The Oosterschelde Estuary (The Netherlands): a Case-Study of a Changing Ecosystem

Front Matter....Pages i-XXIV
The Oosterschelde estuary, a case-study of a changing ecosystem: an introduction....Pages 1-14
Hydrodynamic and geomorphological changes in the tidal system....Pages 15-16
Hydrodynamic characteristics of the Oosterschelde in recent decades....Pages 17-27
Changes in basin geomorphology after implementation of the Oosterschelde estuary project....Pages 29-39
Fine sediments in the Oosterschelde tidal basin before and after partial closure....Pages 41-56
Structure and functioning of the pelagic system....Pages 57-60
Turbidity, nutrients and phytoplankton primary production in the Oosterschelde (The Netherlands) before, during and after a large-scale coastal engineering project (1980–1990)....Pages 61-78
A new trend in the development of the phytoplankton in the Oosterschelde (SW Netherlands) during and after the construction of a storm-surge barrier....Pages 79-100
Nutrient concentrations and planktonic diatom-flagellate relations in the Oosterschelde (SW Netherlands) during and after the construction of a storm-surge barrier....Pages 101-116
Zooplankton species composition in the Oosterschelde (SW Netherlands) before, during and after the construction of a storm-surge barrier....Pages 117-126
Zooplankton biomass in the Oosterschelde (SW Netherlands) before, during and after the construction of a storm-surge barrier....Pages 127-143
Plankton size distributions and trophic relations before and after the construction of the storm-surge barrier in the Oosterschelde estuary....Pages 145-152
The structure of the benthic system....Pages 153-156
Spatial and temporal patterns of intertidal macrobenthic populations in the Oosterschelde: are they influenced by the construction of the storm-surge barrier?....Pages 157-182
Microphytobenthos in the Oosterschelde estuary (The Netherlands), 1981–1990; consequences of a changed tidal regime....Pages 183-195
Composition, distribution and biomass of meiobenthos in the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands)....Pages 197-217
The effects of prolonged emersion and submersion by tidal manipulation on marine macrobenthos....Pages 219-234
Effect of sedimentological and hydrodynamical changes in the intertidal areas of the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands) on distribution, density and biomass of five common macrobenthic species: Spio martinensis (Mesnil), Hydrobia ulvae (Pennant), Arenicola marina (L.), Scoloplos armiger (Muller) and Bathyporeia sp.....Pages 235-249
Long-term changes (1979–89) in the intertidal macrozoobenthos of the Oosterschelde estuary: are patterns in total density, biomass and diversity induced by the construction of the storm-surge barrier?....Pages 251-264
Changes in the sublittoral hard substrate communities in the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands), caused by changes in the environmental parameters....Pages 265-280
Tidal reduction and its effects on intertidal hard-substrate communities in the Oosterschelde estuary....Pages 281-298
Ecology of the salt marshes....Pages 299-301
Changes in area, geomorphology and sediment nature of salt marshes in the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands) due to tidal changes....Pages 303-316
Consequences of a tidal reduction for the salt-marsh vegetation in the Oosterschelde estuary (The Netherlands)....Pages 317-333
The response of salt marsh vegetation to tidal reduction caused by the Oosterschelde storm-surge barrier....Pages 335-353
The response of benthic suspension feeders to environmental changes....Pages 355-357
Mussel culture in a changing environment: the effects of a coastal engineering project on mussel culture ( Mytilus edulis L.) in the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands)....Pages 359-379
Variability in stock assessment of cockles ( Cerastoderma edule L.) in the Oosterschelde (in 1980–1990), in relation to environmental factors....Pages 381-395
Biomass and standing stock on sublittoral hard substrates in the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands)....Pages 397-412
The role of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis in the cycling of nutrients in the Oosterschelde estuary (The Netherlands)....Pages 413-429
The analysis of a dynamic simulation model for the Oosterschelde ecosystem — a summary....Pages 431-436
SMOES: a simulation model for the Oosterschelde ecosystem....Pages 437-451
SMOES: a simulation model for the Oosterschelde ecosystem....Pages 453-474
The higher trophic levels....Pages 475-478
The mobile epifauna of the soft bottoms in the subtidal Oosterschelde estuary: structure, function and impact of the storm-surge barrier....Pages 479-496
Changes in the fish fauna of the Oosterschelde estuary — a ten-year time series of fyke catches....Pages 497-507
Changes in the waterbird populations of the Oosterschelde (SW Netherlands) as a result of large-scale coastal engineering works....Pages 509-524
Consumption of benthic invertebrates by waterbirds in the Oosterschelde estuary, SW Netherlands....Pages 525-546
The harbour seal, Phoca vitulina , in the Oosterschelde: decline and possibilities for recovery....Pages 547-555
Historical population size of the harbour seal, Phoca vitulina , in the Delta area, SW Netherlands....Pages 557-560
Front Matter....Pages 561-561
Policy planning in the Oosterschelde estuary....Pages 563-574
The Oosterschelde estuary: an evaluation of changes at the ecosystem level induced by civil-engineering works....Pages 575-592
Back Matter....Pages 593-597