Hydromorphological characterization of benthic habitats and species distributions in the Scheldt Estuary

Alexander Van Braeckel; Jeroen Speybroeck; Joost Vanoverbeke; Yves Plancke; Erika Van den Bergh

Hydromorphological characterization of benthic habitats and species distributions in the Scheldt Estuary

Alexander Van Braeckel
, Jeroen Speybroeck
, Joost Vanoverbeke
, Yves Plancke
, Erika Van den Bergh

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper/Powerpoint/Abstract › peer-review

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Abstract

within Session : Biology and ecology of coastal and estuarine systems: Evolution, adaptation and shifting baselines

Hydromorphological characterization of benthic habitats and species distributions in the Scheldt Estuary

Over the last decades the Scheldt Estuary has been altered by anthropogenic measures such as channel widening and enhanced wastewater treatment. At the same time, macrobenthic invertebrate abundance decreased whereas hyperbenthic (including mysid, shrimps, and decapod shrimps) and fish species reappeared in the upstream freshwater part. To assess effects of future modifications (maintain accessibility, dumping,...) on benthic species and their communities, a better understanding of the relation with hydro- and morphodynamics is necessary.
Combining hydrodynamic and ecological modelling we have investigated the relation of benthic species and communities with morphological and hydrodynamic variables in subtidal habitats of the fresh and brackish water part of the Scheldt. Flow velocities, derived from a 2D hydrodynamic modelling, water depth, sediment characteristics and organic matter are used.
Firstly, a multivariate analysis allowed for a distinction of a brackish and freshwater subtidal macrobenthic community. Secondly, within these salinity zones, maximum flood velocity explains the response of the benthic species and communities. This reflected in a typical high and low dynamic subtidal benthic community. Additionally hyperbenthic species preferred flood dominant areas within high dynamic areas. Based on a threshold analysis taking into account the most relevant variables, benthic and hyperbenthic community composition, a new habitat typology has been constructed. This typology provides an improved, ecologically validated instrument for monitoring and the assessment of future measures.

Translated title of the contribution	Hydromofologische karakterisering van benthische habitats en soortenverspreiding in de Zeeschelde
Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 9-Sept-2015
Event	ECSA 55 Unbounded boundaries and shifting baselines: Estuaries and coastal seas in a rapidly changing world - London Excel, Londen, United Kingdom Duration: 6-Sept-2015 → 9-Sept-2015 Conference number: ECSA 55 https://ecsa.international/event/2015/ecsa-55-unbounded-boundaries-and-shifting-baselines-estuaries-and-coastal-seas-rapidly

Conference

Conference	ECSA 55 Unbounded boundaries and shifting baselines
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
City	Londen
Period	6/09/15 → 9/09/15
Internet address	https://ecsa.international/event/2015/ecsa-55-unbounded-boundaries-and-shifting-baselines-estuaries-and-coastal-seas-rapidly

Policy

decision making instruments

Geographic list

Scheldt

Technological

modelling

Access to Document

INBO_ScheldtEmsworkshop_feb2015

Cite this

@conference{01037f493f354faf86f68bb103c35e67,

title = "Hydromorphological characterization of benthic habitats and species distributions in the Scheldt Estuary",

abstract = "within Session : Biology and ecology of coastal and estuarine systems: Evolution, adaptation and shifting baselines Hydromorphological characterization of benthic habitats and species distributions in the Scheldt Estuary Over the last decades the Scheldt Estuary has been altered by anthropogenic measures such as channel widening and enhanced wastewater treatment. At the same time, macrobenthic invertebrate abundance decreased whereas hyperbenthic (including mysid, shrimps, and decapod shrimps) and fish species reappeared in the upstream freshwater part. To assess effects of future modifications (maintain accessibility, dumping,...) on benthic species and their communities, a better understanding of the relation with hydro- and morphodynamics is necessary. Combining hydrodynamic and ecological modelling we have investigated the relation of benthic species and communities with morphological and hydrodynamic variables in subtidal habitats of the fresh and brackish water part of the Scheldt. Flow velocities, derived from a 2D hydrodynamic modelling, water depth, sediment characteristics and organic matter are used. Firstly, a multivariate analysis allowed for a distinction of a brackish and freshwater subtidal macrobenthic community. Secondly, within these salinity zones, maximum flood velocity explains the response of the benthic species and communities. This reflected in a typical high and low dynamic subtidal benthic community. Additionally hyperbenthic species preferred flood dominant areas within high dynamic areas. Based on a threshold analysis taking into account the most relevant variables, benthic and hyperbenthic community composition, a new habitat typology has been constructed. This typology provides an improved, ecologically validated instrument for monitoring and the assessment of future measures.",

