The ecology of The Netherlands wetlands: characteristics, threats, prospects and perspectives for ecological research

Abstract

Wetlands are among the worlds' most important, but also most threatened, environmental resources. Wetland losses have been in progress particularly from the industrial revolution onwards, because wetland functions could not successfully compete for space with other land uses. Wetlands became recently foci of conservation efforts because of the increased awareness of their importance in water management and wildlife conservation, and because of the diversity of their habitats.The Netherlands are relatively rich in wetlands: 16% of its' territory is regarded as internationally important wetland and 7% has been registered as such. The major Dutch wetland types are: coastal ecosystems, large riverine systems, base-rich freshwater systems, and nutrient-poor freshwater systems.Most threats to the Dutch wetlands are of man-made origin. They comprise: (1) Changes in hydrology leading to changed discharges, currents and desiccation; (2) Acidification; (3) Eutrophication; and (4) Toxification. Long-term threats are largely climate-change related, and concern temperature rise and the UV-B increase in irradiation.General conservation goals also apply to wetlands but Ramsar-registered wetlands have a special status. Conservation of the Dutch wetlands is difficult, because of the high population density of the country and its inherent threats. However, ecological targets and standards are increasingly set in national Policy Plans and international agreements. Rehabilitation and creation of wetlands is presently widely advocated, and sometimes realised.For ecological research, the sustainability of wetlands should get top priority. Such a research programme would focus on understanding the underlying ecological processes in natural and man-dominated wetland systems to prescribe conservation, rehabilitation and management strategies that would enhance the sustainability of these systems. Within this framework special attention should be directed to studies (1) At the ecosystem level of ecosystem parameters, of which natural oscillations and trends in time, and on which the impact of disturbances are quantified. Particularly these studies, in which often simulation models are used as tools for interpretation, can provide the basis for extrapolations in space and time;(2) On adaptation capacity and mechanisms of (groups of) species to extreme environmental conditions; (3) On (mutual) relationships between plants, animals and microorganisms (e.g. competition, grazing and mineralization); (4) On dispersion between small wetlands.

Anthropogenic Correlates of Species Richness in Southeastern Ontario Wetlands

“…Roads may reduce regional biodiversity by impeding migration between local populations (Merriam et al 1989;Baur & Baur 1990;Reh & Seitz 1990;Yanes et al 1995); modifying wetland hydrology and siltation patterns (Campbell & Doeg 1989in Andrews 1990; increasing the amount of edge in habitat patches (Soulé et al 1992;Thiollay 1993); increasing mortality through roadkill (Rosen & Lowe 1994;Fahrig et al 1995); facilitating the invasion of exotic species (Cowie & Werner 1993;Lonsdale & Lane 1994); and increasing (human) access to wildlife habitats (Clark et al 1993;Young 1994). Conversion of forested land to agriculture can also create barriers to migration (Henein & Merriam 1990;Ouborg 1993;Dunning et al 1995;Haas 1995;Sjögren-Gulve & Ray, 1996); affect wetland hydrology and siltation (Martin & Hartman 1987;Richardson & McCarthy 1994;Barendregt et al 1995); increase edge effects (Askins 1994;Yahner 1995); contribute to wetland eutrophication (Barendregt et al 1992(Barendregt et al , 1995Best et al 1993); facilitate the invasion of exotics (Smallwood 1994); and destroy or degrade large areas of wetland where extensive drainage occurs (Thibault & Zipperer 1994;Spaling 1995).…”

Towards a new model for the governance of the Weerribben-Wieden National Park

“…The theme of the workshop was "Resilience and governance of natural landscapes: climate resilience measures and governance analyses of the Dutch National Parks". 2 The Netherlands is rich in wetlands, out of the total area (41,864 km 2 ) 16% is regarded as internationally important wetland and 7% of it is on the Ramsar list of wetlands (Wolff, 1993;Best et al, 1993;Bakecura, 2015). 3 Staatsbosbeheer is commissioned by the Dutch government to strengthen the position of nature in the Netherlands.…”

Plant responses to nutrient addition and predictive ability of vegetation N:P ratio in an austral fen

“…Intensifying agricultural practices can increase nutrient loadings to nearby natural wetlands (Best, Verhoeven, & Wolff, 1993;Zedler & Kercher, 2005). Natural and constructed wetlands have the potential to attenuate these nutrient losses to protect downstream water quality (Howard- Williams, 1985;Verhoeven & Meuleman, 1999); however, natural wetlands are also vulnerable to ecological degradation as a result of elevated nutrient loadings (Zedler & Kercher, 2005).…”