Predictive ecosystem research in the Wadden Sea |
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Authors: | K Reise |
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Institution: | (1) Biologische Anstalt Helgoland, Wattenmeerstation Sylt, D-25989 List, Germany |
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Abstract: | Predictive ecosystem research needs a pluralistic approach. Retrospective studies reveal the initial causes of ongoing ecological
change. In the Wadden Sea, inherent ecosystem stability may be falsely assumed, because the effects of modern coastal architecture
and of anthropogenic eutrophication to some extent complement each other. Expected environmental changes often have corresponding
phases in the past which may serve as a model to predict ecological implications. Historically, quantitative ecology entered
the Wadden Sea, via fisheries research, from the oceanic side. Quantified material fluxes may reveal imbalances which are
indicative of the rough direction of ecosystem change. For ecosystem research to contribute to the maintenance of the Wadden
Sea as a centre of coastal organisms, quantitative knowledge of resources and ecosystem metabolism must be supplemented by
qualitative knowledge of habitat requirements and species interdependences. Qualitative ecology entered the Wadden Sea from
the landward side. Extending this approach to anticipatory field experiments may help to predict ecological changes at the
species level. |
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Keywords: | |
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