author = "\{Van Braeckel\}, Alexander and Jeroen Speybroeck and Joost Vanoverbeke and Yves Plancke and \{Van den Bergh\}, Erika",

year = "2015",

month = sep,

day = "9",

language = "English",

note = "ECSA 55 Unbounded boundaries and shifting baselines ; Conference date: 06-09-2015 Through 09-09-2015",

url = "https://ecsa.international/event/2015/ecsa-55-unbounded-boundaries-and-shifting-baselines-estuaries-and-coastal-seas-rapidly",

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TY - CONF

T1 - Hydromorphological characterization of benthic habitats and species distributions in the Scheldt Estuary

AU - Van Braeckel, Alexander

AU - Speybroeck, Jeroen

AU - Vanoverbeke, Joost

AU - Plancke, Yves

AU - Van den Bergh, Erika

N1 - Conference code: ECSA 55

PY - 2015/9/9

Y1 - 2015/9/9

N2 - within Session : Biology and ecology of coastal and estuarine systems: Evolution, adaptation and shifting baselines Hydromorphological characterization of benthic habitats and species distributions in the Scheldt Estuary Over the last decades the Scheldt Estuary has been altered by anthropogenic measures such as channel widening and enhanced wastewater treatment. At the same time, macrobenthic invertebrate abundance decreased whereas hyperbenthic (including mysid, shrimps, and decapod shrimps) and fish species reappeared in the upstream freshwater part. To assess effects of future modifications (maintain accessibility, dumping,...) on benthic species and their communities, a better understanding of the relation with hydro- and morphodynamics is necessary. Combining hydrodynamic and ecological modelling we have investigated the relation of benthic species and communities with morphological and hydrodynamic variables in subtidal habitats of the fresh and brackish water part of the Scheldt. Flow velocities, derived from a 2D hydrodynamic modelling, water depth, sediment characteristics and organic matter are used. Firstly, a multivariate analysis allowed for a distinction of a brackish and freshwater subtidal macrobenthic community. Secondly, within these salinity zones, maximum flood velocity explains the response of the benthic species and communities. This reflected in a typical high and low dynamic subtidal benthic community. Additionally hyperbenthic species preferred flood dominant areas within high dynamic areas. Based on a threshold analysis taking into account the most relevant variables, benthic and hyperbenthic community composition, a new habitat typology has been constructed. This typology provides an improved, ecologically validated instrument for monitoring and the assessment of future measures.

AB - within Session : Biology and ecology of coastal and estuarine systems: Evolution, adaptation and shifting baselines Hydromorphological characterization of benthic habitats and species distributions in the Scheldt Estuary Over the last decades the Scheldt Estuary has been altered by anthropogenic measures such as channel widening and enhanced wastewater treatment. At the same time, macrobenthic invertebrate abundance decreased whereas hyperbenthic (including mysid, shrimps, and decapod shrimps) and fish species reappeared in the upstream freshwater part. To assess effects of future modifications (maintain accessibility, dumping,...) on benthic species and their communities, a better understanding of the relation with hydro- and morphodynamics is necessary. Combining hydrodynamic and ecological modelling we have investigated the relation of benthic species and communities with morphological and hydrodynamic variables in subtidal habitats of the fresh and brackish water part of the Scheldt. Flow velocities, derived from a 2D hydrodynamic modelling, water depth, sediment characteristics and organic matter are used. Firstly, a multivariate analysis allowed for a distinction of a brackish and freshwater subtidal macrobenthic community. Secondly, within these salinity zones, maximum flood velocity explains the response of the benthic species and communities. This reflected in a typical high and low dynamic subtidal benthic community. Additionally hyperbenthic species preferred flood dominant areas within high dynamic areas. Based on a threshold analysis taking into account the most relevant variables, benthic and hyperbenthic community composition, a new habitat typology has been constructed. This typology provides an improved, ecologically validated instrument for monitoring and the assessment of future measures.

M3 - Paper/Powerpoint/Abstract

T2 - ECSA 55 Unbounded boundaries and shifting baselines

Y2 - 6 September 2015 through 9 September 2015

ER -