The growth of Phragmites australis at different hydrological characteristics: a mesocosm experiment at the University of Antwerp
Van Regenmortel, S.; de Deckere, E.; Viaene, P.; Vierstraete, S.; Meire, P. (2002). The growth of Phragmites australis at different hydrological characteristics: a mesocosm experiment at the University of Antwerp, 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. 64 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 |
| Available in | Authors | | Document type: Summary
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| Keywords | Ecosystems
Environmental conditions
Flooding
Flora
Mesocosms
Taxa > Species > Dominant species
Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. [WoRMS]
Belgium, Schelde R. [Marine Regions]
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| Authors | | Top | - Van Regenmortel, S., more
- de Deckere, E., more
- Viaene, P.
| - Vierstraete, S.
- Meire, P., more
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| Abstract | In 1995, the OMES-project (Onderzoek Milieu Effecten Sigmaplan) was started to study the impact of the SIGMA-plan on the ecosystem of the Scheldt-estuary. This project should result in an ecosystemmodel. It is known that reed (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Steud), which is a dominant species on the marshes of the Scheldt-estuary, influences the microbial processes in the soil and plays an important role in the nitrogen retention. It is able to withstand extreme environmental conditions such as extreme water regimes. An increase in the reedarea could play an important role in the ‘purification capacity’ of the Scheldt-estuary and thus lead to a decrease in the nitrogenload of the Northsea. Therefore it is necessary to know how reed reacts at different tidal situations. One of the objectives of the SIGMA-plan is the construction of ‘controlled inundation areas’ in which the hydrological characteristics will differ from those in the marshes. Yet, it is expected that in many of these ‘controlled inundation areas’, reed will be a dominant plant species. At the University of Antwerp, a mesocosm experiment will be carried out, in which different tidal regimes are simulated. Reed is planted at different levels and will be subjected to different flooding regimes. The growth and biomass of reed during the growing season will be measured. The aim of the poster is to explain the construction and creation of the tidal regimes. |
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