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List of all issues of the "Wadden Sea Ecosystem"
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is EUR 6 - 10 (excluding mailing costs).
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(Note: Please don't send orders in the
period July/August because of summer holidays)
|
Authors |
Title |
Volume |
Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, World
Heritage Nomination Project Group
Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 24 |
Nomination of the Dutch-German Wadden
Sea as World Heritage Site |
Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 24,
2008 |
|
Reineking, B and Südbeck,
P. (Eds.), Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 23 |
Seriously Declining Trends in Migratory
Waterbirds: Causes-Concerns-Consequences. Proceedings of the
International Workshop on 31 August 2006 in Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
(10 Euro) |
Wadden Sea
Ecosystem No. 23, 2007 |
|
Koffijberg, K., Dijksen, L., Hälterlein,
B., Laursen, K., Potel, P. and Südbeck,
P., Wadden Sea Ecosystem
No. 22 |
Breeding Birds in the Wadden Sea in 2001.
Results of the total survey in 2001 and trends in numbers between
1991 - 2001.
(10 Euro) |
Wadden Sea
Ecosystem No. 22, 2006 |
Trilateral Working Group on Coastal
Protection and Sea Level Rise (CPSL)
Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 21 |
Solutions for Sustainable Coastal
Protection in the Wadden Sea Region
(6 Euro)
|
Wadden Sea
Ecosystem No. 21, 2005 |
|
Blew, J. and Südbeck, P. (Eds.)Wadden
Sea Ecosystem No. 20 |
Migratory Waterbirds in the Wadden Sea
1980- 2000
(10 Euro) |
Wadden Sea
Ecosystem No. 20, 2005 |
|
K. Essink, C. Dettmann,
H. Farke, K. Laursen, G. Lüerßen, H. Marencic, W. Wiersinga
(Eds.)Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 19 |
Wadden
Sea Quality Status Report 2004 |
Wadden Sea
Ecosystem No. 19, 2005
(printed copies not available anymore) |
|
Peter H. Becker & Jacqueline Muñoz Cifuentes. |
Contaminants in Bird Eggs in the Wadden
Sea
Recent Spatial and Temporal Trends. Seabirds at Risk? Effects of
Environmental Chemicals on Reproductive Success and Mass Growth at
the Wadden Sea in the Mid 1990s. |
Wadden Sea Ecosystem
No. 18; 2004
(printed copies not available anymore) |
|
CWSS (publisher) |
Management of North Sea Harbour and
Grey Seal Populations.
Proceedings of the International Symposium at EcoMare, Texel,
November 29 - 30, 2003. |
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem
No. 17, 2003
|
|
Koffijberg, K., J. Blew, K. Eskildsen, K.
Günther, B. Koks, K. Laursen, L.M. Rasmussen, P. Potel, P. Südbeck. |
High Tide Roosts in the Wadden Sea
A Review of Bird Distribution,
Protection Regimes and Potential Sources of Anthropogenic Disturbance |
Wadden Sea Ecosystem
No. 16, 2003
|
|
Trilateral Seal Expert Group-plus |
Common
and Grey Seals in the Wadden Sea
TSEG-plus Report March/June 2001 |
Wadden Sea Ecosystem
No. 15, 2002
|
|
van Beusekom, J.E.E., H. Fock, F. de Jong,
S. Diehl-Christiansen, B. Christiansen |
Wadden Sea Specific
Eutrophication Criteria
|
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem
No. 14, 2001
|
|
Trilateral Working Group on Coastal
Protection and Sea Level Rise |
Coastal
Protection and Sea Level Rise.
