The concomitant existence of a typical coastal and a detritus food chain in the Westerschelde estuary
Hummel, H.; Moerland, G.; Bakker, C. (1988). The concomitant existence of a typical coastal and a detritus food chain in the Westerschelde estuary. Hydrobiol. Bull. 22(1): 35-41. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02256780
In: Hydrobiological Bulletin. Netherlands Hydrobiological Society: Amsterdam. ISSN 0165-1404; e-ISSN 2214-708X, meer
Is gerelateerd aan:Hummel, H.; Moerland, G.; Bakker, C. (1988). The concomitant existence of a typical coastal and a detritus food chain in the Westerschelde estuary, in: Hummel, H. et al. (Ed.) Hydrobiology and chemistry of the Schelde and Westerschelde: proceedings of the Schelde symposium (May 1987, Terneuzen, The Netherlands). pp. 35-41, meer
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| Trefwoorden |
Aquatic organisms > Heterotrophic organisms > Detritus feeders
Biological production > Primary production
Distribution > Ecological distribution
Species diversity
Suspended organic matter
Marien/Kust |
| Auteurs | | Top |
- Hummel, H., meer
- Moerland, G.
- Bakker, C.
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| Abstract |
Clear gradients could be found from the river to the sea for the abiotic as well as for the biotic features of the Westerschelde estuary. Two food chains were distinguished; a mainly detritus-based food chain in the upstream brackish part and a coastal food chain downstream. The centre of the area of the detritus food chain coincided with the zone of a turbidity maximum at the interface of salt and fresh water. This food chain is characterized by a low primary production but a year-round high concentration of suspended organic matter, aggregates of detritus and bacteria. The zooplankton and zoobenthos can reach high biomasses. The coastal food chain is mainly based on a seasonally changing high primary production. The diversity of flora and fauna in this system is much higher than in the detritus food chain, although the biomass can be lower. |
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