Nachhaltige Miesmuschel-Anzucht im niedersaechsischen Wattenmeer durch die Besiedlung natuerlicher und kuenstlicher Substrate Abschlussbericht

SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: F02B532 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekDeutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, Osnabrueck (Germany)DEGerman

Oekosystemforschung Niedersaechsisches Wattenmeer. T. B: ELAWAT -Elastizitaet des Oekosystems Wattenmeer. Projektsynthese Abschlussbericht

The aim of the basic research part of the Ecosystem Research Lower Saxonian Wadden Sea was to detect fundamental ecological properties of this ecosystem. Therefore, the concept of ELAWAT (Resilience of the Wadden Sea Ecosystem) realized, for the first time in the history of ecosystem research, an approach based on stability properties. Processes and mechanisms relevant for a long-term preservation of the Wadden Sea were investigated. 12 projects were involved in this interdisciplinary approach. Field investigations and experiments were carried out in the back barrier tidal flat behind the island of Spiekeroog to detect temporal and spatial patterns and effects of disturbances. Most parameters revealed high variability. Therefore no reference situation can be named for the Wadden Sea. Instead, the 'state' of the Wadden Sea is its dynamic. Several abiotic components showed a resilience on intermediate scales, e.g. a return of basic morphological features of the tidal flats 6 months after a severe ice winter. Stability properties could also be named for biotic components of the Wadden Sea, being specific for the studied variables and scales. Mechanisms to react to disturbance events include a high functional morphology, high reproductive output and high mobility of the Wadden Sea biota. These stability mechanisms can only function in a natural system with an undisturbed tidal regime. To preserve this ecosystem, entire tidal basins shoule be protected to ensure a variety of habitats, source populations for recolonization and undisturbed dispersion. (orig.)SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: F98B1440 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie, Bonn (Germany)DEGerman