Final Report of the CPSL Working Group |
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem
No. 13, 2001
|
|
Vollmer, M., Guldberg, M., Maluck, M.,
Marrewijk, D. & Schlicksbier, G. |
Landscape and Cultural
Heritage in the Wadden Sea Region
Final Project Report. |
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem
No. 12, 2001
(printed copies not available anymore)
|
|
Peter H. Becker, Jacqueline
Muñoz Cifuentes, Brigtte Behrends, Klaus R. Schmieder |
Contaminants in Bird Eggs in
the Wadden Sea
Spatial and Temporal
Trends 1991-2000 |
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem
No. 11, 2001
|
|
Lars Maltha Rasmussen, David
M. Fleet, Bernd Hälterlein, Ben J,. Koks, Petra Potel,
Peter Südbeck, |
Breeding
Birds in the Wadden Sea in 1996
Results of a
total survey in 1996 and of numbers of colony breeding species
between 1991 and 1996 |
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem
No. 10, 2000
(printed copies not available anymore) |
|
Folkert de Jong, Joop Bakker,
Kees van Berkel, Norbert Dankers, Karsten Dahl, Christiane Gätje,
Harald Marencic, Petra Potel |
Wadden
Sea Quality Status Report 1999 |
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem
No. 9, 1999
|
|
Stefan Thyen, Peter H. Becker,
Klaus-Michael Exo, Bernd Hälterlein, Hermann Hötker
& Peter Südbeck |
Monitoring
Breeding Success of Coastal Birds |
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem No.8, 1998
(page 7 - 57)
(no copies available anymore) |
|
Peter H. Becker, Stefan Thyen,
Susanne Mickstein, Ute Sommer & Klaus R. Schneider |
Monitoring
Pollutants in Coastal Bird Eggs in the Wadden Sea |
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem No.8, 1998
(page 59 - 101)
(printed version only) |
|
Joop Bakker, Norbert Dankers,
Folkert de Jong, Christiane Gätje, Torben Pedersen, Petra
Potel, Kees van Berkel |
Assessment
Report of the Wadden Sea Ecosystem. |
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem No.7, 1997
(printed version only) |
|
Marencic, H., J. Bakker, H.
Farke, C. Gätje, A. Kellermann, F. de Jong, K. Laursen,
T. Pedersen & J. de Vlas |
TMAP Expert Workshops
in 1995 / 1996.
The Trilateral Monitoring and
Assessment Program. |
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem No.6, 1996
(printed version only) |
|
Martin Poot, Lars Maltha Rasmussen,
Marc van Roomen, Hans-Ulrich Rösner & Peter Südbeck |
Migratory
Waterbirds in the Wadden Sea 1993/1994. |
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem No.5, 1996
(printed version only) |
|
Johannes Melter, Peter Südbeck,
David M. Fleet, Lars Maltha Rasmussen, Rob L. Vogel |
Breeding
Birds on Census Areas 1990 until 1994 |
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem No.4,1997
(page 7 - 93)
(printed version only) |
|
Jochen Dierschke |
Status
of Shorelark, Twite and Snow Bunting in the Wadden Sea |
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem No.4,1997
(page 95 - 114) |
|
Hälterlein, D., D.M. Fleet,
H.R. Henneberg, Th. Mennebaeck, L. M. Rasmussen, P. Suedbeck,
O. Thorup & R. L. Vogel |
Guidelines
for Monitoring of Breeding Birds in the Wadden Sea -Summary
(in Dutch,
German, Danish).
Anleitung
zur Brutbestandserfassung von Küstenvögeln im Wattenmeer (pdf, 960
kb) |
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem No.3, 1995
(printed version only, German
version also as pdf) |
|
Rösner, H.U., M. v. Roomen,
P. Suedbeck & L. M. Rasmussen |
Migratory
Waterbirds in the Wadden Sea 1992/93. |
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem No.2, 1994
(printed version only) |
|
Fleet, D. M., J. Frikke, P.
Suedbeck & R. L. Vogel |
Breeding
Birds in the Wadden Sea 1991. |
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem No.1,
1994
(printed version
only) |
Fleet, D. M., J. Frikke, P. Suedbeck & R. L. Vogel 1994.
Breeding Birds in the Wadden Sea 1991. Wadden Sea Ecosystem
No.1. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat & Trilateral Monitoring
and Assessment Group, Wilhelmshaven.
Abstract:
This is the first comprehensive report on the breeding bird population
of the Wadden Sea since the "Birds of the Wadden Sea"
was published by Smit and Wolff in 1981. In contrast to the latter
work, for the first time this report is based on the results
of a synchronous survey of the entire Wadden Sea region, which
are to be seen as a milestone in the history of the Wadden Sea.
