I 1.1 Realization of ELA W A T
269
investigations on the shore crab and in the water column) were not part of the
research. This deficit resulted from research priorities and limited funding.
Looking back, the choice of the main study area and the two specifically studied tidal flats in there (Swinnplate and Groninger Plate, Chap. 3.1) was not a wise
decision. The studied tidal flats were suitable for the investigation of specific topics, e.g. the biodeposit gradient on the Swinnplate, but unsuitable in other respects
(e.g. the size and shifting location of the mussel bed there) or idiosyncratic, so that
a generalization of the results is hampered. Also, the benthic fauna on the
Groninger Plate was relatively poor in species and individuals compared to other
parts of the Wadden Sea. In the sense of an encompassing, spatially extensive
ecosystem research, the investigations should have been carried out over a much
wider spatial scale. However, to work on a wider scale requires more personnel
and funding, which has to be considered during the application of a project.
An initial idea in ELA W AT was to switch the study to another benthic community each year. This was given up for the benefit of a more detailed investigation
of the associations around Lanice conchilega. Thus seasonal and year to year
variations could be determined and more detailed experimental investigations on
the settlement behaviour of this species and its associated fauna could be carried
out. As a consequence, ELA W AT provides data on selected benthic communities
only, but these are based on thorough investigations, which proved to be essential
for the analysis of stability properties and mechanisms (Chap. 9).
Organisation and coordination
Joint projects require an organisation and coordination of the sub-projects involved. For the management of the "Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea" experiences from the "Ecosystem Research Berchtesgaden" were used and a steering
committee called into place (Leuschner 1989). In Lower Saxony, the project leadership consisted of a scientific board and the actual steering group (Dittmann et a!.
1997). This structure ensured a connection of the applied and basic research parts
of the "Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea". The tasks of the steering group encompassed the coordination and scientific supervision of the projects, however,
the hierarchy in the project leadership was often a hindrance for an efficient performance. The steering committee was funded through the applied part of the and
employed by the National Park administration. When the applied part ended, the
coordination of ELA W AT was funded through this project and carried out from
the Research Centre Terramare, which facilitated day to day work.
The range of tasks necessary for coordination developed in the course of the
project. They included revising the concept of the project, applications, some
administration, cross-checks and summarisation of reports, as well as organisation
of seminars, hearings and international workshops. Association and communication between the sub-projects were promoted and some sub-projects were partly
supervised. The coordination of the project would have been facilitated by a clear
definition of the duties and rights for this position from the very beginning with all
people involved in the project, as there were moments of confusion and also a lack
of acceptance by some SUb-project leaders. Both the responsibilities of the project
leadership as well as those of the leaders of single sub-projects should be specified
269
investigations on the shore crab and in the water column) were not part of the
research. This deficit resulted from research priorities and limited funding.
Looking back, the choice of the main study area and the two specifically studied tidal flats in there (Swinnplate and Groninger Plate, Chap. 3.1) was not a wise
decision. The studied tidal flats were suitable for the investigation of specific topics, e.g. the biodeposit gradient on the Swinnplate, but unsuitable in other respects
(e.g. the size and shifting location of the mussel bed there) or idiosyncratic, so that
a generalization of the results is hampered. Also, the benthic fauna on the
Groninger Plate was relatively poor in species and individuals compared to other
parts of the Wadden Sea. In the sense of an encompassing, spatially extensive
ecosystem research, the investigations should have been carried out over a much
wider spatial scale. However, to work on a wider scale requires more personnel
and funding, which has to be considered during the application of a project.
An initial idea in ELA W AT was to switch the study to another benthic community each year. This was given up for the benefit of a more detailed investigation
of the associations around Lanice conchilega. Thus seasonal and year to year
variations could be determined and more detailed experimental investigations on
the settlement behaviour of this species and its associated fauna could be carried
out. As a consequence, ELA W AT provides data on selected benthic communities
only, but these are based on thorough investigations, which proved to be essential
for the analysis of stability properties and mechanisms (Chap. 9).
Organisation and coordination
Joint projects require an organisation and coordination of the sub-projects involved. For the management of the "Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea" experiences from the "Ecosystem Research Berchtesgaden" were used and a steering
committee called into place (Leuschner 1989). In Lower Saxony, the project leadership consisted of a scientific board and the actual steering group (Dittmann et a!.
1997). This structure ensured a connection of the applied and basic research parts
of the "Ecosystem Research Wadden Sea". The tasks of the steering group encompassed the coordination and scientific supervision of the projects, however,
the hierarchy in the project leadership was often a hindrance for an efficient performance. The steering committee was funded through the applied part of the and
employed by the National Park administration. When the applied part ended, the
coordination of ELA W AT was funded through this project and carried out from
the Research Centre Terramare, which facilitated day to day work.
The range of tasks necessary for coordination developed in the course of the
project. They included revising the concept of the project, applications, some
administration, cross-checks and summarisation of reports, as well as organisation
of seminars, hearings and international workshops. Association and communication between the sub-projects were promoted and some sub-projects were partly
supervised. The coordination of the project would have been facilitated by a clear
definition of the duties and rights for this position from the very beginning with all
people involved in the project, as there were moments of confusion and also a lack
of acceptance by some SUb-project leaders. Both the responsibilities of the project
leadership as well as those of the leaders of single sub-projects should be specified