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

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-XXIV

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2. The Oosterschelde estuary, a case-study of a changing ecosystem: an introduction

   1. The Oosterschelde estuary, a case-study of a changing ecosystem: an introduction

      • P. H. Nienhuis, A. C. Smaal

      Pages 1-14

3. Hydrodynamic and Geomorphological Changes in the Tidal System

   1. Hydrodynamic and geomorphological changes in the tidal system

      • Wilfried B. M. ten Brinke

      Pages 15-16

   2. Hydrodynamic characteristics of the Oosterschelde in recent decades

      • Jacques Vroon

      Pages 17-27

   3. Changes in basin geomorphology after implementation of the Oosterschelde estuary project

      • Jan P. M. Mulder, Teunis Louters

      Pages 29-39

   4. Fine sediments in the Oosterschelde tidal basin before and after partial closure

      • Wilfried B. M. ten Brinke, Job Dronkers, Jan P. M. Mulder

      Pages 41-56

4. Structure and Functioning of the Pelagic System

   1. Structure and functioning of the pelagic system

      • Cees Bakker

      Pages 57-60

   2. Turbidity, nutrients and phytoplankton primary production in the Oosterschelde (The Netherlands) before, during and after a large-scale coastal engineering project (1980–1990)

      • L. P. M. J. Wetsteyn, J. C. Kromkamp

      Pages 61-78

   3. A new trend in the development of the phytoplankton in the Oosterschelde (SW Netherlands) during and after the construction of a storm-surge barrier

      • C. Bakker, P. M. J. Herman, M. Vink

      Pages 79-100

   4. Nutrient concentrations and planktonic diatom-flagellate relations in the Oosterschelde (SW Netherlands) during and after the construction of a storm-surge barrier

      • C. Bakker, M. Vink

      Pages 101-116

   5. Zooplankton species composition in the Oosterschelde (SW Netherlands) before, during and after the construction of a storm-surge barrier

      • C. Bakker

      Pages 117-126

   6. Zooplankton biomass in the Oosterschelde (SW Netherlands) before, during and after the construction of a storm-surge barrier

      • C. Bakker, P. van Rijswijk

      Pages 127-143

   7. Plankton size distributions and trophic relations before and after the construction of the storm-surge barrier in the Oosterschelde estuary

      • M. L. M. Tackx, P. M. J. Herman, P. van Rijswijk, M. Vink, C. Bakker

      Pages 145-152

5. The Structure of the Benthic System

   1. The structure of the benthic system

      • Patrick M. Meire

      Pages 153-156

   2. Spatial and temporal patterns of intertidal macrobenthic populations in the Oosterschelde: are they influenced by the construction of the storm-surge barrier?

      • Patrick M. Meire, Jan Seys, John Buijs, Jon Coosen

      Pages 157-182

   3. Microphytobenthos in the Oosterschelde estuary (The Netherlands), 1981–1990; consequences of a changed tidal regime

      • D. J. de Jong, P. H. Nienhuis, B. J. Kater

      Pages 183-195

   4. Composition, distribution and biomass of meiobenthos in the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands)

      • N. Smol, K. A. Willems, J. C. R. Govaere, A. J. J. Sandee

      Pages 197-217

   5. The effects of prolonged emersion and submersion by tidal manipulation on marine macrobenthos

      • Herman Hummel, Anne W. Fortuin, Roelof H. Bogaards, Andre Meijboom, Lein de Wolf

      Pages 219-234

   6. 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.

      • J. Coosen, J. Seys, P. M. Meire, J. A. M. Craeymeersch

      Pages 235-249

   7. 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?

      • Jan J. Seys, P. M. Meire, J. Coosen, J. A. Craeymeersch

      Pages 251-264

The Oosterschelde estuary is one of the estuaries in the Netherlands which remained after the Delta scheme was completed in 1986. In the seventies the Oosterschelde became a national symbol of the change in political thinking and decision making about the values of our natural environment. As a result of political decision a storm surge barrier was built in the mouth of the estuary, as a compromise between safety for the human population and nature conservation.
Owing to the broad interest in the meaning of the Oosterschelde estuary for Dutch and international societies, it became one of the most intensively studied coastal ecosystems in Western Europe. In an interdisciplinary approach of several state agencies and universities, a broad spectrum of physical, chemical and biological research has been carried out during the period of 1980--1989, dedicated to the structure and functioning of the saline ecosystem. The undisturbed estuary was studied during the period between 1980--1984. Large mathematical models had been constructed before 1986, to simulate future changes in the ecosystem. Further studies after the completion of the storm surge barrier (1986--1989) have been used for verification of the model. The integrated and summarized knowledge of the Oosterschelde ecosystem is used by water managers and nature and fisheries conservationists.
A case study for professional civil engineers, ecologists, marine biologists, water managers, decision makers, university students and anyone interested in physical, chemical and biological estuarine and coastal sciences.

• ecology
• ecosystem
• environment
• nature conservation
• simulation

`The book is a must for everyone interested in and working on integrated water management. Those interested in the environmental effects of dam construction are provided with an essential reference work. Finally, the growing discussion on the impacts of sea-level rise due to global change can be stimulated by the results of this outstanding piece of research.'
International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 5:4-6, 1995

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