Ecological implications of life-forms in intertidal benthic diatoms in macrotidal estuaries
Sabbe, K.; Vyverman, W.; Muylaert, K.; Hamels, I. (1998). Ecological implications of life-forms in intertidal benthic diatoms in macrotidal estuaries. Biol. Jb. Dodonaea 65: 170-171
Also appears in:
Beeckman, T.; Caemelbeke, K. (Ed.) (1998). Populations: Natural and manipulated, symposium organized by the Royal Society of Natural Sciences Dodonaea, University of Gent, 29 October 1997. Biologisch Jaarboek (Dodonaea), 65. Koninklijk Natuurwetenschappelijk Genootschap Dodonaea: Gent. 257 pp., more
Diatom communities inhabiting intertidal estuarine sediments are composed of different life-forms, ranging from adnate epipsammic to free-living epipelic and tychoplanktonic forms. A detailed study of the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of various life-forms in the macro-tidal Westerschelde estuary (South-West Netherlands) revealed that the specific life-form composition of a community has an important influence on its temporal dynamics and might also have major implications for the transfer of diatom-fixed carbon to higher trophic levels. The importance of substrate structure and availability, stochastic (e.g. climate-induced and anthropogenic) hydrodynamic events and the nature and rate of sediment development in regulating the dynamics of these communities are evaluated.
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