Sources and fate of manganese in a tidal basin of the German Wadden Sea

Dissolved and particulate Mn concentrations were investigated on a seasonal scale in surface waters of the NW German Wadden Sea (Spiekeroog Island) in 2002 and 2003. As the Wadden Sea forms the transition zone between the terrestrial and marine realms, Mn was analysed in coastal freshwater tributaries and in the adjoining German Bight as well. Additionally, sediments and porewaters of the tidal flat sediments were analysed for Mn partitioning and microbial activity.Dissolved Mn concentrations show strong tidal and seasonal variation with elevated concentrations during summer at low tide. Summer values in the Wadden Sea (av. 0.7 μM) are distinctly higher than in the central areas of the German Bight (av. 0.02 μM), suggesting a possible impact of the Wadden Sea environment on the Mn budget of the North Sea. Seasonality is also observed for particulate Mn in the Wadden Sea (winter av. 800 mg kg^− 1; summer av. 1360 mg kg^− 1). Although particles are relatively Mn-poor during winter, the high SPM load during this season causes elevated excess concentrations of particulate Mn, which in part exceed those of the dissolved phase. Therefore, winter values cannot be ignored in balance calculations for the Wadden Sea system.Porewater Mn concentrations differ depending on sediment type and season. Maximum concentrations are found in surface sediments at a mixed flat site (190 μM) during summer, while winter values are distinctly lower. This indicates that enhanced microbial activity owing to higher temperature during summer leads to increased reduction of Mn-oxides in surface sediments and enhances the corresponding diffusive and advective Mn flux across the sediment-water interface. Draining of Mn-rich porewaters from sediments is also documented by analyses of tidal creek waters, which are highly enriched in Mn during summer.Furthermore, an important Mn source is freshwater discharged into the Wadden Sea via a flood-gate. The concentration of dissolved Mn in freshwater was highly variable during the sampling campaigns in 2002 and 2003, averaging 4 μM. In contrast, particulate Mn displayed a seasonal behaviour with increasing contents during summer. On the basis of salinity variations in the Wadden Sea, the total amount of Mn contributed to the Wadden Sea via freshwater was estimated. This balance shows the importance of the freshwater environment for the Mn inventory of the Wadden Sea. During winter the total Mn inventory of the Wadden Sea water column may be explained almost completely by freshwater discharge, whereas in summer the porewater system forms the dominating source.     

‘ Global Change ’ Impact of Inter-Annual Variation in Water Discharge as a Driving Factor to Dredging and Spoil Disposal in the River Rhine System and of Turbidity in the Wadden Sea

Between 1970 to 2000, the annual mean suspended matter (SPM) concentrations in the Vlie and Marsdiep tidal inlets of the Wadden Sea varied over five times. The present paper examines the possible relationship between SPM in the Wadden Sea and changing river Rhine discharges and dredging operations. The major short-term variations in annual mean SPM in part of the Wadden Sea appears to be a non-linear, exponential, function of river Rhine discharge and dredge spoil disposal (110 km to over 200 km from the area in front of the Dutch coast near the river Rhine outlet). Correlation coefficients (with SPM as the fixed and dredge disposal as the independent variable) ranged from R=0·8 (deep tidal inlet of Marsdiep) to R=0·2 (shallow inner area of Vlie) and weakened mainly as a function of distance to the disposal site. The best correlation with river discharge was for Marsdiep tidal inlet (r=0·45), indicating the superior effect of dredge disposal over river discharge-related processes. Taking the estimated regression equation as an explorative model, indicates that, without any disposal of dredge spoil, the expected SPM concentration levels in the tidal inlets of the Wadden Sea will be <15 g m⁻³ (comparable to the 1950s). The overall mean (and the highest mean) annual concentrations for the investigation period reached 42 (90) g m⁻³ at Marsdiep and 35 (75) g m⁻³ at Vlie. Assuming a 10% (220 m⁻³ s⁻¹) increase in river Rhine discharge over the next 50 years, and unchanged dredging policy and other circumstances, SPM concentrations would increase 5–15% for Marsdiep and Vlie. Compared with the calculated (12·4 g m⁻³ SPM in Marsdiep and 14·8 g m⁻³ SPM in Vlie) and measured (15 g m⁻³ SPM in Marsdiep) background SPM concentrations, the expected overall mean increase since 1950 is at least 250% of background. The natural variation in river Rhine discharge will cause further inter-annual variation. Changes in SPM concentrations, due to expected changes in wind climate, combined with river discharge are estimated to increase SPM concentrations 20% above the present situation. The possible implications of changes in land use in combination with further increasing river discharge, changed wind fields and increased temperature are discussed. An important management conclusion is that increasing mean river discharge will significantly increase the need for dredging and spoil disposal, and result in further elevated SPM concentrations in the Dutch coastal zone and the Wadden Sea. The presented relationships offer possibilities for developing new management strategies in relation to dredging and its effects.     

