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Similar diversity-disturbance responses to different physical impacts: Three cases of small-scale biodiversity increase in the Belgian part of the North Sea
De Backer, A.; Van Hoey, G.; Coates, D.; Vanaverbeke, J.; Hostens, K. (2014). Similar diversity-disturbance responses to different physical impacts: Three cases of small-scale biodiversity increase in the Belgian part of the North Sea. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 84(1-2): 251–262. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.05.006
In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. Macmillan: London. ISSN 0025-326X; e-ISSN 1879-3363
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| Trefwoorden |
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| Author keywords |
Soft sediments; Sand extraction; Dredge disposal; Offshore wind energy exploitation; Diversity-disturbance response |
| Auteurs | | Top |
- De Backer, A.
- Van Hoey, G.
- Coates, D.
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- Vanaverbeke, J.
- Hostens, K.
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| Abstract |
Human activities at sea are still increasing. As biodiversity is a central topic in the management of our seas, it is important to understand how diversity responds to different disturbances related with physical impacts. We investigated the effects of three impacts, i.e. sand extraction, dredge disposal and offshore wind energy exploitation, on the soft-bottom macrobenthic assemblages in the Belgian part of the North Sea. We found similar diversity-disturbance responses, mainly related to the fact that different impacts caused similar environmental changes. We observed a sediment refinement which triggered a shift towards a heterogenic, dynamic (transitional) soft-bottom macrobenthic assemblage, with several species typically associated with muddy sands. This led to a local unexpected biodiversity increase in the impacted area. On a wider regional scale, the ever increasing human impacts might lead to a homogenization of the sediment, resulting in a more uniform, yet less diverse benthic ecosystem. |
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