Indicator system for biodiversity in Dutch marine waters: II. Ecoprofiles of indicator species for Wadden Sea, North Sea and Delta Area
Meesters, H.W.G.; ter Hofstede, R.; Deerenberg, C.M.; Craeymeersch, J.A.; De Mesel, I.G.; Brasseur, S.M.J.M.; Reijnders, P.J.H.; Witbaard, R. (2008). Indicator system for biodiversity in Dutch marine waters: II. Ecoprofiles of indicator species for Wadden Sea, North Sea and Delta Area. Rapporten (Wettelijke Onderzoekstaken Natuur & Milieu), 82. Statutory Research Tasks Unit for Nature and the Environment: Wageningen. 164 pp. Part of: Rapporten (Wettelijke Onderzoekstaken Natuur & Milieu). Wageningen Universiteit: Wageningen. ISSN 1871-028X, more |
Keywords | Biodiversity Diets Environmental conditions Environments > Aquatic environment > Marine environment Morphometric analysis Profiles Taxa > Species > Indicator species ANE, Netherlands, Delta Area [Marine Regions]; ANE, North Sea [Marine Regions]; ANE, Wadden Sea [Marine Regions] Marine/Coastal |
Authors | | Top | - Meesters, H.W.G., more
- ter Hofstede, R., more
- Deerenberg, C.M.
- Craeymeersch, J.A., more
| - De Mesel, I.G., more
- Brasseur, S.M.J.M., more
- Reijnders, P.J.H., more
- Witbaard, R., more
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Abstract | The report presents a large number of brief ecological descriptions, so-called ecoprofiles, of important indicator species for the Dutch marine waters. The species include birds, fish, sea mammals and invertebrates. Each ecoprofile offers information on important characteristics of the species, such as morphometric data, life history information, diet and dispersal information. It also provides information on the species’ sensitivity to environmental pressures and on the current monitoring programme and the data set available. Where available, mean numbers for each indicator are presented for the Wadden Sea, North Sea and Delta Area (in the south-western part of the Netherlands) over the 2001- 2004 and 1999-2002 periods. Most ecoprofiles include natural reference values that are subsequently used to calculate Nature Quality. Results show that nature quality can differ substantially between indicators, periods and regions. The report argues for careful evaluation of the choice of indicators used to assess marine biodiversity. |
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