Optimisation of sand nourishment techniques for restoring ecological valuable tidal flats:Unravelling the importance of bio-physical interactions (outside HZ)

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'''Student opportunities:'''
 
'''Student opportunities:'''
   
A way to examine the effects of soil animals on the erodibility of
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A way to examine the effects of soil animals on the erodibility of sediment is to compare the properties of sediment with and without benthos. To do so, a large “defaunation” (soil animals removed) experiment has been
sediment is to compare the properties of sediment with and without benthos. To
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implemented in the Schelde estuary and will be monitored monthly over the Summer 2016. This experiment is part of a pilot study relative to the Roggenplaat. Environmental data and benthos samples will be collected and
do so, a large “defaunation” (soil animals removed) experiment has been
+
measured to answer the following sub-questions (see section sub projects)
implemented in the Schelde estuary and will be monitored monthly over the
 
Summer 2016. This experiment is part of a pilot study relative to the
 
Roggenplaat. Environmental data and benthos samples will be collected and
 
measured to answer the following sub-questions:
 
 
 
1)     
 
Benthic
 
community recovery along an elevation gradient at two sites differing in their hydrodynamic exposure
 
 
 
For this project, the student will investigate the influence of
 
elevation, i.e. a proxy for the height of sand nourishment, on the rate of
 
recovery of benthic communities and on abiotic variables (sediment type and
 
properties, hydrodynamic conditions, primary production, etc.) after
 
defaunation. The student will actively participate in fieldwork and analyse
 
benthos samples in the laboratory.
 
 
 
Research type: Field research, Laboratory research
 
 
 
Research level: bachelor
 
 
 
Prerequisite: interest in morphology, ecology
 
 
 
Period: Semester 1, 2016-2017
 
 
 
Contact: Laura Soissons, laura.soissons@nioz.nl
 
 
 
2)     
 
The
 
facilitative effect of ‘priming’ on benthic community recovery
 
 
 
After defaunation, used to mimic the effect of sand nourishment, some
 
areas will be ‘primed’, by adding a known-density of specific benthos species
 
or directly by dumping fresh sediment on top. This project will investigate the
 
potential facilitative effect of such techniques for benthic community recovery
 
by comparing them. The student will actively participate in fieldwork and analyse benthos samples in the laboratory.
 
 
 
Research type: Field research, Laboratory research
 
 
 
Research level: bachelor
 
 
 
Prerequisite: interest in morphology, ecology
 
 
 
Period: Semester 1, 2016-2017
 
 
 
Contact: Laura Soissons, laura.soissons@nioz.nl
 
 
 
3)     
 
Sand nourishments in coastal systems: an Ecosystem-based approach (Literature research)
 
 
 
Benthic communities are highly important for the
 
stability of coastal environment, for the ecosystem services they provide. This
 
project, through a literature research, aims at understanding the influence of
 
sand nourishments on benthic communities in different coastal systems and how
 
it translates to a lack vs. gain of ecosystem services. The student will
 
investigate the literature for studies on sand nourishment, their effect on
 
benthic communities and bio-physical interactions and to address their potential
 
effect on the ecosystem services provided by benthic communities in coastal
 
ecosystems.
 
 
 
Research type: Literature research
 
 
 
Research level: bachelor to master
 
 
 
Prerequisite: interest in morphology, ecology
 
 
 
Period: Semester 1, 2016-2017
 
 
 
Contact: Laura Soissons, laura.soissons@nioz.nl
 
 
 
4)     
 
The influence of living organisms on sediment erosion
 
 
 
The presence of benthic organisms is highly important
 
for the stability of the coast, which might play an important role for the
 
long-term development of sand nourishments. By means of a flume study, using a
 
newly developed field flume, this project will investigate how benthic
 
organisms in different conditions affect the erodability or stability of tidal
 
flats. The student will actively
 
participate in fieldwork.
 
 
 
Research type: Field research, Flume research
 
 
 
Research level: bachelor or master
 
 
 
Prerequisite: interest in morphology, ecology, hydrodynamics
 
 
 
Period: Semester 1, 2016-2017
 
 
 
Contact: Laura Soissons, laura.soissons@nioz.nl
 
   
 
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Versie van 7 jun 2016 om 14:33




Sand nourishments are widely used in the coastal environment and have been developed to protect the coast and its ecosystems from erosion and sea level rise. Nowadays mega-nourishments are also being used to restore and maintain valuable ecosystems on tidal flats. The latter requires the nourishment practices to be optimized for being eco-friendly.

It is well-known that the presence / absence of soil animals can have a large effect on the erodibility of sediment. Dumping sediment on an existing tidal flat might directly affect the local communities living in these areas by killing them. Moreover, the sediment used for the nourishment of coastal areas is usually deprived of any living organisms, and thus might alter the bio-physical interactions relative to the originally present sediment or facilitate the establishment of invasive species. There is need to gain a generic mechanistic understanding on (1) how benthic communities may affect the long-term development of sand nourishment, (2) how benthic communities respond to different sand nourishment techniques and (3) how this type of measures may be translated to ecosystem services.

Student opportunities:

A way to examine the effects of soil animals on the erodibility of sediment is to compare the properties of sediment with and without benthos. To do so, a large “defaunation” (soil animals removed) experiment has been implemented in the Schelde estuary and will be monitored monthly over the Summer 2016. This experiment is part of a pilot study relative to the Roggenplaat. Environmental data and benthos samples will be collected and measured to answer the following sub-questions (see section sub projects)











Project summary

Optimisation of sand nourishment techniques for restoring ecological valuable tidal flats: Unravelling the importance of bio-physical interactions

Start date: 1 augustus 2016
End date: 1 februari 2017

Project results and process

Results:

Unravelling the importance of bio-physical interactions (outside HZ) - results

Description and evaluation of the process:

Unravelling the importance of bio-physical interactions (outside HZ) - process

Sub projects

Project Start date End date Summary
Benthic community recovery along an elevation gradient at two sites differing in their hydrodynamic exposure 1 augustus 2016 1 februari 2017 Benthic community recovery along an elevation gradient at two sites differing in their hydrodynamic exposure

Research type: Field research, Laboratory research

Research level: bachelor

Prerequisite: interest in morphology, ecology
Sand nourishments in coastal systems: an Ecosystem-based approach (Literature research) 1 augustus 2016 1 februari 2017 Sand nourishments in coastal systems: an Ecosystem-based approach (Literature research)

Research type: Literature research

Research level: bachelor to master

Prerequisite: interest in morphology, ecology
The facilitative effect of ‘priming’ on benthic community recovery 1 augustus 2016 1 februari 2017 The facilitative effect of ‘priming’ on benthic community recovery

Research type: Field research, Laboratory research

Research level: bachelor

Prerequisite: interest in morphology, ecology
The influence of living organisms on sediment erosion 1 augustus 2016 1 februari 2017 The influence of living organisms on sediment erosion

Research type: Field research, Flume research

Research level: bachelor or master

Prerequisite: interest in morphology, ecology, hydrodynamics

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