The ebb tidal delta of the Grevelingen: a man-made nursery for flatfish?
Hamerlynck, O.; Hostens, K.; Mees, J.; Arellano, R.V.; Cattrijsse, A.; Van de Vyver, P.; Craeymeersch, J.A. (2003). The ebb tidal delta of the Grevelingen: a man-made nursery for flatfish?, in: Hostens, K. The demersal fish and macro-invertebrate assemblages of the Westerschelde and Oosterschelde estuaries (Southern Bight of the North Sea) = De demersale vis- en macro-invertebraten gemeenschappen van de Westerschelde en Oosterschelde estuaria (Zuidelijke Bocht van de Noordzee). pp. 79-86
In: Hostens, K. (2003). The demersal fish and macro-invertebrate assemblages of the Westerschelde and Oosterschelde estuaries (Southern Bight of the North Sea) = De demersale vis- en macro-invertebraten gemeenschappen van de Westerschelde en Oosterschelde estuaria (Zuidelijke Bocht van de Noordzee). PhD Thesis. Universiteit Gent. Faculteit Wetenschappen: Gent. XVI, 205, 1 cd-rom pp., more
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| Keywords |
Aquatic communities > Benthos > Zoobenthos
Barriers
Engineering > Coastal engineering
Environmental factors > Anthropogenic factors
Environmental impact
Fisheries > Demersal fisheries
Motion > Water motion > Circulation > Water circulation > Shelf dynamics > Estuarine dynamics
Nursery grounds
Sediments
Species diversity
Water bodies > Inland waters > Lakes > Artificial lakes
Water bodies > Inland waters > Lakes > Salt lakes
Limanda limanda (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]; Solea solea (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]
ANE, Netherlands, Grevelingen L. [Marine Regions]; ANE, Netherlands, Oosterschelde [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top |
- Hamerlynck, O., more
- Hostens, K., more
- Mees, J., more
- Arellano, R.V.
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- Cattrijsse, A., more
- Van de Vyver, P.
- Craeymeersch, J.A., more
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| Abstract |
In order to investigate the impact of the closure of the Grevelingen estuary on the benthic life and nursery function of its ebb tidal delta, a comparison was made between the present ebb tidal deltas of the Grevelingen and the Eastern Scheldt. Three groups of benthic animals were compared: macrobenthos, epibenthic animals (including demersal fish) and hyperbenthos. The ebb tidal delta of the Grevelingen is much richer for almost all animal groups discussed. The data suggest that this richness is a consequence of the changes that have occurred in the hydrodynamics since the closure of the Grevelingen estuary in 1971. The area now traps and retains mud, detritus, larvae of different groups of infaunal animals, larvae of epibenthic crustaceans, and eggs and larvae of fish. This change is reflected in the increased importance of the area as a nursery for flatfish, especially dab and sole. However, the increase in the nursery function of the ebb tidal delta does not make up for the loss of nursery areas in the estuary itself. |
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