Wetlands of recent Dutch embankments

Joenje, W.; Verhoeven, B.

doi:10.1007/bf00007267

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…However, along the neighbouring Oude Maas river a narrow, but even older band of marsh with welldeveloped freshwater tidal biocoenoses still stands the expansion of the Rotterdam urbanindustrial environment (Werkgroep Oude Maas, 1977). Joenje & Verhoeven (1993) treat the special case of marshes on mud flats originating from recent embankments in former estuaries and in the lake IJsselmeer area.…”

Section: The Primary Basin Stage: the Filling Of A Geomorphological Bmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a by-effect of hydro-technical works newly embanked areas went through initial phases of great interest to wildlife. Some of the resulting marshes were preserved as nature reserves (Joenje & Verhoeven, 1993), and further new wetlands are planned (Nature Policy Plan, 1989).…”

Section: Human Control Of Wetlands In the Present Periodmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More research is evidently needed to see whether all the viewpoints given here will stand up to close scrutiny. Lakes are treated in detail by De Haan et al (1993), and marshes in recent embankments by Joenje & Verhoeven (1993). As various aspects of Dutch fenlands have been dealt with in quite some detail by Den , Koerselman & Verhoeven (1992), Van Wirdum et al (1992), Vermeer & Joosten (1992) and Wiegers (1992), there is no separate chapter on them in this volume.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An ecosystems approach to base-rich freshwater wetlands, with special reference to fenlands

Wirdum¹

1993

Hydrobiologia

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A survey of base-rich wetlands in The Netherlands is presented. The main area of their occurrence is the low-lying Holocene part of the country, until some thousand years ago a large and coherent wetland landscape: the Holland wetland. The development of various parts of the Holland wetland into marshes, fens and bogs can be understood from hydrological relations in mire basins, as recognized in the distinction of primary, secondary and tertiary mire basin stages. Presently, the remnants of the Holland wetland are separate base-rich wetlands. The succession of their vegetation reflects various abiotic conditions and human influences. Three main developmental periods are distinguished as regards these factors. The first, geological period of mire development is seen as a post-glacial relaxation, with the inertia due to the considerable mass of wetland as a stabilizing factor. Biological "grazing" influences, as an aspect of utilization by humans, converted base-rich wetlands to whole new types in the second, historical period. Presently, mass and harvesting have decreased in importance, and actual successions in terrestrializing turbaries seem to reflect rapidly changing environmental conditions. Human control could well become the most important factor in the future development of wetland nature. The present value of open fen vegetation strongly depends on the continuation of the historical harvesting. The development of wooded fen may help to increase the mass of wetland in the future. Best results in terms of biodiversity are expected when their base state is maintained through water management.The vegetation and hydrology of floating fens in terrestrializing turbaries is treated in some more detail. Various lines and phases in the succession are distinguished. Open fen vegetation at base-rich, yet nutrient-poor sites is very rich in species threatened elsewhere. The fast acidification of certain such fens is attributed to hydrological and management factors. This acidification is illustrated in the profile of a floating raft sample. At the scale of these small fens, the elemental structure comprising base-rich fen, transitional fen and bog vegetation, is not as' stable as it was in the large Holland wetland. A critical role seems to be played by the supply of bases with the water influx. The changing base state is supposed to change the nutrient cycling to such an extent that it would be correct to call this trophic excitation of the ecosystem, rather than just eutrophication. Eutrophication indicates a quantitative reaction to an increased nutrient supply, the internal system being unaltered. The drainage of fens, resulting in an increased productivity of the vegetation, provides another example of excitation, to the effect that the functional system is dramatically changed internally.

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Section: The Primary Basin Stage: the Filling Of A Geomorphological Bmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Human Control Of Wetlands In the Present Periodmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An ecosystems approach to base-rich freshwater wetlands, with special reference to fenlands

Wirdum¹

1993

Hydrobiologia

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“…Young base-rich freshwater wetlands originate from more recent reclamation from the sea and from inland lakes (Joenje & Verhoeven, 1993). Several estuaries have been reclaimed from the Wadden Sea in the north and from the North Sea in the south-west.…”

Section: Characteristics Of the Major Wetland Types Of The Netherlandsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

1993

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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.

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

Best

Verhoeven

Wolff³

1993

Netherlands-Wetlands

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Wetlands of recent Dutch embankments

Cited by 7 publications

References 6 publications

An ecosystems approach to base-rich freshwater wetlands, with special reference to fenlands

An ecosystems approach to base-rich freshwater wetlands, with special reference to fenlands

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

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

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