我国南海海洋国家公园建设

为进一步保护我国南海海洋生态环境和海洋历史文化,促进南海地区社会经济的可持续发展,同时完善我国国家公园制度建设,文章在概述我国国家公园和国内外海洋公园建设情况的基础上,分析建设我国南海海洋国家公园的必要性和面临的挑战,并提出政策建议。研究结果表明:我国相继建设国家级风景名胜区和国家公园,其中国家公园规模更大,且以生态环境保护为主;美国等海洋国家公园的建设实践较完善;我国具有海洋公园建设和管理优势,但也存在不足,尤其尚未建立海洋国家公园;我国南海海洋国家公园建设在保护生态环境、传承传统文化、管理旅游活动和恢复渔业资源等方面的意义重大,但面临体制机制创新、管理技术突破以及人与自然和谐相处等方面的挑战;建设我国南海海洋国家公园应以珊瑚礁保护区为基础、以国家公园体制改革为契机、生态环境保护与社会经济发展并行、发扬海洋历史文化以及建立海洋科研基地。     

Annual dynamics of pelagic primary production and respiration in a shallow coastal basin

The Wadden Sea (North Sea, Europe) is a shallow coastal sea with high benthic and pelagic primary production rates. To date, no studies have been carried out in the Wadden Sea that were specifically designed to study the relation between pelagic respiration and production by comparable methods. Because previous studies have suggested that the import of primary-produced pelagic organic matter is important for benthic Wadden Sea carbon budgets, we hypothesised that on an annual average the northern Wadden Sea water column is autotrophic. To test this hypothesis, we studied annual dynamics of primary production and respiration at a pelagic station in a shallow tidal basin (List Tidal Basin, northern Wadden Sea). Since water depth strongly influences production estimates, we calculated primary production rates per unit area in two ways: on the basis of the mean water depth (2.7 m) and on the basis of 1 m depth intervals and their respective spatial extent in the List Tidal Basin. The latter more precise estimate yielded an annual primary production of 146 g C m^− 2 y^− 1. Estimates based on the mean water depth resulted in a 40% higher annual rate of 204 g C m^− 2 y^− 1. The total annual pelagic respiration was 50 g C m^− 2 y^− 1. The P/R ratio varied between seasons: from February to October the water column was autotrophic, with the highest P/R ratio of 4–5 during the diatom spring bloom in April/May. In autumn and winter the water column was heterotrophic. On an annual average, the water column of the List Tidal Basin was autotrophic (P/R 3). We suggest that a large fraction of the pelagic produced organic matter was respired locally in the sediment.     

Variability of the salinity in the western Wadden Sea on tidal to centennial time scales

Daily observations of the salinity of the Marsdiep tidal inlet, which connects the Dutch western Wadden Sea with the North Sea, already started over 140 years ago, in 1860. Since the year 2000 the sampling frequency has increased because of the use of electronic sensors. Analysis of these salinity data have revealed variations on time scales from tidal (~ 12 hour), seasonal, inter-annual, and multi-decadal, to centennial. The contributions of the salinity variations in the Marsdiep for these different spectral bands or time scales are all of the order of a standard deviation of 0.5 to 1. The centennial variation, which can be expressed as a 140 year long salinity trend, is related to engineering works on the rivers Rhine and IJssel, which already started in the early 18-th century, and more than doubled the magnitude of the freshwater content of the western Wadden Sea since then. In contrast with this anthropogenic salinity trend, the climatic variability of the precipitation over western Europe, and the connected changes in the Rhine discharge, are mainly responsible for the inter-annual variations in the salinity and/or freshwater content of the western Wadden Sea. Since variations in salinity and freshwater content also reflect variations in the terrigeneous and river influence on the Wadden ecosystem, e.g. via the nutrient content, it can be expected that the ecology of the Wadden Sea also experienced changes on centennial time scales.     

