Biodiversiteit en natuurbehoud
Provoost, S.; Bonte, D. (2004). Biodiversiteit en natuurbehoud, in: Provoost, S. et al. (Ed.) Levende duinen: een overzicht van de biodiversiteit aan de Vlaamse kust. Mededelingen van het Instituut voor Natuurbehoud, 22: pp. 366-415 In: Provoost, S.; Bonte, D. (Ed.) (2004). Levende duinen: een overzicht van de biodiversiteit aan de Vlaamse kust. Mededelingen van het Instituut voor Natuurbehoud, 22. Instituut voor Natuurbehoud: Brussel. ISBN 90-403-0205-7. 416, ill., appendices pp., more In: Mededelingen van het Instituut voor Natuurbehoud. Instituut voor Natuurbehoud: Brussel. , more |
| Abstract | About 3600 taxa are discussed in this book. This represents about 20 % of the total number of species along the Flemish coast. Therefore, these figures should be used cautiously.Coastal specificity is mainly reflected in species characteristic for the 'dynamic' and 'stressed' landscape. In terms of habitats, we refer to mud flat, salt marsh, mobile dune, moss dune and young dune slack. The occurrence of specific species is related to sea and wind dynamics, the stress factors salt, drought and lime and the characteristic coastal [micro]climate. On average 40 to 60 % of the species in Flanders can be found along the coast as well. Stoneworts, breeding birds and terrestrial snails are better represented than average, while liverworts seem to avoid the coast. Within the context of Flemish ecoregions, coastal specificity is mainly revealed in the flora. The most important trends in species composition that occurred during the past century are related to the global transition of the open landscape towards a closed, scrub dominated landscape. In general, these changes are well documented for vascular plants, breeding birds, butterflies, grasshoppers and stoneworts. For other taxonomic groups, data are too fragmentary for a reliable judgment. Also the expansion of southern and alien species, as well as the effects of recreation and lowering of the water table can be deduced from at least one species group. The effects of other phenomena such as intensification of agriculture and the increase of atmospheric deposition, do not seem to be reflected unambiguously in biodiversity trends.A limited number of species, linked to the dynamic landscape, give an international nature conservation responsibility to the Flemish coastal region. The regional level, however, is of primary importance for the evaluation of nature values. For most species groups, evaluation of coastal specificity and red list status leads to similar conclusions.A framework for the surveillance of biodiversity conditions along the coast includes measurement and data storage of a number of environmental variables and species records on different levels. We consider a general species inventory on the level of kilometer squares, detailed mapping of a selection of target species and plot based investigations are required. Finally, the use of habitat models is one of the major challenges for future species orientated research. |
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