Ecosystem Analysis - Primary production

Trophic relationship and food webs in the coastal zone Primary production in the Sylt-Rømø Wadden Sea

In the Sylt-Rømø Bay, primary production is measured in short term and long term series. About half and half of the gross primary production is contributed by microphytobenthos and phytoplankton. Seagrasses (Zostera noltii and Z. marina) add ca. 3% to the total amount. The light availability in this area is comparatively good because the turbidity is not as high as in areas with direct influence of great rivers. Productivity of phytoplankton has increased in the Sylt-Rømø Bay during the last two decades and is monitored in a running long term series.

Asmus H, Asmus RM (1993) Phytoplankton - mussel bed interactions in intertidal ecosystems. In: Dame RF (ed) Bivalve Filter Feeders in Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystem Processes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, p 57-84

Agatz M, Asmus RM, Deventer B (1999) Structural changes in the benthic diatom community along a eutrophication gradient on a tidal flat. Helgoland Mar. Res. 53:92-101

Asmus R, Jensen MH, Murphy D, Doerffer R (1998) Primary production of microphytobenthos, phytoplankton and the annual yield of macrophytic biomass in the Sylt-Römö Wadden Sea. In: Gätje C, Reise K (eds) Ökosystem Wattenmeer - Austausch-, Transport- und Stoffumwandlungsprozesse. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, p 367-391 

Asmus RM, Bauerfeind E (1994) The microphytobenthos of Königshafen - spatial and seasonal distribution on a sandy tidal flat. Helgol. Meeresunters. 48:257-276 

Asmus RM, Gätje C, de Jonge VN (1994) Mikrophytobenthos - lebende Oberflächenhaut des Wattbodens. In: Lozan JL, et al. (eds) Warnsignale aus dem Wattenmeer. Parey, Berlin, p 75-81