A long-term study of the recovery of the macrozoobenthos on large defaunated plots on a tidal flat in the Wadden Sea

Beukema, J.J.; Flach, Els; Dekker, R.; Starink, Mathieu

doi:10.1016/s1385-1101(99)00027-1

Cited by 74 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…The process that took at least much more than half a year in the experiment described by Montserrat et al (2008) and Van Colen et al (2008) might take at least more than 3.5 years in our case as recolonization in the much larger defaunated areas of Lake Veere is probably more dependent of larval recruitment instead of adult settlement. This is in line with the recordings of Beukema et al (1999) who found no complete recovery of the biomass within 4 years after anoxia in the Wadden Sea at, compared to the current study, relatively small patches with good opportunities for recolonization from the surroundings. In an Italian lagoon specifically species richness was still reduced 6 years after two severe anoxic events, and the partial recovery of the species numbers was largely due to an increase in opportunistic species (Lardicci et al 2001).…”

Section: Effects Of the Restoration Measure On The Macrozoobenthic Cosupporting

confidence: 93%

The Decline and Restoration of a Coastal Lagoon (Lake Veere) in the Dutch Delta

Wijnhoven

Escaravage

Daemen³

et al. 2009

Estuaries and Coasts

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The former tidal inlet Lake Veere was turned into a stagnant brackish lake in 1961. Ever since, the system has shown a continuous degradation. The current study shows the monitoring results for the macrozoobenthic communities and the abiotic conditions for the period 1990-2008. This includes the first step to remediation, the restoration of the exchange between the tidal marine Eastern Scheldt and Lake Veere in 2004. A continuous decline in water clearance co-occurring with decreasing macrofauna densities and richness was observed till 2004. Water quality (e.g., secchi depth, nutrient levels, and oxygen conditions) improved significantly after the measure at a higher salinity level with less variation. But the macrofauna densities, biomass, and diversity did not improve yet. First indications of changes in the benthic communities by arrival of new and returning species are however observed and show that restoration at macrofauna level follows the improved abiotic conditions with a delay of several years.

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Section: Effects Of the Restoration Measure On The Macrozoobenthic Cosupporting

confidence: 93%

The Decline and Restoration of a Coastal Lagoon (Lake Veere) in the Dutch Delta

Wijnhoven

Escaravage

Daemen³

et al. 2009

Estuaries and Coasts

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“…Similar to other coastal systems worldwide (Everett, 1994;Norkko and Bonsdorff, 1996a,b;McMahon and Walker, 1998;Beukema et al, 1999;Norkko et al, 2000;Wooldridge and Callahan, 2000;Sfriso et al, 2001), the Mondego Estuary has been undergoing a eutrophication process Martins et al, 1997Martins et al, , 2001Pardal et al, 2000Pardal et al, , 2004Cardoso et al, 2002;Dolbeth et al, 2003). Apart from supporting several industries, this small temperate intertidal estuarine system (1600 ha) receives an agricultural run-off from 15 000 ha of cultivated land (mostly rice and corn fields), upstream of its location.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Population dynamics of Cyathura carinata (Isopoda) in a eutrophic temperate estuary

Ferreira

Pardal

Lillebø

et al. 2004

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

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From January 1993 to September 1995, Cyathura carinata was a target species of a monitoring programme carried in the Mondego Estuary (Portugal). Being one of the key species of the intertidal mud flats, this isopod was found to be most abundant in a eutrophic area, where seasonal macroalgal blooms usually occur. Its density decreased towards downstream areas, where some Zostera noltii beds exist. At the Mondego Estuary, the present work stated that C. carinata: (a) had a 2-year life span, even though, 80-90% of the individuals died when 1 year old, revealing a strong post-reproduction mortality; (b) produced a single cohort per year; (c) showed continuous growth (with lower rates during winter); (d) evidenced protogynous hermaphroditism and (e) presented a high growth production and a low turnover ratio. A latitudinal gradient reflected in the life features of C. carinata was described. Except for the life span and the frequency of reproduction, which are generally valid for all populations, C. carinata from the Mondego Estuary fitted the characteristics of other populations from the south of Europe.The effects of macroalgal blooms were assessed. Cyathura carinata seemed to temporarily benefit from the presence of macroalgae, due to higher energy resources and more efficient protection against predators. In a long term, algal blooms had negative consequences. It was particularly evident on the recruitment success, which had repercussions in population abundance, and on the secondary production. Therefore, repeated events of algal blooms embracing the distribution areas of C. carinata represent a threat to this species in eutrophic estuaries.

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“…Like many other estuaries worldwide (McMahon and Walker, 1998;Beukema et al, 1999;Norkko and Bonsdorff, 2000;Sfriso et al, 2001), the Mondego estuary has been under environmental stress by eutrophication processes. As a consequence, the seagrass (Zostera noltii) bed has almost disappeared, reducing in extent from 15 ha in the early 1980's to 0.02 ha in the mid-1990's (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management of a shallow temperate estuary to control eutrophication: The effect of hydrodynamics on the system’s nutrient loading

Lillebø

Neto

Martins

et al. 2005

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

116

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The Mondego estuary, a shallow warm-temperate intertidal system located on the west coast of Portugal, has for some decades been under severe ecological stress, mainly caused by eutrophication. Water circulation in this system was, until 1998, mainly dependent on tides and on the freshwater input of a small tributary artificially controlled by a sluice. After 1998, the sluice opening was effectively minimised to reduce the nutrient loading, and the system hydrodynamics improved due to engineering work in the upstream areas. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the mitigation measures implemented in 1998. Changes to the hydrodynamics of the system were assessed using precipitation and salinity data in relation to the concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients, as well as the linkage between dissolved N:P ratios and the biological parameters (phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentrations, green macroalgal biomass and seagrass biomass). Two distinctive periods were compared, over a ten year period: from January 1993 to January 1997 and from January 1999 until January 2003. The effective reduction in the dissolved N:P atomic ratio from 37.7 to 13.2 after 1998 is a result of lowered ammonia, but not the oxidised forms of nitrogen (nitrate plus nitrite), or increased concentrations of dissolved inorganic phosphorus. Results suggest that the phytoplankton is not nutrient limited, yet maximum and mean biomass of green macroalgae was reduced by one order of magnitude after the mitigation measures. This suggests that besides lowering the water residence time of the system, macroalgal growth became nitrogen limited. In parallel to these changes the seagrass-covered area and biomass of Zostera noltii showed signs of recovery.

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A long-term study of the recovery of the macrozoobenthos on large defaunated plots on a tidal flat in the Wadden Sea

Cited by 74 publications

References 51 publications

The Decline and Restoration of a Coastal Lagoon (Lake Veere) in the Dutch Delta

The Decline and Restoration of a Coastal Lagoon (Lake Veere) in the Dutch Delta

Population dynamics of Cyathura carinata (Isopoda) in a eutrophic temperate estuary

Management of a shallow temperate estuary to control eutrophication: The effect of hydrodynamics on the system’s nutrient loading

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