Observations of a mass occurrence of Macoma balthica larvae in midsummer

In 1995 the seasonal development of concentrations of both phytoplankton and larvae of the bivalve Macoma balthica was studied in the coastal zone behind the back-barrier island of Spiekeroog (German Wadden Sea). In July/August larvae reached maximum concentrations of about 1000 to 4200 ind. m⁻³ (depending on the sampling site and tidal period), probably in relation to a phytoplankton bloom in July. This observation of an unusually late maximum of Macoma larvae is discussed in detail in connection with the recent literature available about spawning of M. balthica in the Wadden Sea.     

No microzooplankton grazing during a Mediopyxis helysia dominated diatom bloom

The new diatom species Mediopyxis helysia was described to science from clones found in 2003 in the North Sea, northern Wadden Sea, and the Gulf of Maine. Seven years after its first occurrence, we observed Mediopyxis to contribute up to almost 50% of the biovolume of the diatoms during a diatom spring bloom in the western Wadden Sea. Grazing experiments based on the dilution technique could not detect any microzooplankton grazing impact on the bloom community. Mediopyxis is now also well established in the western Wadden Sea and does have the potential to become a dominant species. The reasons for its success remain largely unresolved but avoidance of being grazed might be one factor. Future research on this new species is needed to understand the success and forecast the ecological footprint of this large diatom species arriving in the western European Seas.     

Distribution of suspended particulate matter in the North Sea as inferred from NOAA/AVHRR reflectance images and in situ observations

Distribution patterns of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the surface water of the North Sea were calculated on the basis of: (1) the 1973–1993 data base of the EC MAST North West European Shelf Programme (NOWESP); and (2) composite reflectance images constructed from data that were collected by the NOAA/AVHRR satellite in 1990–1991. Three models were used for interpolating the in situ data: (1) a distance-weighted interpolation algorithm in which only the in situ data are taken into account; (2) an algorithm in which the ratios between the measured SPM concentrations and reflectances are interpolated, and the distribution of SPM is calculated from the field of interpolated ratios and the synoptic reflectance image; and (3) a distance-weighted algorithm similar to model-1, but with an additional weight factor that is based on local differences in reflectance. The models were tested for periods of 1 and 3 weeks in September 1990 and January 1991, and for the merged set consisting of all in situ data measured in September and January, respectively, between 1973 and 1993. Model-2 and -3 gave largely similar results and had a performance superior to model-1, particularly because they showed more detailed structures in the spatial distributions. Validations and cross-validations showed that the absolute concentrations of SPM predicted by the models were too low at high in situ concentrations and too high at low in situ concentrations. This shortcoming was due to the relatively high degree of smoothing that we applied in the models to account for the large variance of the in situ data. Semivariograms and correlograms indicated that the in situ data had substantial variability and were poorly correlated even at short distances. Only for the 20-year-merged data set did some correlation ( %) exist for stations km from each other. Monthly distributions of SPM were calculated with model-3 and the 20-year data set. The distributions confirm the main patterns previously found by others, such as the turbidity plume crossing the North Sea from southeast England towards the depository in the Skagerrak and the Norwegian Channel. The distributions indicate that materials from this plume may be deposited in the central North Sea in spring and summer and eroded again in autumn and winter. Areas with maximum SPM concentrations were identified off the Belgian coast and north of the Wadden Sea, particularly in winter, from which particles are entrained into the main current in a narrow strip along the continental coast to the German Bight. The results suggest that the two main fluxes of SPM in the North Sea, off England and along the continental coast, remain largely separated until they both end in the Skagerrak.     

Episodic Mass Invasions of Juvenile Gadoids into the Wadden Sea and their Consequences for the Population Dynamics of Brown Shrimp (Crangon crangon)

Abstract. The brown shrimp Crangon crungon is considered to be a key species in the coastal waters of the North Sea and in particular in the Wadden Sea, since it occurs in masses and acts as both a highly efficient predator and important prey. The Wadden Sea is the nursery ground for brown shrimp. In 1990, a mass invasion of O-group whiting ( Merlangius merlangus ) reduced Crangon numbers to almost zero. Similar events, which had previously been reported in the 19th century, were observed in 1959 (whiting), 1970 (cod, Gadus morhua ), and 1983 (cod and whiting).
The 1990 invasion and the decline of the shrimp stock are documented on the basis of surveys that are compared with the years preceding and following. Consequences for the food web in the Wadden Sea and the reasons for the complete recovery of the shrimp stock in each case within one year after its collapse are discussed with regard to the Crangon crungon behaviour and reproductive potential. Sampling error and the impact of fisheries are also considered.     

