Abstract
The distribution and cover density of macroalgae (Chlorophyta, Ulvaceae) were estimated by means of aerial surveys in 1990–1992 in the Wadden Sea of Niedersachsen, an intertidal area of some 1200 km2 situated at the German North Sea coast. Each year, up to a maximum of 15% of the total area was covered by algae. The spatial distribution was heterogeneous. In some subregions the macroalgal carpets covered from 30% up to 60% of the tidal flats. The cover density was at its peak in 1990. Additionally, tentative ground truth investigations were carried out on species composition. Reviewing other reports of macroalgal mass development at various sites in Europe, it is assumed that in the German Wadden Sea the recent macroalgal blooms have to be regarded as a response to eutrophication, and will presumably remain a chronic problem for many years to come.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
Baden, S. P., Loo, L.-O., Pihl, L. & Rosenberg, R., 1990. Effects of eutrophication on benthic communities including fish: Swedish west coast. — Ambio19, 113–122.
Cederwall, H. & Elmgren, R., 1990. Biological effects of eutrophication in the Balthic Sea, particularly the coastal zone. — Ambio19, 109–112.
Desprez, M., Rybarczyk, H., Wilson, J. G., Ducrotoy, J. P., Sueur, F., Olivesi, R. & Elkaim, B., 1992. Biological impact of eutrophication in the bay of Somme and the induction and impact of anoxia. — Neth. J. Sea Res.30, 149–159.
Funen County Council (Ed.), 1991. Eutrophication of Coastal Waters. Coastal Water Quality Management in the County of Funen, Odense, 288 pp.
Gessner, F., 1957. Meer und Strand. Deutscher Verl. der Wissenschaften, Berlin, 426 pp.
Hickel, W., 1989. Inorganic micronutrients and the eutrophication in the Wadden Sea of Sylt (German Bight, North Sea). In: Proceedings of the twentyfirst European Marine Biology Symposium. Ed. by R. Z. Klekowski, E. Styczýnska-Jurewicz & L. Falkowski. Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, 309–318.
Hoek, C. van den, Admiraal, W., Colijn, F. & de Jonge, V. N., 1979. The role of algae and seagrasses in the ecosystem of the Wadden Sea. In: Flora and vegetation of the Wadden Sea. Ed. by W. J. Wolff. Balkema, Rotterdam, 9–118. (Rep. Wadden Sea Working Group.3.)
Joint, I. R., 1978. Microbial production of an estuarine mudflat. — Estuar. coast. mar. Sci.7, 185–195.
Koeman, R., 1975. Die Makroflora der Watten, Strände und Riffe um den Hohen Knechtsand in der Wesermündung. — Jber. ForschSt. Küste, Norderney26, 41–52.
Linke, O., 1939. Die Biota des Jadebusenwattes. — Helgoländer wiss. Meeresunters.1, 201–348.
Lowthion, D., Soulsby, P. G. & Houston, M. C. M., 1985. Investigation of a eutrophic tidal basin. 1.: Factors affecting the distribution and biomass of macroalgae. — Mar. environ. Res.15, 263–284.
Meyer, M. & Michaelis, H., 1980. Das Makrobenthos des westlichen “Hohen Weges”. — Jber. ForschSt. Küste, Norderney31, 91–155.
Michaelis, H., 1969. Makrofauna und Vegetation der Knechtsandwatten. — Jber. ForschSt. Küste, Norderney19, 147–173.
Michaelis, H., 1978. Recent biological phenomena in the German Waddensea. — Rapp. P.-v. Réun. Cons. int. Explor. Mer172, 276–277.
Michaelis, H., 1987. Bestandsaufnahme des eulitoralen Makrobenthos im Jadebusen in Verbindung mit einer Luftbild-Analyse. — Jber. ForschSt. Küste, Norderney38, 13–97.
Nicholls, D. J., Tubbs, C. R. & Haynes, F. N., 1981. The effect of green algal mats on intertidal macrobenthic communities and their predators. — Kieler Meeresforsch. (Sonderh.)5, 511–520.
Nienburg, W., 1927. Zur Ökologie der Flora des Wattenmeeres, 1.: Der Königshafen bei List auf Sylt. — Wiss. Meeresunters. (Kiel)20, 145–196.
Pearson, T. H. & Rosenberg, R., 1978. Macrobenthic succession in relation to organic enrichment and pollution of the marine environment. — Oceanogr. mar. Biol.16, 229–311.
Perkins, E. & Abbott, O. J., 1972. Nutrient enrichment and sand flat fauna. — Mar. Pollut. Bull.3, 70–72.
Piriou, Y. & Ménesguen, A., 1992. Environmental factors controlling theUlva sp. blooms in Brittany (France). In: Marine eutrophication and population dynamics. Ed. by G. Colombo, I. Ferrari, U. Ceccherelli & R. Rossi. Olsen & Olsen, Fredensborg, 111–115 (25th European Marine Biology Symposium).
Pugnetti, A., Viaroli, P., & Ferrari, I., 1992. Processes leading to dystrophy in a Po River Delta lagoon (Sacca Di Goro): phytoplankton-macroalgae interactions. — Sci. total Environ. (Suppl)1992, 445–456.
Rahmel, J., Bätje, M., Michaelis, H. & Noak, U., 1995.Phaeocystis globosa and the phytoplankton succession in the East Frisian coastal waters. — Helgoländer Meeresunters.49, 399–408.
Reise, K., 1983. Sewage, green algal mats anchored by lugworms, and the effects on Turbellaria and small Polychaeta. — Helgoländer Meeresunters.36, 151–162.
Rosenberg, R., 1992. Eutrophication-related marine ecosystem studies in western Sweden. In: Marine eutrophication and population dynamics. Ed. by G. Colombo, I. Ferrari, U. Ceccherelli & R. Rossi. Olsen & Olsen, Fredensborg, 17–20. (25th European Marine Biology Symposium).
Viaroli, P., Pugnetti, A. & Ferrari, I., 1992.Ulva rigida growth and decomposition processes and related effects on nitrogen and phosphorus cycles in a coastal lagoon (Sacca Di Goro, Po River Delta). In: Marine eutrophication and population dynamics. Ed. by G. Colombo, I. Ferrari, U. Ceccherelli & R. Rossi. Olsen & Olsen, Fredensborg, 77–84 (25th European Marine Biology Symposium).
Wallentinus, I., 1984. Partitioning of nutrient uptake between annual and perennial seaweeds in a Baltic archipelago area. — Hydrobiologia116/117, 363–370.
Warwick, R. M., Davey, J. T., Gee, J. M. & George, C. L., 1982. Faunistic control ofEnteromorpha blooms: field experiment. — J. exp. Biol. Ecol.56, 23–31.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kolbe, K., Kaminski, E., Michaelis, H. et al. Macroalgal mass development in the Wadden Sea: First experiences with a monitoring system. Helgolander Meeresunters 49, 519–528 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02368379
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02368379