The first complete survey of the entire Wadden Sea from Den Helder
to Esbjerg was carried out in 1991. The breeding bird populations
of all important habitats within and bordering the Wadden Sea
were surveyed. The survey covered the populations of all waders,
gulls and terns, the Great Cormorant, Eurasian Spoonbill, Hen
Harrier, Shelduck, Common Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, and
Short-eared Owl. The report includes distribution maps and information
on population sizes, habitat choice, population developments,
threats and protection.
For 22 bird species at least 1% of the NW-European population
breeds in the Wadden Sea and for 15 of these it holds 5-25% of
the NW-European breeding bird population. For some species the
Wadden Sea is highly important as a breeding area. Such species
include the Eurasian Spoonbill and the Avocet.
The Black-headed Gull, the Herring Gull, and the Oystercatcher
were the most common species counted in 1991. The species breeding
on beaches and primary dunes, Kentish Plover and Little Tern,
are especially threatened in the Wadden Sea. Their populations
have decreased drastically in recent years. Nevertheless, almost
half of the NW European population of Kentish Plovers breeds
in the Wadden Sea.
The Joint Monitoring Project for Breeding Birds in the Wadden
Sea, began in 1990 as part of the trilateral co-operation on
the protection of the Wadden Sea. It is an international project
that aims at monitoring population and distribution changes of
selected breeding bird species in the Danish-German-Dutch Wadden
Sea. It further aims at suppling policy-makers with a firm foundation
which to base Wadden Sea protection measures on.
Further
Info and Download (pdf)
Top of page
Roesner, H.U., M. v. Roomen, P. Suedbeck & L. M. Rasmussen
1994. Migratory Waterbirds in the Wadden Sea 1992/93. Wadden
Sea Ecosystem No.2. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat & Trilateral
Monitoring and Assessment Group, Wilhelmshaven.
Abstract:
This report is the first annual report about the joint monitoring
of migratory birds of the three Wadden Sea states. In 1991, the
work started with establishing a trilateral program similar to
the one of the trilateral monitoring project for breeding birds.
The migratory bird counts of the bird year 1992/93 (16 June 1992
to 15 June 1993) and the midwinter count of January 1992 are
presented in many diagrams and maps. The report follows directly
the publication "Number and Distribution of Waterbirds in
the Wadden Sea" by Meltofte et al. (1994), which evaluates
the international Wadden Sea bird counts of 1980 to 1991. This
report, which included the results of the counts in 1992/93 but
not a detailed evaluation of them, is a direct follow-up of the
comprehensive publication by Meltofte et al. (1994).
This report takes into account the results of 3 subprojects of
the Migratory Bird Project:
Midwinter counts are synchronous counts of all waterbird
species undertaken in the Wadden Sea each January since 1980.
This report presents the results of January 1992 and 1993 and
thus links up to the report of Meltofte et al. (1994). In 1992,
2.1 million and in 1993, 1.8 million birds were recorded in the
Wadden Sea. The most numerous species in both years was the Oystercatcher,
of which more than half a million individuals wintered in the
area. These midwinter counts are also compared with the older
counts since 1980 to present information on trends for some species.
For the Grey Plover and the Bar-tailed Godwit, the results were
compared with index-values of the respective wintering population
of the British coast to show the possibility and necessity of
comparisons on a larger geographical scale.
Goose counts are synchronous counts of typical Wadden
Sea goose species, which are done during their period of peak
occurrence. With 116,000 Barnacle Geese, on March 25, 1993, about
70 to 90 % of the Russian/Baltic population was present. With
232,000 individuals, on May 7, 1993, more than 90 % of the total
population of the Dark-bellied Brent Goose was present.
Spring tide counts are migratory bird counts which are
carried out through the whole year at selected counting sites.
