Abstract
In March and September 1998 we investigated the macrobenthos of the Wichter Ee, a channel system in the East Frisian Wadden Sea between the islands of Baltrum and Norderney. Grab samples were taken at 20 stations scattered over the whole area. The macrofauna was assessed in terms of numerical abundance and biomass (AFDW). A total of 95 macrobenthic taxa were found, with a total mean biomass of 10.6 g/m2. The investigation focused on the temporal and spatial variability of the macrofaunal assemblages by means of community statistics such as cluster analysis and MDS ordination. Three macrofaunal communities could be determined in the Wichter Ee: community 1, occurring at the highly dynamic sandy areas of the inlet, was characterised by species such asBathyporeia pelagica, Scolelepis squamata, Hailstorms arenarius andParaonis fulgens. Community 3 was found at the inshore, more silty areas of the channel system and comprises species such asHeteromastus filiformes, Tubificoides benedeni, Tharyx killariensis orScoloplos armiger andSpio martinensis. Community 2 could be described as a “transition zone”, as its species inhabit the edges of the inlet as well as the smaller channels. Species found includedCapitella spp.,Scoloplos armiger, Spio martinensis, but alsoScolelepis squamata andMagelona johnstoni. The observed community structures were discussed according to the extreme hydrodynamics prevailing in this rather shallow habitat.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bergfeld, C. (1996): Die Makrofaunabesiedlung der Swinnplate im Rückseitenwatt der Insel Spiekeroog, Ostfriesisches Wattenmeer. — Diploma Thesis Univ. Göttingen (unpubl.): 220 pp.
Beukema, J. J. (1974): Seasonal changes in the biomass of the macrobenthos of a tidal flat area in the Dutch Wadden Sea. — Netherl. J. Sea Res.,8(1): 94–107.
Beukema, J.J. (1976): Biomass and species richness of the macro-benthic animals living on tidal flats of the Dutch Wadden Sea. — Netherl. J. Sea. Res.,10: 236–261.
Beukema, J.J. (1989): Long-term changes in macrozoobenthic abundance on the tidal flats of the western part of the Dutch Wadden Sea. — Helgoländer Meeresunters.,43: 405–415.
Beukema, J. J. (1990),: Expected effects of changes in winter temperatures on benthic animals living in soft sediments in coastal North Sea areas. — In:Beukema, J. J. &Wolff, W.J. &Brouns, J. W. N. [Eds.]: Expected Effects of Climatic Change on Marine Coastal Ecosystems: 83–92; Dordrecht (Kluwer).
Beukema, J. J. (1993): Successive changes in distribution patterns as an adaptive strategy in the bivalveMacoma balthica (L.) in the Wadden Sea. — Helgoländer Meeresunters.,47: 287–304.
Beukema, J.J. &Cadée, G. C. (1997): Local differences in macrozoobenthic response to enhanced food supply caused by mild eutrophication in a Wadden Sea area: food is only locally a limiting factor. — Limnol. Oceanogr.,42 (6): 1424–14345.
Buhs, F. &Reise, K. (1997): Epibenthic fauna dredged from tidal channels in the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein: spatial patterns and long-term decline. — Helgoländer Meeresunters.,51: 343–359.
Clarke, K. R. &Warwick, R. M. (1994): Change in marine communities: an approach to statistical analysis and interpretation. — 137 pp.; Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
Dekker, R. (1989): The macrozoobenthos of the subtidal western Dutch Wadden Sea. 1. Biomass and species richness. — Netherl. J. Sea Res.,23 (1): 57–68.
Dörjes, J. (1976): Primärgefüge, Bioturbation und Makrofauna als Indikatoren des Sandversatzes im Seegebiet vor Norderney (Nordsee). II. Zonierung und Verteilung der Makrofauna. — Senckenbergiana marit.,8 (4/6): 171–188.
Dörjes, J. &Gadow, S. &Reineck, H.-E. &Singh, I. B. (1969): Die Rinnen der Jade (Südliche Nordsee). Sedimente und Makrobenthos. — Senckenbergiana marit.,50 [1]: 5–62.
Dörjes, J. &Gadow, S. &Reineck, H.-E. &Singh, I. B. (1970): Sedimentologie und Makrobenthos der Nordergründe und der Außenjade (Nordsee). — Senckenbergiana marit.,2: 31–59.
Dörjes, J. &Michaelis, H. &Rhode, B. (1986): Long-term studies of macrozoobenthos in intertidal and shallow subtidal habitats near the island of Norderney (East Frisian coast, Germany). — Hydrobiol.,142: 217–232.
Ehlers, J. (1988): The Morphodynamics of the Wadden Sea. — 397 pp.; Rotterdam (Balkema).
Fiege, D. &Licher, F. &Mache, A. S. Y. (2000): A partial review of the European Magelonidae (Annelida: Polychaeta):Magelona mirabilis redefined andM. johnstoni sp. nov. distinguished. — J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K.,80: 215–234.
Field, J. G. &Clarke, K. R. &Warwick, R. M. (1982): A practical strategy for analysing multispecies distribution patterns. — Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser.,8: 37–52.