Role of perceptions and knowledge in the impact assessment for the extension of Mainport Rotterdam

The Dutch government wants to expand Mainport Rotterdam, one of the largest ports in the world, by land reclamation in the North Sea. This may affect the Wadden Sea, a unique wetlands area protected by the European Bird and Habitat Directives. To assess the impact of the port extension on the Wadden Sea, an Appropriate Assessment procedure was carried out. We investigated how stakeholders’ perceptions were dealt with and how knowledge was used in this decision-making process. Our findings form an argument for practitioners in marine and coastal management to choose a process-oriented approach to deal with complex issues.     

Influence of water-level elevation and tidal range on the sedimentation in a German tidal flat area

The nearshore region of the German Bight is characterised by a large tidal flat area of 7500km², which is a wedge of alluvial material lying in front of the coast. The elevation of a flat depends on the long-term water-level and currents. As a result of the rising water-level, the flats are migrating over an inclined Pleistocene basement. This migration depends on the balance of sedimentation versus erosion which is a function of water depth. Regular measurements of the water-level have been made since the middle of the 19th century. From the observations of the MHW it is estimated that the water-level has risen to approximately 30cm in the past hundred years. Recent investigations show that the change of the half-tide water-level is less than that of MHW. The increasing tidal range also changes the sedimentation processes over the tidal flats. The quantitative influence of the altered tidal range on the sedimentation and the morphology of the Wadden Sea is as important as that of the influence of mean water-level elevation. Changes in the elevation of the coastal plain caused by tectonic forces or subsidence cannot be determined. Extensive investigations were conducted to determine quantitatively the sedimentation processes which have taken place since 1936. The sediment budget of the Flackstrom basin (low macrotidal coast) is presented. With respect to the MHW datum plane, sedimentation of 20 × 10⁶m³ has taken place in this area. This is equivalent to a mean silting-up of 30cm over the past 46 years, an average 0.7cm/year. The sedimentation process is dependent upon the mean elevation of the flat. Most of the sedimentation has taken place above the half-tide water-level. Therefore, the flanks of the flats have risen more than the tops and the sand-ridges, which certainly reflects the very small long-term water-level elevation change of only 3cm which occurred during the period investigated (1936 to 1982). Recent investigations of the present state show a relationship between the tidal range and the height of the main sedimentation-zone. Comparisons of the Flackstrom (tidal range approximately 3.40m) and parts of the Dutch Wadden Sea (tidal range approximately 1.80m) indicate that the main sedimentation-zone moves down-shore from half-tide water-level to mean-low-water with the decrease of the tidal range, due to differences in the general course of the hypsometric curves over the tidal flat areas.     

Invasion genetics of Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas shaped by aquaculture stocking practices

As a result of aquaculture activities Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793) have invaded the European Wadden Sea. Using a variable noncoding mitochondrial marker, we show that the invaded range is the result of two independent invasions. Haplotype frequencies point towards two separate groups, one in the southern and the other in the northern Wadden Sea. We found virtually no genetic differentiation throughout the southern range and the putative source from British Columbia, Canada, suggesting that the Southern region can be considered as a closed population. In the North, mismatch distributions, haplotype ordination and isolation-by-distance analysis suggest a stronger, persistent impact of aquaculture on invasive populations. Due to the ongoing supply of new genetic material from hatchery production the northern invasive populations can therefore be considered as an open population highlighting the importance of aquaculture practice on the genetics of this keystone invader in the Wadden Sea.     

Seasonal variation of hepatic EROD activity in flounder (Platichthys flesus) in the Dutch Wadden Sea

The use of hepatic 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity in flounder (Platichthys flesus) as a potential biomarker of marine pollution by organic chemicals (as indicated by hepatic PCB-153 concentration) was investigated in the Dutch Wadden Sea in 1989 and 1990. Particular attention was paid to the seasonal variation. The results indicate that EROD activity was reasonably stable during the year, except for a period in January–February when a marked peak occurred. This peak coincided with the absence of mature flounder from the sampling area probably due to the spawning migration. Generally a good relationship existed between hepatic EROD activity and PCB-153 concentration, with one exception. During the period January–April 1990 a peak in PCB-153 concentration occurred immediately after the observed peak in EROD activity. It is concluded that the best period for monitoring EROD activity in flounder is the summer, corresponding to the non-migratory period of the species.     