If possible, the counts should take place at every spring tide
to get good and comparable counting conditions. The main aim
of these counts is to provide data for the calculation of population
indices and to receive reliable statements concerning the development
of bird populations in the Wadden Sea. This will, however, only
be possible after the project has run for a longer period. In
Schleswig-Holstein, these counts have been carried out since
1987, and therefore, a first evaluation has been made (Rösner
1994). A trend evaluation for the entire Wadden Sea was of course
impossible at the beginning of the counts. However, the counts
were used to present the seasonal development of numbers for
32 species of birds on the basis of 41 counting sites for the
study year. Large unexplained differences among these sites are
evident and will certainly stimulate further studies.
Top of page
Haelterlein, D., D.M. Fleet, H.R. Henneberg, Th. Mennebaeck,
L. M. Rasmussen, P. Suedbeck, O. Thorup & R. L. Vogel 1995.
Guidelines for Monitoring of Breeding Birds in the Wadden
Sea (in Dutch, German, Danish). Wadden Sea Ecosystem No.3.
Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment
Group & Joint Monitoring Group of Breeding Birds in the Wadden
Sea, Wilhelmshaven.
Abstract:
The synchronous counting of breeding bird populations in a large
area as the Wadden Sea requires a harmonized, simply and commonly
applicable monitoring method in order to make the results comparable
and to achieve an overall evaluation of the results for the different
regions. Moreover, the results of the countings of previous years
and decades must be comparable with recent surveys.
Since 1990, the "Joint Monitoring Program for Breeding Birds
in the Wadden Sea" has been performed in the whole Wadden
Sea. The first complete survey of the entire Wadden Sea from
Den Helder to Esbjerg was carried out in 1991. The breeding bird
populations of all important habitats within and bordering the
Wadden Sea were surveyed (published in the previous volume).
In the framework of this program, a working group with experts
from each country was installed in 1992. The group elaborated
draft guidelines which were critically revised based on the experience
during the field campaigns in 1993 and 1994. The results were
published in 1995 in this volume as trilateral guidelines to
be used by all participating organizations in their countings
of breeding birds.
Top of page
Wadden
Sea Ecosystem No.4.
Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment
Group, Joint Monitoring Groups of Breeding and Migratory Birds
in the Wadden Sea. 1997
Changes in Breeding Bird
Numbers on Census Areas in the Wadden Sea 1990 until 1994
by Johannes Melter, Peter Südbeck, David M. Fleet, Lars
Maltha Rasmussen & Rob L. Vogel
This contribution is the
third publication of the Joint Monitoring Program for Breeding
Birds in the Wadden Sea. It presents and discusses the results
of investigations on the population size and population trends
of birds breeding on a selection of study sites, so-called census
areas, within the Wadden Sea. The results confirm that the program
is a suitable instrument for monitoring the populations changes
of breeding birds and for combining breeding bird data with other
environ mental relevant parameters within the TAMP in order to
secure an extensive surveillance of the Wadden Sea eco system.
The Status of Shorelark
Eremophila alpestris,
Twite Carduelis
flavirostris and Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
in the Wadden Sea
by Jochen Dierschke
Additionally, a contribution
on the results of the study on coastal Passerines "The status
of Shorelark, Twite and Snow Bunting in the Wadden Sea"
which was carried out in 1995/96 under the responsibility of
the Joint Monitoring Group of Migratory Birds in the Wadden Sea,
is enclosed in this issue. This status report, in which all available
data on the status, phenology and population trends of the three
main coastal Passerines in the Wadden Sea are collected and assessed,
will be an important basis for the establishment of a regular
monitoring program for these species which spend the winter in
the Wadden Sea.
Top
of page
Martin Poot, Lars Maltha Rasmussen, Marc van Roomen, Hans-Ulrich
Rösner & Peter Südbeck, 1996: Migratory Waterbirds
in the Wadden Sea 1993/1994. Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 5. Common
Wadden Sea Secretariat, Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment
Group & Joint Monitoring Group of Migratory Birds in the
Wadden Sea, Wilhelmshaven.
This is the second report of the Joint Monitoring Project on
Migratory Birds in the Wadden Sea. Results are presented from
the midwinter count of January 1994, Goose counts in Mach and
May 1994 and frequent counts at selected sites (STC-sites) from
the season 1993/1994. The results of the January count are compared
with the results for the period 1980-1093 and the results of
the STC-sites are compared with the results from 1992/1993.
