Table Of Content

Contents Preface The Oosterschelde estuary, a case-study of a changing ecosystem: an introduction by P.H. Nienhuis & A.C. Smaal THEME I: HYDRODYNAMIC AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE TIDAL SYSTEM Introduction by W.B.M. ten Brinke Hydrodynamic characteristics of the Oosterschelde in recent decades by J. Vroon Changes in basin geomorphology after implementation of the Oosterschelde estuary project by J.P.M. Mulder & T. Louters Fine sediments in the Oosterschelde tidal basin before and after partial closure by W.B.M. ten Brinke, J. Dronkers & J.P.M. Mulder THEME II: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONING OF THE PELAGIC SYSTEM Introduction by C. Bakker Turbidity, nutrients and phytoplankton primary production in the Oosterschelde (The Netherlands) before, during and after a large-scale coastal engineering project (1980-1990) by L.P.J.M. Wetsteyn & J. Kromkamp A new trend in the development of the phytoplankton in the Oosterschelde (SW Netherlands) during and after the construction of a storm-surge barrier by C. Bakker, P.M.J. Herman & M. Vink Nutrient concentrations and planktonic diatom-flagellate relations in the Oosterschelde (SW Netherlands) during and after the construction of a storm-surge barrier by C. Bakker & M. Vink Zooplankton species composition in the Oosterschelde (SW Netherlands) before, during and after the construction of a storm-surge barrier by C. Bakker Zooplankton biomass in the Oosterschelde (SW Netherlands) before, during and after the construction of a storm-surge barrier by C. Bakker & P. van Rijswijk Plankton size distributions and trophic relations before and after the construction of the storm-surge barrier in the Oosterschelde estuary by M.L.M. Tackx, P.M.J. Herman, P. van Rijswijk, M. Vink & C. Bakker vi THEME III: THE STRUCTURE OF THE BENTHIC SYSTEM Introduction by P.M. Meire Spatial and temporal patterns of intertidal macrobenthic populations in the Oosterschelde estuary: are they influenced by the construction of the storm-surge barrier? by P.M. Meire, J. Seys, T. Buijs & J. Coosen Microphytobenthos in the Oosterschelde (The Netherlands), 1981-1990; consequences of a changed tidal regime by DJ. de Jong, P.H. Nienhuis & B.J. Kater Composition, distribution and biomass of the meiobenthos in the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands) by N. Smol, K.A. Willems, J.C.R. Govaere & A.J.J. Sandee The effects of prolonged emersion and submersion by tidal manipulation on marine macrobenthos by H. Hummel, A.W. Fortuin, R.H. Bogaards, A. Meijboom & L. de Wolf Effect of sedimentological and hydrodynamical changes in the intertidal areas of the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands) on distribution, density and biomass of five common macrobenthic species: Spio martinensis (Mesnil), Hydrobia ulvae (Pennant), Arenicola marina (L.), Scoloplos armiger (Muller) and Bathy- poreia sp. by J.C. Coosen, J. Seys, P.M. Meire & J.A.M. Craeymeersch Long-term changes (1979-89) in the intertidal macrozoobenthos of the Oosterschelde estuary: are patterns in total density, biomass and diversity induced by the construction of the storm-surge barrier? by J.J. Seys, P.M. Meire, J.C. Coosen & J.A.M. Craeymeersch Changes in the sublittoral hard substrate communities in the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands), caused by changes in the environmental parameters by M.J. de Kluijver & R.J. Leewis Tidal reduction and its effects on intertidal hard-substrate communities in the Oosterschelde estuary by A.J.M. Meijer & H.W. Waardenburg THEME IV: ECOLOGY OF THE SALT MARSHES Introduction by J. de Leeuw Changes in area, geomorphology and sediment nature of salt marshes in the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands) due to tidal changes by D.J. de Jong, Z. de Jong & J.P.M. Mulder Consequences of a tidal reduction for the salt-marsh vegetation in the Oosterschelde (The Netherlands) by D.J. de Jong & A.M. van der Pluijm The response of salt marsh vegetation to tidal reduction caused by the Oosterschelde storm-surge barrier by J. de Leeuw, L.P. Apon, P.M.J. Herman, W. de Munck & W.G. Beeftink THEME V: THE RESPONSE OF BENTHIC SUSPENSION FEEDERS TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES Introduction by A.C. Smaal Mussel culture in a changing environment: the effects of a coastal engineering project on mussel culture (Mytilus edulis (L.)) in the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands) by M.R. van Stralen & R.D. Dijkema Variability in stock assessment of cockles (Cerastoderma edule L.) in the Oosterschelde (in 1980-1990), in relation to environmental factors by J.C. Coosen, F. Twisk, M.W.M. van der Tol, R.H.D. Lambeck, M.R. van Stralen & P.M. Meire Biomass and standing stock on sublittoral hard substrates in the Oosterschelde estuary (SW Netherlands) by R.J. Leewis, H.W. Waardenburg & M.W.M. van der Tol The role of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis in the cycling of nutrients in the Oosterschelde estuary (The Netherlands) by T.C. Prins & A.C. Smaai THEME VI: THE ANALYSIS OF A DYNAMIC SIMULATION MODEL FOR THE OOSTERSCHELDE ECOSYSTEM Introduction by P.M.J. Herman SMOES: a Simulation Model for the Qosterschelde EcoSystem. Part I: Description and uncertainty analysis by O. Klepper, M.W.M. van der Tol, H. Scholten & P.M.J. Herman SMOES: a Simulation Model for the Oosterschelde EcoSystem. Part II: Calibration and validation by H. Scholten & M.W.M. van der Tol THEME VII: THE HIGHER TROPHIC LEVELS Introduction The mobile epifauna of the soft bottoms in the subtidal Oosterschelde estuary: structure, function and impact of the storm-surge barrier by K. Hostens & O. Hamerlynck Changes in the fish fauna of the Oosterschelde estuary — a ten-year time series of fyke catches by O. Hamerlynck & K. Hostens Changes in the waterbird populations of the Oosterschelde (SW Netherlands) as a result of large scale coastal engineering works by H. Schekkerman, P.L.M. Meininger & P.M. Meire Consumption of benthic invertebrates by waterbirds in the Oosterschelde estuary, SW Netherlands by P.M. Meire, H. Schekkerman & P.L.M. Meininger The harbour seal, Phoca vitulina, in the Oosterschelde: decline and possibilities for recovery by J. Mees & P.J.H. Reijnders Historical population size of the harbour seal, Phoca vitulina, in the Delta area, SW Netherlands by P.J.H. Reijnders THEME VIII: THE OOSTERSCHELDE ESTUARY: AN EVALUATION OF CHANGES Policy planning in the Oosterschelde estuary by CJ. van Westen & CJ. Colijn The Oosterschelde estuary: an evaluation of changes at the ecosystem level induced by civil-engineering works by P.H. Nienhuis, A.C. Smaal & M. Knoester General index