Distinctly variable mudscapes: Distribution gradients of intertidal macrofauna across the Dutch Wadden Sea

The Wadden Sea is a shallow coastal region, with a large area of sedimentary tidal flats that extends from The Netherlands to Denmark and has been declared a site of international importance in the Dutch and German parts (Ramsar status and UNESCO World Heritage Site). Benthic macrofauna are central to the ecosystem functioning of this area, as they recycle nutrients, decompose organic matter and are an important food source for many secondary consumers, like fish and waterbirds. Due to the environmental gradients characteristic of estuarine systems, it is expected that changes in assemblage composition will be observed across the physical and environmental gradients of the Wadden Sea. First, we explored the spatial variation in assemblage composition of benthic macrofauna across the intertidal part of the Dutch Wadden Sea using 3 years of biomass data. Then, we identified the relative importance of six environmental variables for explaining and predicting changes in assemblage composition across the intertidal areas of the Wadden Sea using generalised dissimilarity modelling (GDM). In accordance with the environmental gradients across this system, the biomass contributed by a few common species differed from west to east and were distinct in the Dollard. In the west, bivalves Mya arenaria, Cerastoderma edule and Ensis directus contributed a relatively large and equal share of the total biomass, whereas C. edule contributed the sole largest share of the total biomass towards the east. The polychaete Alitta succinea became a large share of the total biomass in the upper Ems and in the Dollard estuary, but contributed little elsewhere. Similar to the observed differences in species composition, the spatial patterns in assemblage composition, as predicted by the GDM models, identified the Dollard as distinct and that the prevalence of assemblage types in the west differed to the east. Median grain size, followed by microphytobenthic biomass, and exposure time were the most important variables describing differences in assemblage composition. That the Wadden Sea forms a heterogeneous landscape where assemblage composition varies across multiple gradients has repercussions for management and monitoring.     

Net dispersal of harbour seals within the Wadden Sea before and after the 1988 epizootic

Harbour seals in the Wadden Sea (The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark) have been monitored by aerial surveys since the 1980s. Annual maximum figures reported in the various regions (38 separate tidal basins) and the number of pups counted were used to estimate vital population parameters and to quantify the net migration of harbour seals within the Wadden Sea before (1980–1987) and after an epizootic (1990–1994). The total pre-whelping population increased at a mean annual rate of 9 and 14%, respectively, and varied considerably among the various regions of the Wadden Sea. The overall mean annual survival was found to increase from 0.88 during the pre-epizootic period to 0.93 during the post-epizootic period. The distribution of pups and of older seals over the 38 separate sub-areas was highly uneven. Based on between-year population changes and the number of pups reported, net dispersal fluxes among the four regions of the Wadden Sea were estimated for the two time intervals. During the pre-epizootic period, only Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, produced a surplus of animals which counter-balanced the low recruitment of the other regions. During the post-epizootic period, the net dispersal fluxes were at a much lower level. Nevertheless, in The Netherlands, a continuous influx of seals was required because the recruitment was insufficient to explain the observed numerical increase. At the level of the 38 separate tidal basins, the actual pattern of dispersal showed that the majority of sub-areas were not self-supporting with respect to the local pup production and thus dependent on the influx of animals. More than 65% of all immigrants originated from only 7 sub-areas, which are considered `key areas' of vital importance for the Wadden Sea harbour seal population.     

Reproductive investment of the American razor clam Ensis americanus in the Dutch Wadden Sea

The American razor clam Ensis americanus is a marine bivalve indigenous from the American coast that was introduced in Europe in the late 1970s and has managed to build up strong populations along the European coast. In the present paper, we studied energy investment into soma and gonads by following the seasonality in growth and reproduction of this species in a subtidal area of the western Dutch Wadden Sea. Body and somatic mass indices showed a seasonal pattern with maximal values in August and minimal in April. Gonadal mass index showed the opposite trend with highest values in April. Spawning started in April/May and a second, but weaker, spawning event apparently occurred in August/September. Gonadosomatic ratio values were very low. Just before the spawning period, only 2.5% of the body mass of E. americanus consisted of gonads.     

Acoustic habitat and shellfish mapping and monitoring in shallow coastal water – Sidescan sonar experiences in The Netherlands

Sidescan sonar has been applied in a number of shallow water environments along the Dutch coast to map and monitor shellfish and seabed habitats. The littoral setting of these surveys may hamper data acquisition flying the towfish in zones of turbulence and waves, but also offers valuable opportunities for understanding, interpreting and validating sidescan sonar images because of the ability to ground-truth during low water periods, enabling easy identification and validation. Acoustical images of some of the mussel banks on the tidal flats of the Wadden Sea, recorded at high tide, show a marked resemblance with optical Google Earth images of the same banks. These sonar images may thus serve as ‘acoustic type signatures’ for the interpretation of sonar patterns recorded in deeper water where ground-truthing is more difficult and more expensive. Similarly, acoustic type signatures of (Japanese) oyster banks were obtained in the estuaries in the southwest of the Netherlands.     

