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Hard substrate monitoring in the Scheldt estuary: changes in species distribution from 1989 till 1998
Schouten, P. (2002). Hard substrate monitoring in the Scheldt estuary: changes in species distribution from 1989 till 1998, in: ECSA Local Meeting: ecological structures and functions in the Scheldt Estuary: from past to future, Antwerp, Belgium October 7-10, 2002: abstract book. pp. 57
In: (2002). ECSA Local Meeting: Ecological structures and functions in the Scheldt Estuary: from past to future, Antwerp, Belgium October 7-10, 2002: abstract book. University of Antwerp: Antwerp. 73 + 1 cd-rom pp., more

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Document type: Summary

Keywords
    Abundance
    Behaviour > Migrations > Immigrations
    Biodiversity
    Distribution
    Environmental factors
    Fauna > Aquatic organisms > Aquatic animals > Shellfish > Estuarine organisms > Brackishwater molluscs
    Flora > Weeds > Marine organisms > Seaweeds
    Monitoring
    Properties > Chemical properties > Salinity
    Substrata
    Taxa > Species
    Magallana gigas (Thunberg, 1793) [WoRMS]; Porphyra umbilicalis Kützing, 1843 [WoRMS]
    Belgium, Schelde R. [Marine Regions]

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Abstract
    In the scope of BIOMON (initiated by RIKZ) Bureau Waardenburg bv executed hard substrate monitoring in the Scheldt estuary during the years 1989 till 1998. Sessile species can be indicator species for environmental changes and insight in their habitat can be of value during impact studies. The monitoring took place at two locations: Ritthem and Kruiningen. The biodiversity of the Ritthem over the years has been relatively high. This is probably due to strong marine influences at this location. Several species of seaweed occur here. In 1998 seaweed’s where responsible for more than 50 % of the total amount of species. Since 1991 an immigrant, the Japanese oyster (Crassostrea gigas), has become more and more abundant, causing changes in species distribution and abundance at this location. Kruiningen has a relative low biodiversity compared to Ritthem. This is probably due to strong fluctuations of the salinity at this location, also indicated by the appearance of brackish water species. Only one seaweed lives here (Porphyra umbilicalis). Several other species come and go over the years causing clear changes in species distribution and abundance at this location. In comparison to the results at Ritthem, the abundance of the Japanese oyster also made a big increase at this location. The strong up come of the Japanese oyster can have a dramatic influence on the receiving ecosystem. With the rise of the oyster population original substrate disappears and there are indications the oysters compete with other filter feeders for food. What will come of this in the future remains to be seen.

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