1 Introduction
This book covers the synthesis of the joint research project ELA W AT (Elastizitat
des Okosystems Wattenmeer = Resilience of the Wadden Sea Ecosystem), which
was part of the "Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea" in Germany. The major objective of ELA WAT was the analysis of potential stability properties and relevant
processes for regeneration in this intertidal ecosystem. The synthesis of this project summarizes the results of several years of field studies on spatial and temporal
patterns of several abiotic and biotic parameters and on the effects of disturbances.
Based on this analysis, stability properties and mechanisms were identified. The
results contribute to the protection of processes in this coastal ecosystem
(Chap. 12). This book on the interdisciplinary project ELA W AT also provides a
detailed case study on the ecology of a backbarrier system.
The "Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea" was part of the Ecosystem Research
Program of the Federal Republic of Germany and a contribution to the MABprogramme of the UNESCO (MAB-5). Results of this interdisciplinary research
scheme were meant to form the scientific background of political decisions for the
protection and sustainable use of this coastal ecosystem. Thus the "Ecosystem
Research Wadden Sea" followed the guidelines of the precautionary principle and
environmental research of the federal government. The research was carried out in
association with the administrations of the Wadden Sea National Parks in the
states of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony.
The aim of the "Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea" was to investigate the complex interactions between organisms and their environment, the exchange processes with adjacent media (air, sea and land) and the effects of human activities.
This comprehensive analysis was realised by a combination of applied and basic
research projects. In the applied projects, impacts of fisheries and eutrophication
were investigated, monitoring techniques and the application of remote sensing
tested, and socio-economic studies were carried out as well.
ELA W A T was the basic research project of the "Ecosystem Research Wadden
Sea" in Lower Saxony. It had the task to analyse fundamental ecological processes, improve the understanding of spatial and temporal patterns and investigate
effects of disturbances in the Wadden Sea (Chaps. 3-7). These objectives were
based on a concept whereby the natural dynamic was seen as essential for the
long-term existence of the Wadden Sea and its ability to respond to disturbances
(see Chap. 2). In the course of the project, this turned into a critical debate about
the analysis of stability properties in the Wadden Sea ecosystem (Chaps. 8-10).
From late 1991 to early 1993, pilot studies were carried out for ELA W A T. In
this phase, ten institutions were involved with fifteen sub-projects to develop
methods for a proper analysis of temporal and spatial patterns in the Wadden Sea,
the appropriate scales of observation and sampling strategies required. This development took place in close collaboration with statisticians which were involved in
This book covers the synthesis of the joint research project ELA W AT (Elastizitat
des Okosystems Wattenmeer = Resilience of the Wadden Sea Ecosystem), which
was part of the "Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea" in Germany. The major objective of ELA WAT was the analysis of potential stability properties and relevant
processes for regeneration in this intertidal ecosystem. The synthesis of this project summarizes the results of several years of field studies on spatial and temporal
patterns of several abiotic and biotic parameters and on the effects of disturbances.
Based on this analysis, stability properties and mechanisms were identified. The
results contribute to the protection of processes in this coastal ecosystem
(Chap. 12). This book on the interdisciplinary project ELA W AT also provides a
detailed case study on the ecology of a backbarrier system.
The "Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea" was part of the Ecosystem Research
Program of the Federal Republic of Germany and a contribution to the MABprogramme of the UNESCO (MAB-5). Results of this interdisciplinary research
scheme were meant to form the scientific background of political decisions for the
protection and sustainable use of this coastal ecosystem. Thus the "Ecosystem
Research Wadden Sea" followed the guidelines of the precautionary principle and
environmental research of the federal government. The research was carried out in
association with the administrations of the Wadden Sea National Parks in the
states of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony.
The aim of the "Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea" was to investigate the complex interactions between organisms and their environment, the exchange processes with adjacent media (air, sea and land) and the effects of human activities.
This comprehensive analysis was realised by a combination of applied and basic
research projects. In the applied projects, impacts of fisheries and eutrophication
were investigated, monitoring techniques and the application of remote sensing
tested, and socio-economic studies were carried out as well.
ELA W A T was the basic research project of the "Ecosystem Research Wadden
Sea" in Lower Saxony. It had the task to analyse fundamental ecological processes, improve the understanding of spatial and temporal patterns and investigate
effects of disturbances in the Wadden Sea (Chaps. 3-7). These objectives were
based on a concept whereby the natural dynamic was seen as essential for the
long-term existence of the Wadden Sea and its ability to respond to disturbances
(see Chap. 2). In the course of the project, this turned into a critical debate about
the analysis of stability properties in the Wadden Sea ecosystem (Chaps. 8-10).
From late 1991 to early 1993, pilot studies were carried out for ELA W A T. In
this phase, ten institutions were involved with fifteen sub-projects to develop
methods for a proper analysis of temporal and spatial patterns in the Wadden Sea,
the appropriate scales of observation and sampling strategies required. This development took place in close collaboration with statisticians which were involved in