Variability of the water temperature in the western Wadden Sea on tidal to centennial time scales

Daily observations of the sea surface temperature in the Marsdiep tidal inlet, which connects the shallow Dutch western Wadden Sea with the deeper North Sea, already started in the summer of 1860, over 140 years ago. Since the year 2000 the sampling frequency has strongly increased because of the use of electronic sensors and data logging by computer. Analysis of these temperature data has revealed variations with time scales from tidal, daily, seasonal, inter-annual, to centennial. The tidal temperature variations are generated by advection of the seasonally varying temperature gradient between Wadden Sea and North Sea, while the daily variations are mainly caused by the daily variation of solar radiation. The seasonal variation in sea surface temperature only lags a few days behind the coastal surface air temperature, contrary to the sea surface temperature in the deeper nearby North Sea, which is delayed with about 1 month. The North Atlantic Oscillation index has been used as large-scale proxy for the atmospheric forcing of the Wadden Sea temperature. Only for the winter and spring a significant correlation is found between temperature and the winter index. However, this correlation is so strong that also the annual mean temperature is correlated significantly with the North Atlantic Oscillation. At longer time scales, from decadal to centennial, also large temperature variations are observed, of the order of 1.5 °C. However, these are not related to long-term changes of the North Atlantic oscillation. These long-term temperature changes involve a cooling of about 1.5 °C in the first 30 years of the record and a similar warming in the last 25 years. In between, these long-term changes were smaller and more irregular. Similar conclusions can also be applied to individual seasons as well as to the date of the onset of spring.     

Differential recruitment of introduced Pacific oysters and native mussels at the North Sea coast: coexistence possible?

Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas Thunberg 1793) have been introduced into the Wadden Sea (North Sea), where they settle on native mussel beds (Mytilus edulis L.), which represent the only extensive insular hard substrata in this soft-sediment environment. As abundances of C. gigas rose, some mussel beds became increasingly overgrown with oysters, whereas others did not. Field experiments revealed that recruitment of C. gigas was higher in the lower intertidal than in the upper subtidal zone, that it was higher on conspecifics than on mussels, and that it was not affected by barnacle epigrowth except when settling on mussels. Mussel recruitment is known from inter- and subtidal zones. It occurred equally on oyster and mussel shells but showed a clear preference for barnacle epigrowth over clean shells. Assuming that settlement and recruitment are key processes for species abundances on the North Sea coast, it is predicted that the positive feedback in oyster settlement will lead to rapid reef formation of this invader at the expense of mussel beds. Mussels, however, may escape competitive exclusion by settling between or on the larger oysters especially when barnacles are abundant. Experimental patches with mussels were more often covered by fucoid algae (Fucus vesiculosus forma mytili Nienburg) than patches with oysters, and oyster recruitment was poor underneath such algal canopies. Thus, fucoids may provide the native mussels with a refuge from the invading oysters and the two bivalves may coexist, provided food is not limiting.     

基于GF-2影像的广西茅尾海红树林物种分类及盖度估算分析

为了掌握茅尾海红树林种类和盖度情况,基于GF-2 PMS1高分辨率卫星遥感影像数据,使用支持向量机(support vector machine,SVM)和回归模型方法开展了茅尾海红树林物种分类和植被盖度估算研究,并对其分布特征展开了详细分析。研究表明:(1)广西茅尾海红树林共有4个种类,分别是桐花树(Aegiceras corniculatum)、无瓣海桑(Sonneratia apetala)、秋茄(Kandelia candel)和茳芏(Cyperus malaccensis)。桐花树作为茅尾海红树林的优势种,面积为1228.612 ha,占总面积72.5%,散布在茅尾海潮间带。秋茄面积最少,仅有1.976 ha,零星分布于茅岭乡和尖山镇沿岸,多数与无瓣海桑和桐花树混生。(2)基于GF-2 PMS1卫星影像的NDVI植被指数建立的二次多项式盖度回归模型效果最好,决定系数最大为0.7644,均方根误差RMSE最小为0.0680。(3)植被盖度分布状况与植被类型有密切关系,植被种类纯生区的盖度要明显大于植被混生区的盖度。本研究结果为茅尾海国家海洋公园和自治区级自然保护区管理部门的决策提供理论基础。