2
i introciuctlull
the project. The integration of a mathematical/statistical team was continued during the main phase of ELA W A T and ensured that statistical requirements were
met for the design of the studies and their data analysis. The pilot studies also
provided a survey of the main study area with respect to a number of environmental parameters, benthic communities and bird distributions.
The main phase of ELA W AT commenced in October 1993. It was realized as
an interdisciplinary research project with II (later on 12) sub-projects carried out
by 8 (later 9) institutions (see Chap. II and appendix). The Research Centre Terram are in Wilhelmshaven was responsible for the administration and coordination
of the project. The collaboration between the various disciplines and teams was
facilitated by a number of seminars and working groups (Chap. II). Thus, a substantial degree of interdisciplinary collaboration could be realized, which is also
reflected in this synthesis. The research was carried out by 42 scientists, 17 PhD
students, a number of Master (Diploma) students and technical staff. The little
over 4 years of the main phase were funded by the Federal Ministry for Education,
Science, Research and Technology (BMBF) with a budget of 9 Mill. DM.
Three hearings were carried out to present and discuss research results and the
work progress with the funding agency and external reviewers. Progress reports
were handed in in April 1995 and 1996. The sub-projects submitted their final
reports, which formed the base for this synthesis, in spring 1997. The extensive
ornithological studies carried out in ELA W AT are covered by several published
and submitted publications and a summarizing article is in preparation, therefore
only certain aspects are included in the synthesis here. A special volume of the
journal Senckenbergiana maritima (Vol. 26 (3/6)), issued in 1996, comprised results of the pilot phase and early main phase. Furthermore, more than 50 scientific
publications of ELA W A T appeared in peer-reviewed journals and results were
presented in over 70 oral and 30 poster presentations on various symposia. Two
workshops on central topics of ELA W A T were carried out with international
participation. The contributions to the workshop ''The concept of ecosystems" held
in 1995 were published in Senckenbergiana maritima (Vol. 27 (3/6)). A second
workshop on "The role of disturbances in coastal marine ecosystems" was carried
out in February 1997.
The main study area of the ecosystem research in the Lower Saxonian Wadden
Sea was the backbarrier system of the island of Spiekeroog (Fig. 3.1.2). A number
of investigations had been carried out in this area prior to the ecosystem research.
Access to the tidal tlats was relatively easy from land and sea. The investigations
of ELA W AT focused on two areas: the Swinnplate, partly covered with mussel
beds, and the Grtininger Plate, a typical sandtlat. Many studies were only possible
with the use of the vessel ''Terramare I", the research vessel "Senckenberg" and
research vessels of the Forschungsstelle Kliste.
This synthesis was carried out by 8 scientists from April 1997 to February
1998. In addition to the scientific report, a brochure and leaflets were prepared for
the general public. The synthesis did not only compile the results of the project,
but evaluated the approach and its realization, thus giving a critical assessment of
joint research projects. These aspects will be picked up by the final synthesis of
the "Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea", which is currently under way and will
give recommendations for future research in the Wadden Sea. The report was first
i introciuctlull
the project. The integration of a mathematical/statistical team was continued during the main phase of ELA W A T and ensured that statistical requirements were
met for the design of the studies and their data analysis. The pilot studies also
provided a survey of the main study area with respect to a number of environmental parameters, benthic communities and bird distributions.
The main phase of ELA W AT commenced in October 1993. It was realized as
an interdisciplinary research project with II (later on 12) sub-projects carried out
by 8 (later 9) institutions (see Chap. II and appendix). The Research Centre Terram are in Wilhelmshaven was responsible for the administration and coordination
of the project. The collaboration between the various disciplines and teams was
facilitated by a number of seminars and working groups (Chap. II). Thus, a substantial degree of interdisciplinary collaboration could be realized, which is also
reflected in this synthesis. The research was carried out by 42 scientists, 17 PhD
students, a number of Master (Diploma) students and technical staff. The little
over 4 years of the main phase were funded by the Federal Ministry for Education,
Science, Research and Technology (BMBF) with a budget of 9 Mill. DM.
Three hearings were carried out to present and discuss research results and the
work progress with the funding agency and external reviewers. Progress reports
were handed in in April 1995 and 1996. The sub-projects submitted their final
reports, which formed the base for this synthesis, in spring 1997. The extensive
ornithological studies carried out in ELA W AT are covered by several published
and submitted publications and a summarizing article is in preparation, therefore
only certain aspects are included in the synthesis here. A special volume of the
journal Senckenbergiana maritima (Vol. 26 (3/6)), issued in 1996, comprised results of the pilot phase and early main phase. Furthermore, more than 50 scientific
publications of ELA W A T appeared in peer-reviewed journals and results were
presented in over 70 oral and 30 poster presentations on various symposia. Two
workshops on central topics of ELA W A T were carried out with international
participation. The contributions to the workshop ''The concept of ecosystems" held
in 1995 were published in Senckenbergiana maritima (Vol. 27 (3/6)). A second
workshop on "The role of disturbances in coastal marine ecosystems" was carried
out in February 1997.
The main study area of the ecosystem research in the Lower Saxonian Wadden
Sea was the backbarrier system of the island of Spiekeroog (Fig. 3.1.2). A number
of investigations had been carried out in this area prior to the ecosystem research.
Access to the tidal tlats was relatively easy from land and sea. The investigations
of ELA W AT focused on two areas: the Swinnplate, partly covered with mussel
beds, and the Grtininger Plate, a typical sandtlat. Many studies were only possible
with the use of the vessel ''Terramare I", the research vessel "Senckenberg" and
research vessels of the Forschungsstelle Kliste.
This synthesis was carried out by 8 scientists from April 1997 to February
1998. In addition to the scientific report, a brochure and leaflets were prepared for
the general public. The synthesis did not only compile the results of the project,
but evaluated the approach and its realization, thus giving a critical assessment of
joint research projects. These aspects will be picked up by the final synthesis of
the "Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea", which is currently under way and will
give recommendations for future research in the Wadden Sea. The report was first