Almost 2.5 million waterbirds of selected species were estimated
to be present in the Wadden Sea during the midwinter count
in January 1994. The relatively mild weather in winter 1993/94
is thought to be the main reason fo this relatively high number
in comparison to 1993.
During the Goose count in March, 162,502 Barnacle Geese
were counted. This increase in comparison to previous counts
is related to the ongoing increase of the Baltic and Russian
population. The same appears for the Brent Goose, of which 259,785
were counted in May 1994. This is the highest number ever counted
simultaneously in the Wadden Sea.
Top of page
Marencic, H., J. Bakker, H. Farke, C. Gätje,
A. Kellermann, F. de Jong, K. Laursen, T. Pedersen, J. de Vlas
1996 . The Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Program. TMAP
Expert Workshops in 1995 / 1996. Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 6.
Common Wadden Sea Secretariat & Trilateral Monitoring and
Assessment Group,
Wilhelmshaven.
Abstract:
For the development of the monitoring methodology, six trilateral
expert workshops were organized by the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (TMAG) and the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS). Between 15
and 25 experts (scientists and managers) from all three Wadden
Sea states participated in each workshop:
- Methods in monitoring chemical
substances (29 - 30 March 1995, Geesthacht, FRG)
- Salt marshes/Geomorphology/Recreational
Activities (13 - 14 June 1995, Ribe, DK)
- Benthos/Fish (21 - 23 June
1995, Wilhelmshaven, FRG)
- Chemical substances (31
October -2 November 1995, Groningen, NL)
- Eutrophication (14 - 16
November 1995, Tönning, FRG)
- Decomposition (17 January
1996, Hamburg, FRG)
During the workshops, all
TMAP parameters were discussed and recommendations were made
for a common monitoring strategy (monitoring areas, frequencies,
methods). However, for a number of parameters, it became obvious
that additional work was needed either because of the lack of
common guidelines which could be used in the Wadden Sea, or because
further research was needed before implementing these parameters
in a monitoring program.
Top of page
Joop
Bakker, Norbert Dankers, Folkert de Jong, Christiane Gätje,
Torben Pedersen, Petra Potel, Kees van Berkel 1997: Assessment
Report of the Wadden Sea Ecosystem. Wadden Sea Ecosystem No.
7. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, Trilateral Monitoring and
Assessment Group, Trilateral Quality Status Group, Wilhelmshaven.
On the occasion of the 8th
Trilateral Governmental Wadden Sea Conference, Stade, Germany,
22 October 1997, an assessment of the status of the Wadden Sea
ecosystem was published.
The report is based upon
material, contributed by a large number of experts in the past
two years. These contributions will be published in the second
half of 1998.
The Report is structured
according to the habitats as defined at the 7th Trilateral Governmental
Wadden Sea Conference, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands, 1994. It
concerns the tidal area, the salt marshes, the estuaries, the
beaches and dunes and the North Sea offshore zone. Each of these
chapters starts with a definition of the habitat and the relevant
ecological targets. A separate chapter on birds and seals was
added because these species groups use more than one habitat.
The habitat type 'rural area' is addressed in this chapter as
well. The report starts with a chapter on the quality of water,
sediment and biota.
The actual assessment focuses
on the status of the ecotargets.
In the last chapter the main
issues of concern, identified in the 1993 Quality Status Report,
are re-evaluated on the basis of new knowledge and insights.
The Assessment Report is
also published online.
