DEB ensis vs. data

Abstract

Along the Dutch coast (North sea) large quantities of sand are mined in certain locations to supply sand for coastal defence at other locations in order to retain the existing coastline. Without these nourishments of sand the coast would erode and eventually this erosion would lead to an increased risk of flooding. This project provides the opportunity to use measured environmental data to predict growth of Ensis directus using the DEBEnsis model and compare it to measured biotic data on Ensis. Here we report on the findings of the comparison of field data and model estimates and suggest improvements, both in field measurements, experiments and (adjustments to DEB) modelling. For this study, Ensis directus was taken as a model organism, because of its high dominance in biomass in the Dutch coastal zone