The intertidal zoning of cockles (Cerastoderma edule) in the Wadden Sea, or why cockle fishery disturbed areas of relatively high biodiversity

Dekker, R.

doi:10.1007/s10152-009-0157-8

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…We observed significant positive changes in species richness and diversity with increasing elevation. This pattern contrasted with the traditional reported zonation of tidal flats where diversity is low near the salt marsh and increases towards low tide levels (Beukema & Dekker, 2009). Species at the border of the salt marsh tend to be characterized by small body size.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 96%

“…Species at the border of the salt marsh tend to be characterized by small body size. Many studies investigating the zonation of macrozoobenthos, used a mesh size of 1 mm (e.g., Beukema & Dekker, 2009), while a mesh size of 0.5 mm was used in the current study. The study of Bachelet (1990) compared the efficacy of different mesh sizes and found that only 15% of polychaetes were captured in studies using 1 mm mesh size.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Benthic macrozoobenthos is well adapted to the dynamics and harsh conditions of the tidal flats that are characterized by diurnal tides, and therefore constantly changing water levels, which leads to strong environmental gradients (Le Hir et al., 2000; Schückel et al., 2013; Sprung et al., 2001). Tidal flat organisms exhibit distinct distribution patterns within specific sections of the tidal flat, influenced by environmental gradients, primarily elevation, sediment composition and total organic carbon (Beukema & Dekker, 2009; Compton et al., 2013; Reise, 2002; Schückel et al., 2013; Ysebaert et al., 2003). Strong abiotic gradients induce a typical zonation of tidal flats with low species richness and high abundance of small organisms at the high‐tide line, close to the salt marsh (Beukema & Dekker, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Abundance, biomass and species richness of macrozoobenthos along an intertidal elevation gradient

Dewenter,

Yong,

Schupp

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Ecology aims to comprehend species distribution and its interaction with environmental factors, from global to local scales. While global environmental changes affect marine biodiversity, understanding the drivers at smaller scales remains crucial. Tidal flats can be found on most of the world's coastlines and are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbances. They are important transient ecosystems between terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and their biodiversity provides important ecosystem services. Owing to this unique, terrestrial–marine transition, strong environmental gradients of elevation, sediment composition and food availability prevail. Here, we investigated which regional and local environmental factors drive the spatio‐temporal dynamics of macrozoobenthos communities on back‐barrier tidal flats in the East Frisian Wadden Sea. On the regional level, we found that species composition changed significantly from west to east on the East Frisian islands and that total abundance and species richness decreased from west to east. On the local abiotic level, we found that macrozoobenthos biomass decreased with higher elevation towards the salt marsh and that the total abundance of organisms in the sediment significantly increased with increasing mud content, while biodiversity and biomass were not changing significantly. In contrast to expectations, increasing Chl a availability as a measure of primary productivity did not result in changes in abundance, biomass or biodiversity, but extremely high total organic carbon (TOC) content was associated with a decrease in biomass and biodiversity. In conclusion, we found regional and local relationships that are similar to those observed in previous studies on macrozoobenthos in the Wadden Sea. Macrozoobenthos biomass, abundance and biodiversity are interrelated in a complex way with the physical, abiotic and biotic processes in and above the sediment.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 96%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Abundance, biomass and species richness of macrozoobenthos along an intertidal elevation gradient

Dewenter,

Yong,

Schupp

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Cockles generally have short siphons and thus live close to the substratum surface. The common cockle, C. edule , normally burrows to a depth of no greater than 6 cm (Zwarts & Wanink ) and inhabits the intertidal zone from mid‐tide level to just below the low‐water mark (Beukema & Dekker ), but is occasionally found in subtidal areas (Guevara & Castanera ). By contrast C. nuttallii is mainly distributed in the lower intertidal and is occasionally found to depths of 180 m (Coan, Scott & Bernard ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aquaculture potential of the basket cockle (Clinocardium nuttallii). Part 1: effects of stocking density on first year grow-out performance in intertidal and off-bottom suspended culture

et al. 2012

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The basket cockle (Clinocardium nuttallii) is a candidate species for aquaculture in the northeast Pacific. The aim of the current research was to assess the feasibility of C. nuttallii grow‐out, with an emphasis on growth performance and qualities affecting product marketability. In this article, we investigated the combined effects of culture mode (intertidal and off‐bottom suspended culture) and initial stocking density (1500, 3000, 10 500 and 21 000 ind m−2) on C. nuttallii survival and growth during the first year of grow‐out (May through October). In intertidal culture, cockles exhibited low survival and poor growth rates. In suspended culture, survival was consistently high (>96%) at all stocking densities tested; growth and condition parameters had the highest values at 1500 and 3000 ind m−2. The edible portion (meat yield) exceeded 40% of the whole wet weight at all stocking densities, occurrences of fouled and deformed cockles were <1% and no commensal species were observed. Depending on the minimum harvestable size and stocking density chosen, harvestable proportions constituted from 1.1% to 15.2% by October of the first grow‐out year in the suspended system. The effects of stocking density and depth on second year grow‐out performance of C. nuttallii are reported in a companion paper (Dunham et al. in this issue).

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“…Cockles have a preference for non-extreme tidal heights (Beukema and Dekker, 2009), and type of substratum, usually muddy sands and sands in the mid-low shore areas (Wolff, 1973;Rasmussen, 1973;Elliott, 1979). An increase in sediment accretion could lead to smothering together with the animals being raised in the intertidal area to a tidal height away from their optimum.…”

Section: Sediment Suspended Solids Topographic and Bathymetric Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Mass mortalities in bivalve populations: A review of the edible cockle Cerastoderma edule (L.)

Burdon

Callaway

Elliott

et al. 2014

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

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Mass mortalities in bivalve populations have long been of particular concern, especially when the species supports a commercial fishery or is of conservation interest. Here we consider the evidence of mass mortalities of the edible cockle, Cerastoderma edule (L.). Through the construction of a conceptual model eight potential factors (or groups of factors) which may cause mass mortalities are identified and reviewed. These include: food limitation; density; oxygen depletion and organic loadings; temperature and salinity; parasites, pathogens and commensals; toxicants and other persistent pollutants; predation, and changes in sediment, suspended solids, topography and bathymetry. The interplay between factors in recognized and discussed based on evidence mainly from the published literature relating to temperate edible cockle beds. Anecdotal evidence is also reported from a structured survey of site-specific evidence provided by fisheries managers in England and Wales. Case studies from the UK and Europe indicate that there is often no single, clear generic cause of mass mortalities in cockle populations. The importance of linked sitespecific scientific investigations and laboratory-based experiments to fill the gaps in our current understanding of mass mortalities in bivalve species is highlighted as necessary to take account of both local extrinsic and intrinsic factors.

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The intertidal zoning of cockles (Cerastoderma edule) in the Wadden Sea, or why cockle fishery disturbed areas of relatively high biodiversity

Cited by 9 publications

References 11 publications

Abundance, biomass and species richness of macrozoobenthos along an intertidal elevation gradient

Abundance, biomass and species richness of macrozoobenthos along an intertidal elevation gradient

Aquaculture potential of the basket cockle (Clinocardium nuttallii). Part 1: effects of stocking density on first year grow-out performance in intertidal and off-bottom suspended culture

Mass mortalities in bivalve populations: A review of the edible cockle Cerastoderma edule (L.)

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