Integrated monitoring of nature restoration along ecotones, the example of the Yser Estuary
Hoffmann, M.; Adam, S.; Baert, L.; Bonte, D.; Chavatte, N.; Claus, R.; De Belder, W.; De Fré, B.; Degraer, S.; De Groote, D.; Dekoninck, W.; Desender, K.; Devos, K.; Engledow, H.; Grootaert, P.; Hardies, N.; Leliaert, F.; Maelfait, J.-P.; Monbaliu, J.; Pollet, M.; Provoost, S.; Stichelmans, E.; Toorman, E.; Van Nieuwenhuyse, H.; Vercruysse, E.; Vincx, M.; Wittoeck, J. (2005). Integrated monitoring of nature restoration along ecotones, the example of the Yser Estuary, in: Herrier, J.-L. et al. (Ed.) Proceedings 'Dunes and Estuaries 2005': International Conference on nature restoration practices in European coastal habitats, Koksijde, Belgium 19-23 September 2005. VLIZ Special Publication, 19: pp. 191-208
In: Herrier, J.-L. et al. (2005). Proceedings 'Dunes and Estuaries 2005': International Conference on nature restoration practices in European coastal habitats, Koksijde, Belgium 19-23 September 2005. VLIZ Special Publication, 19. Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ): Oostende. XIV, 685 pp., more
In: VLIZ Special Publication. Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ): Oostende. ISSN 1377-0950, more
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| Available in | Authors |
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Document type: Conference paper
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| Keywords |
Communities > Plant communities > Ecotones
Hydrographic features > Physiographic features > Estuaries
Monitoring
Protection > Consumer protection > Controls > Quality controls > Monitoring
Resource management > Wildlife management > Conservation > Nature conservation
Restoration
Restoration
Soil types > Soil types (physiographic) > Coastal dune soils
Topographic features > Beach features > Dunes
Toxicology > Ecotoxicology
Water bodies > Coastal waters > Coastal landforms > Coastal inlets > Estuaries
ANE, Belgium, IJzer R. [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Author keywords |
Ecotone; Nature restoration; Natuurherstel |
| Authors | | Top |
- Hoffmann, M., more
- Adam, S., more
- Baert, L., more
- Bonte, D., more
- Chavatte, N., more
- Claus, R.
- De Belder, W., more
- De Fré, B.
- Degraer, S., more
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- De Groote, D.
- Dekoninck, W., more
- Desender, K., more
- Devos, K., more
- Engledow, H., more
- Grootaert, P., more
- Hardies, N., more
- Leliaert, F., more
- Maelfait, J.-P., more
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- Monbaliu, J., more
- Pollet, M., more
- Provoost, S., more
- Stichelmans, E.
- Toorman, E., more
- Van Nieuwenhuyse, H., more
- Vercruysse, E., more
- Vincx, M., more
- Wittoeck, J., more
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| Abstract |
Within the framework of LIFE, one of the larger nature restoration projects in Flanders was realized on the right bank of the estuarine part of the Yser. General aim of the initiative was to restore or create beach-dune-salt marsh ecotones with salt-fresh, dynamic-stable, wet-dry and mud-sand ecotones. In order to reach this goal, several large buildings and roads were broken down, an entire tidal dock was restructured and some 500,000m³ of dredging material was removed to restore or create intertidal and coastal dune habitats and their connecting ecotones. Measures were taken to avoid abrupt topographical transitions along potential ecological gradients. It was decided to begin monitoring (2001-2004) from the very start of the restoration process (1999-2003). Monitoring was multidisciplinary and realized in a partnership between several scientific institutes (Ghent University, Catholic University of Louvain, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences and Institute of Nature Conservation with facility support of VLIZ). Monitoring included the most relevant abiotic conditions such as sedimentation and erosion, topography and ground water fluctuations, and biological response variables, i.e. flora and vegetation, terrestrial arthropods, benthic macrofauna and birds. It was decided to include two monitoring levels, an area-covering monitoring of the entire nature reserve (ca. 128ha) and a detailed monitoring of changes along transects perpendicular to the main ecological gradients. In this paper we present some results of the first three years of monitoring. |
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