly compare to interviews, but the drawbacks are bigger in getting correct information due to biased results from non-respondence. A study was conducted to compare an interview-survey with a mail-in survey, in which the interviews were conducted in Lillängshamnen, a port on the northern coast of Lake Vänern, and the mail-in surveys were distributed in different ports around the lake, though not in Lillängshamnen. This study shows a significant difference in catch per boat day between the interviews and mail-in survey. To find out more about how to develop the interview-survey there was also an analysis done on the correlation between weather and the number of interviews that were collected. One could find a negative correlation between numbers of interviews collected and the wind ratio, where very few interviews were collected once the wind speed measured more than 5-8 meters per second. There are improvements to be made both for the conduction of interviews and mail-in surveys, including more staff for conducting interviews at different ports and follow-ups on the non-respondents for the mail-in survey. / Av atlantlax (Salmo salar, Salmonidae) och öring (Salmo trutta, Salmonidae) finns idag fem endemiska populationer kvar i Vänern varav två är av lax och tre av öring. Det finns en klarälvsvariant av båda arterna, likaså finns det en gullspångsvariant av varje och sen finns även en öringpopulation kvar i Tidan. Sen början av 1900-talet har populationer av lax och öring utrotats eller minskat kraftigt till följd av vattenkraftens utbyggnad i vattendragen runt Vänern, och än idag är de resterande populationernas framtid oviss. För att kunna förvalta laxfiskarna på ett bra sätt krävs kunskaper om deras ekologi i dess olika livsstadier. En stor del av laxfiskarna runt Vänerns liv tillbringas i Vänern, där en mortalitetsfaktor består av fritidsfisket, då främst trolling. Uppskattning av ansträngning och fångst är viktigt för att hålla fisket i sjön på en hållbar nivå. Yrkesfisket måste rapportera all sin fångst men detta krävs inte av trollingfisket som idag tros stå för den största proportionen lax- och öringsfångst i Vänern. Genomförandet av intervjuer är en typ av plats- och åtkomstpunktsundersökning och är den bästa metoden att samla in korrekt information för att uppskatta sportfiskets ansträngning och fångst. Det finns dock nackdelar i form av stora kostnader, svår logistik och vinklade resultat då de mest entusiastiska fiskarna löper större chans att bli intervjuade. Att dela ut enkäter är en form av distansundersökning och även brevundersökning som kostar betydligt mindre än att genomföra intervjuer men brister vad gäller svarsfrekvens som i sin tur leder till vinklade resultat. En studie gjordes för att jämföra intervjuer med enkäter, där intervjuer genomfördes i Lillängshamnen på Vänerns norra kust och enkäter delades ut i olika hamnar runt hela Vänern, dock ej i Lillängshamnen. Denna undersökning visade att enkäter har en signifikant större fångst per båt än intervjuer. För att ta reda på mer om hur genomförandet av intervjuer skulle kunna förbättras undersöktes hur vädret påverkade antalet intervjuer som genomfördes. Man fick en negativ korrelation mellan antalet genomförda intervjuer och vindhastighet där ytterst få intervjuer genomfördes i vindhastigheter över 5-8 meter per sekund. Det finns förbättringspotential vad gäller både genomförandet av intervjuer och enkätundersökningar, bland annat mer personal till att kunna intervjua fler folk i olika hamnar och uppföljning på de enkäter som inte svarats på.