Distinctly variable mudscapes: Distribution gradients of intertidal macrofauna across the Dutch Wadden Sea

The Dutch Wadden Sea exhibits distinct spatial gradients in intertidal macrofauna assemblage composition. Research reveals that biomass distribution varies significantly from west to east, with bivalves like Mya arenaria, Cerastoderma edule, and Ensis directus dominating the western region, while C. edule dominates towards the east. The polychaete Alitta succinea becomes prominent in the upper Ems and Dollard estuary but is negligible elsewhere. Generalized dissimilarity modeling (GDM) identified median grain size, microphytobenthic biomass, and exposure time as key drivers of these variations, highlighting the Wadden Sea's heterogeneous landscape. These findings underscore the importance of spatial gradients in ecosystem functioning and have implications for management and monitoring strategies.

Compton, T. J., Holthuijsen, S., Koolhaas, A., Dekinga, A., ten Horn, J., Smith, J., Galama, Y., Brugge, M., van der Wal, D., van der Meer, J., van der Veer, H. W., & Piersma, T. (2013). Distinctly variable mudscapes: Distribution gradients of intertidal macrofauna across the Dutch Wadden Sea. Journal of Sea Research, 82, 103–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2013.02.002