I Introduction
3
written in German language and translated into English for the book version presented here. However, the book is not a literal translation, as the chapters were
improved in the course of a review process.
In this book, we, the 8 scientists who wrote the synthesis report, function as
authors for the respective chapters. But in many chapters, especially the chapters 3
to 7, the honour for the work we review goes to our colleagues who did the actual
field work. Many colleagues and students, who did their thesis in the course of the
project, supplied unpublished data. They are named in the acknowledgements of
the respective chapters and whenever possible we have cited their publications.
The credit for the results of ELA W AT we have compiled is theirs.
This book commences with an outline of the theoretical background, the concept and approach for this ecosystem research. The main study area, the backbarriel' system of the island of Spiekeroog, is described next, introducing both the
physical setting and the major benthic organisms living in the tidal flats. The following chapters, giving detailed accounts of spatial and temporal patterns and their
underlying causes for a variety of parameters under natural and disturbance situations, often refer to the sampling sites described here. In general, the chapters of
this book are tightly linked to each other, as the common thread leading through
all of them is the analysis of stability properties and mechanisms. Thus the reader
of this book should bear in mind that the chapters are not alone independent accounts, but all part of the story to understand the processes behind the scene of this
fascinating intertidal ecosystem.
Acknowledgements
ELA W A T could have never been realized nor corne anywhere near its scientific
success without the considerable engagement and enthusiasm of all the scientists,
students, technicians, administrative personnel and boat staff participating in it. All
of them deserve our sincere gratitude for their work and commitment. In all those
years a friendly atmosphere had developed between the scientists of the various
sub-projects, which is not always a matter-of-course. We are especially thankful to
all colleagues who supplied unpublished data for this report. The initiative to establish an ecosystem research on the Lower Saxonian Wadden Sea originated from
Thomas Hopner. The Research Centre Terramare administered the project and
Gerd Liebezeit functioned as the main project leader for ELA W A T. All colleagues
of the project leadership for the Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea in Lower
Saxony accompanied the project with great interest. The field station of the University of Munster in Carolinensiel provided an ideal location for field work.
Roswitha Keuker- Rudiger and Detlef Heyen assisted in further compilation of data
during the synthesis. Mr. Abbey corrected the English of several chapters. Brigitte
Behrends managed the tedious task of preparing most of the figures for this book.
It would have been impossible to realize the book without Christa Dohn. She deserves a special thank you for all her technical help and the lay-out which she
handled with great care and incredible patience. The chapters in this book were
substantially improved by comments from a number of reviewers and colleagues
and we sincerely thank Erik Bonsdorf, Roger Bradbury, Bob Clarke, Norbert
3
written in German language and translated into English for the book version presented here. However, the book is not a literal translation, as the chapters were
improved in the course of a review process.
In this book, we, the 8 scientists who wrote the synthesis report, function as
authors for the respective chapters. But in many chapters, especially the chapters 3
to 7, the honour for the work we review goes to our colleagues who did the actual
field work. Many colleagues and students, who did their thesis in the course of the
project, supplied unpublished data. They are named in the acknowledgements of
the respective chapters and whenever possible we have cited their publications.
The credit for the results of ELA W AT we have compiled is theirs.
This book commences with an outline of the theoretical background, the concept and approach for this ecosystem research. The main study area, the backbarriel' system of the island of Spiekeroog, is described next, introducing both the
physical setting and the major benthic organisms living in the tidal flats. The following chapters, giving detailed accounts of spatial and temporal patterns and their
underlying causes for a variety of parameters under natural and disturbance situations, often refer to the sampling sites described here. In general, the chapters of
this book are tightly linked to each other, as the common thread leading through
all of them is the analysis of stability properties and mechanisms. Thus the reader
of this book should bear in mind that the chapters are not alone independent accounts, but all part of the story to understand the processes behind the scene of this
fascinating intertidal ecosystem.
Acknowledgements
ELA W A T could have never been realized nor corne anywhere near its scientific
success without the considerable engagement and enthusiasm of all the scientists,
students, technicians, administrative personnel and boat staff participating in it. All
of them deserve our sincere gratitude for their work and commitment. In all those
years a friendly atmosphere had developed between the scientists of the various
sub-projects, which is not always a matter-of-course. We are especially thankful to
all colleagues who supplied unpublished data for this report. The initiative to establish an ecosystem research on the Lower Saxonian Wadden Sea originated from
Thomas Hopner. The Research Centre Terramare administered the project and
Gerd Liebezeit functioned as the main project leader for ELA W A T. All colleagues
of the project leadership for the Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea in Lower
Saxony accompanied the project with great interest. The field station of the University of Munster in Carolinensiel provided an ideal location for field work.
Roswitha Keuker- Rudiger and Detlef Heyen assisted in further compilation of data
during the synthesis. Mr. Abbey corrected the English of several chapters. Brigitte
Behrends managed the tedious task of preparing most of the figures for this book.
It would have been impossible to realize the book without Christa Dohn. She deserves a special thank you for all her technical help and the lay-out which she
handled with great care and incredible patience. The chapters in this book were
substantially improved by comments from a number of reviewers and colleagues
and we sincerely thank Erik Bonsdorf, Roger Bradbury, Bob Clarke, Norbert