Top
of page
Stefan
Thyen, Peter H. Becker, Klaus-Michael Exo, Bernd Hälterlein,
Hermann Hötker & Peter Südbeck, 1998. Monitoring
Breeding Success of Coastal Birds. Final Report of the Pilot
Study 1996 - 1997. Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 8. Common Wadden
Sea Secretariat, Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Group &
Joint Monitoring Group of Breeding Birds in the Wadden Sea, Wilhelmshaven.,
page 7 - 55
Abstract
In the framework of the TMAP,
pilot studies concerning the monitoring of breeding success of
coastal birds in the Wadden Sea were carried out in 1996 and
1997. The objective of the pilot study ws to evalutate the applicability
of a methodological concept (developed in 1992 - 1994) and the
assess the value of the recorded data generally for the Wadden
Sea conservation and, especially, for the future integration
of the parameters of breeding success into the TMAP.Studies were
carried out on the target species Herring Gull (Larus argentatus),
Black-headed Gull (L. ridibundus), Common Tern (Sterna hirunda),
Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), and Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta).
Both, hatching success and
breeding success varied in three different ways. Except for a
few cases, the colonial species achieved higher hatching suc-cess
than the territorial Oystercatcher. Usually, higher hatching
success was found at breeding places lo-cated on islands than
at those located on the mainland. Except for the Herring Gull
colo-nies at all sites, the Black-headed Gulls on Langeoog, and
the Com-mon Terns on Min-sener Oog, hatching success always was
higher in 1997 than in 1996, mostly caused by a decrease in predation.
Breeding success fluctuated similarly but only in Black-headed
Gulls and in Avocets, a different breeding suc-cess was found
between years. Both spe-cies bred more successful in 1997 than
in 1996.
Due to methodological reasons, the development of chicks was
only ob-served exactly in the three larid species. Especially
in the case of Black-headed Gulls, increased chick mortality
was found in 1996 but not in 1997. In contrast, in nearly all
species, study sites, and year's maxima of chick mor-tality were
found in the middle of June and towards the end of June, respectively.
Whereas the growth pattern of Herring Gull chicks was similar
at all regions and in both years, Black-headed Gull nestlings
grew with lower rates and without any regional differ-ences in
1996 than in 1997. More than two-week-old Common Tern chicks
at Min-sener Oog were lighter in 1996 than in 1997.
Body mass development of
the young indicate that there was an interyear varying food supply.
A reduced benthic food supply in 1996 in comparison to 1997 is
discussed which could have caused lower hatch-ing and breeding
success of Black-headed Gulls, Avocets, and Oystercatchers. As
a possible reason for the assumed shortage of benthic food in
1996, the 'ice-winter' in 1995/1996 is discussed. Fur-thermore,
possible connections between the weather and the mortality of
all larid chicks are dis-cussed as well as influences of the
availability of young fish in the North Sea on the growth of
Common Terns in 1996.
The following items are concluded
from the practical experiences and results achieved during the
pilot study:
1. The method is well applicable and yields exact results concerning
the breeding biology and the annual avian reproductivity.
2. Monitoring breeding success is able to supervise the state
of the marine environment of coastal birds and also of the Wadden
Sea as a whole. Therefore, monitoring breeding success is to
establish as an essential part of the TMAP.
3. Monitoring breeding success can be used as an 'early warning
system' for negative changes in birds´ population sizes.
An effective conservation of the coastal avifauna only seems
to be guaranteed by establishing a long-term project and by conducting
the program in connection with monitoring population size and monitoring chemicals in seabirds.
4. The program is suited to determine 'natural breeding success'
of birds and to measure natural and anthropogenic deviations.
Thus, monitoring breeding success is not only a very useful,
but even an essential tool to achieve the trilaterally adopted
'Ecological Targets'.
The study was carried out in the German part of the Wadden Sea
and was financed by the "Bundesamt für Naturschutz"
(Bonn, Germany) and by the Federal States of Schleswig-Holstein
and Niedersachsen.
Top
of page
Peter
H. Becker, Stefan Thyen, Susanne Mickstein, Ute Sommer &
Klaus R. Schneider, 1998. Monitoring Pollutants in Coastal
Bird Eggs in the Wadden Sea. Final Report of the Pilot Study
1996 - 1997. Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 8. Common Wadden Sea
Secretariat, Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Group &
Joint Monitoring Group of Breeding Birds in the Wadden Sea, Wilhelmshaven.,
page 59 - 101
Abstract
To get practical experience
with the parameter "Monitoring of Pollutants in Coastal
Bird Eggs" of the Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Program
(TMAP), investigations concerning pollutant residues in bird
eggs were carried out during a two-year pilot study on the Wadden
Sea coast. In 1996 and 1997, residues of the organochlorines
PCBs, DDT and metabolites, HCB, and HCHs and of the heavy metal
mercury were analysed in Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) and Oystercatcher
(Haematopus ostralegus) eggs according to methods tested during
previous years. To cover as extensive a part of the Wadden Sea
as possible, the eggs were collected along the entire Dutch and
German North Sea coast.
