EFFECT OF SEDIMENTOLOGICAL AND HYDRODYNAMICAL CHANGES IN THE INTERTIDAL AREAS OF THE OOSTERSCHELDE ESTUARY (SW NETHERLANDS) ON DISTRIBUTION, DENSITY AND BIOMASS OF 5 COMMON MACROBENTHIC SPECIES - SPIO-MARTINENSIS (MESNIL), HYDROBIA-ULVAE (PENNANT), ARENICOLA-MARINA (L), SCOLOPLOS-ARMIGER (MULLER) AND BATHYPOREIA SP
J. Coosen et al., EFFECT OF SEDIMENTOLOGICAL AND HYDRODYNAMICAL CHANGES IN THE INTERTIDAL AREAS OF THE OOSTERSCHELDE ESTUARY (SW NETHERLANDS) ON DISTRIBUTION, DENSITY AND BIOMASS OF 5 COMMON MACROBENTHIC SPECIES - SPIO-MARTINENSIS (MESNIL), HYDROBIA-ULVAE (PENNANT), ARENICOLA-MARINA (L), SCOLOPLOS-ARMIGER (MULLER) AND BATHYPOREIA SP, Hydrobiologia, 283, 1994, pp. 235-249
In order to evaluate the impact of the construction of the storm-surge
barrier and secondary dams on macrobenthos of the tidal flats in the
Oosterschelde (SW Netherlands), changes in distribution, density and b
iomass of five common species (Spio martinensis, Hydrobia ulvae, Areni
cola marina, Scoloplos armiger and Bathyporeia sp) were analysed. Data
on macrobenthos were collected from 1979 to 1989 on five different ti
dal flats. Changes in sediment texture and hydrodynamic factors during
the construction and after the completion of the coastal engineering
project were taken into account. Three severe winters in a row caused
more disturbance in the population of the main predator of S. armiger
than did the hydrodynamical changes. A temporary prolongation of the e
mersion time (in 1986 and 1987) caused a temporary decrease in juvenil
e A. marina. But afterwards they still occupy the same 'nursery ground
s'. Increased wave action on the edges of the flats probably created n
ew niches for Bathyporeia sp. and Spio martinensis, replacing other be
nthic species. It is not yet clear what has caused the decline of H. u
lvae in many places in the Oosterschelde estuary. Parasitic infestatio
n is one of the possibilities.