A5008236569- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Marine and fisheries research
- Coastal and Marine Dynamics
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Coastal and Marine Management
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
University of Groningen
2020-2024
Radboud University Nijmegen
2021-2024
University of Helsinki
2024
Åbo Akademi University
2017-2020
Seagrasses form the foundation of many coastal ecosystems but are rapidly declining on a global scale. The Dutch Wadden Sea once supported extensive subtidal seagrass meadows that have all disappeared. Here, we report setbacks and successes intertidal seed-based restoration experiments in between 2014–2017. Our main goals were to 1) optimize plant densities, 2) reduce seed losses. To achieve our goals, conducted research-based, adaptive ( Zostera marina ) restoration, adjusting methods...
Due to the major declines of seagrasses worldwide, there is an urgent need for effective restoration methods and strategies. In Dutch Wadden Sea, intertidal seagrass has proven very challenging, despite numerous trials with different methods. Recently, however, first field trial performed a newly developed “dispenser injection seeding” method (DIS) resulted in record‐high plant densities seed recruitment. Here, we present further development methodology consequently improved results. During...
Seagrass meadows form the foundation of many coastal ecosystems, but are rapidly declining on a global scale. To conserve and restore these key-ecosystems, improved understanding drivers behind seagrass presence recovery is needed. Many animals known to both facilitate inhibit seagrasses, biotic factors still rarely used as indicators presence. Hence, we investigate if macrozoobenthos could be an indicator for intertidal (Zostera marina Zostera noltii) habitat suitability in international...
Abstract Coastal ecosystem restoration is often ineffective and expensive in practice. As a consequence, upscaling efforts to functionally relevant spatial scales remains one of the largest hurdles for coastal On small scales, success vegetated ecosystems (i.e. salt marshes seagrasses) can be amplified by designs that harness positive interactions. However, it unknown if interactions harnessed with seed‐based approaches, are considered more cost‐effective scalable than traditional...
Marine ecosystem engineers such as seagrasses and bivalves create important coastal habitats sustaining high biodiversity services. Restoring these is difficult due to the importance of feedback mechanisms that can require large‐scale efforts ensure success. Incorporating facilitative interactions could increase feasibility success small‐scale restoration efforts, which would limit pressure on donor sites reduce costs time associated with restoration. Here, we tested two methods for...
Ecological restoration has become an important management-tool to counteract the widespread losses of seagrass meadows and their associated biodiversity. In Dutch Wadden Sea, long-term efforts have recently led successful annual eelgrass ( Zostera marina ) at high densities on a local scale. However, it is yet unknown if restored plants also lead improved biodiversity ecosystem functioning in intertidal zone. We therefore compared macrozoobenthos communities small-scale meadow 22 naturally...
Facilitative interactions between co-occurring species sustain diverse communities and constitute a vital functional component of coastal marine ecosystems. In seagrass ecosystems, facilitation ensures the survival resilience this important habitat. As meadows are in decline, innovative restoration strategies incorporating facilitative could open new avenues restoration. Here, we investigated eelgrass Zostera marina Baltic clam Macoma balthica, tested whether clams enhance early biomass...
ABSTRACT Dwarf eelgrass, Zostera noltii , is an important ecosystem engineer that creates dense meadows along the coasts of Europe and Northwest Africa. During last century, this seagrass species suffered severe population declines, to counteract these losses, restoration has emerged as management tool. Thus far, efforts with Z. have only been performed shoot‐ core‐based methods, which are challenging upscale sustainably. Here, we explored if can be restored seeds, thus potentially offering...