Fincham, A. A. (1971): Ecology and population studies of some intertidal and sublittoral sand-dwelling amphipods. — J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K.,51: 471–488.
Flemming, B.W. &Davis R. A. (1994): Holocene evolution, morphodynamics and sedimentology of the Spiekeroog barrier island system. — Senckenbergiana marit.,24: 117–155.
Günther, C. P. (1991): Settlement ofMacoma balthica on an intertidal sandflat in the Wadden Sea. — Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser.,76: 73–79.
Homeier, H. (1980): Morphologische Entwicklung der Insel Baltrum und Veränderungen im Bereich der Wichter Ee. — Forschungsstelle Küste, Jber. 1979,31: 11–36.
Koch, M. &Niemeyer, H. D. (1980): Strömungsmessungen im Bereich der Wattwasserscheiden von Norderney und Baltrum sowie im Seegat Wichter Ee. — Forschungsstelle Küste, Jber. 1979,31: 37–55.
Kröncke, I. (1996): Impact of biodeposition on macrofaunal communities in intertidal sandflats. — Pubbl. Staz. zool. Napoli I: Mar. Ecol.,17: 159–174.
Kröncke, I. &Zeiss, B. &Rensing, C. (2001): Long-term variability in macrofauna species composition off the island of Norderney (East Frisia, Germany), in relation to changes in climatic and environmental conditions. — Senckenbergiana marit.,31(1): 65–82.
Kröncke, I. &Dippner, J. W. &Heyen, H. &Zeiss, B. (1998): Long-term changes in the macrofaunal communities off Norderney (East Frisia, Germany) in relation to climate variability. — Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser.,167: 25–36.
Lackschewitz, D. &Reise, K. (1998): Macrofauna on flood delta shoals in the Wadden Sea with an underground association between the lugwormArenicola marina and the amphipodUrothoe poseidonis. — Helgoländer Meeresunters.,52: 147–158.
Lozän, J. L. &Rachor, E. &Reise, K. &Westernhagen, H. von &Lenz, W. [Eds.] (1994): Warnsignale aus dem Wattenmeer. — 387 pp.; Berlin (Blackwell).
Michaelis, H. (1987): Bestandsaufnahme des eulitoralen Makrobenthos im Jadebusen in Verbindung mit einer Luftbild-Analyse. — Forschungsstelle Küste, Jber. 1986,38: 13–97.
Obert, B. (1982): Bodenfauna der Watten und Strände um Borkum — Emsmündung. — Forschungsstelle Küste, Jber. 1981,33: 139–162.
Reineck, H.-E. (1995): Randpriele. — Senckenbergiana marit.,26(1/2): 37–43.
Reise, K. &Herre, E. &Sturm, M. (1994): Biomass and abundance of macrofauna in intertidal sediments of Königshafen in the northern Wadden Sea. — Helgoländer Meeresunters.,48: 201–215.
Reise, K. &Schubert, A. (1987): Macrobenthic turnover in the subtidal Wadden Sea: the Norderaue revisited after 60 years. — Helgoländer Meeresunters.,41: 69–82.
Reiss, H. &Kröncke, I. (2001): Spatial and temporal distribution of macrofauna in the Otzumer Balje (East Frisian Wadden Sea). — Senckenbergiana marit.,31 (2): 283–298.
Riesen, W. &Reise, K. (1982): Macrobenthos of the subtidal Wadden Sea: revisited after 55 years. — Helgoländer Meeresunters.,35: 409–423.
Rosenberg, R. (1995): Benthic marine fauna structured by hydro-dynamic processes and food availability. — Netherl. J. Sea Res.,34 (4): 303–317.
Rumohr, H. (1990): Soft bottom macrofauna: collection, treatment and quality assurance of samples. — ICES Techn. mar. environ. Sci.,8: 18 pp.
Stecher, J. &Dörjes, J. (1993): Das Makrozoobenthos im Vorfeld der Insel Spiekeroog. I. Saisonale Siedlungsstrukturen im Foreshore-Bereich. — Senckenbergiana marit.,23 (1/3): 49–66.
Veer, H. W. van der (1989): Eutrophication and mussel culture in the western Dutch Wadden Sea: Impact on the benthic ecosystem; a hypothesis. — Helgoländer Meeresunters.,43: 517–527.
Walther, F. (1972): Zusammenhänge zwischen der Größe der ostfriesischen Seegaten mit ihren Wattgebieten sowie den Gezeiten und Strömungen. — Forschungsstelle Küste, Jber. 1971,23:7–32.
Zeiss, B. &Kröncke, I. (1997): Long-term macrofaunal studies in a subtidal habitat off Norderney (East Frisia, Germany) from 1978 to 1994. I. The late winter samples. — Oceanol. Acta,20 (1): 311–318.
Zühlke, R. &Reise, K. (1994): Response of macrofauna to drifting tidal sediments. — Helgoländer Meeresuntets.,48: 277–289.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nehmer, P., Kröncke, I. Macrofaunal communities in the Wichter Ee, a channel system in the East Frisian Wadden Sea. Senckenbergiana maritima 32, 1–10 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03043081
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03043081