3X
3 Study Area
3.5.2
Horizontal and Vertical Aspects of Biofacies
The backbarrier tidal nats behind the island of Spiekeroog were surveyed during
the first mapping carried out in 1988 in the area of the tidal water shed between
Harle and Otzumer Balje (Hertweck 1995), characterizing the sediment bodies and
benthic associations. Hertweck (loc. cit.) discriminated 8 biofacies: (1) sand spits
with strong physical reworking, (2) edge gully zones at the border of major tidal
channels (description see Reineck, 1995); (3) trough channels with eroded shells
and scattered Mytilus edulis clumps, (4) sandy tidal flats with Arenicola marina,
(5) platforms with varying abundances of Lanice conchilega, (6) mussel beds
(Mytilus edulis), (7) muddy channel areas with Heteromastus filiformis and Mya
arenaria, (8) semi-consolidated mud banks (Fig. 3.5.1). At the time of mapping, the
Swinnplate was characterized by areas of sandy high platforms, colonized by
L.conchilega in varying abundances. In the centre two extended beds of M. edulis
occurred, which continuously shifted in place during the study period of
ELA W A T. Beside the mussel beds, facies of type 1 and 2 were found. Old mud
beds and trough channels with shells were of minor importance.
Fig. 3.5.2 Relief cast from a mature mussel hed (Mylilus edulis) in the central area of the
Swinnplate, hackharrier tidal tlat of Spiekeroog Island (photo courtesy of G. Hertweck)
3 Study Area
3.5.2
Horizontal and Vertical Aspects of Biofacies
The backbarrier tidal nats behind the island of Spiekeroog were surveyed during
the first mapping carried out in 1988 in the area of the tidal water shed between
Harle and Otzumer Balje (Hertweck 1995), characterizing the sediment bodies and
benthic associations. Hertweck (loc. cit.) discriminated 8 biofacies: (1) sand spits
with strong physical reworking, (2) edge gully zones at the border of major tidal
channels (description see Reineck, 1995); (3) trough channels with eroded shells
and scattered Mytilus edulis clumps, (4) sandy tidal flats with Arenicola marina,
(5) platforms with varying abundances of Lanice conchilega, (6) mussel beds
(Mytilus edulis), (7) muddy channel areas with Heteromastus filiformis and Mya
arenaria, (8) semi-consolidated mud banks (Fig. 3.5.1). At the time of mapping, the
Swinnplate was characterized by areas of sandy high platforms, colonized by
L.conchilega in varying abundances. In the centre two extended beds of M. edulis
occurred, which continuously shifted in place during the study period of
ELA W A T. Beside the mussel beds, facies of type 1 and 2 were found. Old mud
beds and trough channels with shells were of minor importance.
Fig. 3.5.2 Relief cast from a mature mussel hed (Mylilus edulis) in the central area of the
Swinnplate, hackharrier tidal tlat of Spiekeroog Island (photo courtesy of G. Hertweck)