Depending on species, breeding
site, and year, the results indicate varying concentrations of
pollutants in eggs. Altogether, Common Tern eggs were mostly
more highly contaminated by the investigated chemicals than Oystercatcher
eggs which is explained by different feeding, breeding, and migration
behavior. In general, eggs from breeding sites in the inner
German Bight (Elbe estuary and Trischen in Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein,
respectively) were contaminated on much higher levels than those
collected at western and northern breeding sites of the Wadden
Sea area indicating the high importance of the Elbe as input
source of the studied industrial chemicals and pesticides. Considerable
contamination especially by PCBs and g-HCH (Lindane) was also
ascertained on Griend, the Netherlands, suggesting that the Wadden
Sea ecosystem is also influenced by pollutant loads from the
river Rhine. Elevated PCB concentrations found in 1997 in Oystercatcher
eggs from the German part of the Dollard (on average 1055 ng/g
fresh weight of egg content) indicate recent discharges of PCBs
within the catchment area of the river Ems.
Because monitoring of pollutants
in coastal bird eggs has been carried out in Germany since 1981
and continued each year since 1986 by the Institut für Vogelforschung,
Wilhelmshaven and co-operating laboratories, long-term trends
could be calculated. At most study sites, the results reveal
decreasing residues of mercury and most organochlorines. However,
constant or increasing Lindane concentrations were found at the
Oystercatcher breeding sites. These results and their probable
causes are assessed taking into account the "Ecological
Targets" of the Trilateral Co-operation on the Protection
of the Wadden Sea Ecosystem. Most results are favourable in view
of Wadden Sea pollution. However, some circumstances still hinder
or prevent the full achievement of the ecotargets (for example
recent discharges of pesticides and even prohibited industrial
chemicals, persistence of the pollutants). Just these problems
are discussed and need further investigations and protection
efforts, as well as the implementation of the TMAP in general
and the monitoring of pollutants in coastal bird eggs in particular.
Furthermore, the results of the pilot project qualify chemical
monitoring of coastal birds representing high trophic levels
as a very meaningful and important tool for the assessment of
the state of the Wadden Sea ecosystem and, therefore, for the
Wadden Sea conservation. Gaps in the TMAP are addressed leading
to the explicit recommendation of the additional implementation
of the parameter "breeding success of coastal birds"
as soon as possible to enable the assessment of effects of chemicals
on the bird populations. Furthermore, the extension of the project
area to the Danish part of the Wadden Sea and to the Rhine delta
in the Netherlands is proposed
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Folkert
de Jong, Joop Bakker, Kees van Berkel, Norbert Dankers, Karsten
Dahl, Christiane Gätje, Harald Marencic, Petra Potel, 1999.
Wadden Sea Quality Status Report 1999. Wadden Sea Ecosystem
No. 9. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, Trilateral Monitoring
and Assessment Group, Trilateral Quality Status Group,Wilhelmshaven.
One of the basic aims of
the Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Program (TMAP) is the
scientific assessment of the status of the Wadden Sea ecosystem.
To this end the Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Group (TMAG)
must, amongst others ”describe and evaluate the current
status of the Wadden Sea, including the identified changes in
this status and the possible causes thereof” and ”evaluate
the status reached in the implementation of the ecological targets”.
In 1995 the Trilateral Working Group commissioned TMAG to start
the process of drafting a new QSR. The 1999 Wadden Sea Quality
Status Report was prepared under the responsibility of the Trilateral
Quality Status Report Group (QSR-Group), an ad-hoc sub-group
of the TMAG.
The Report consists of five
chapters containing basic information and a final chapter in
which this information is evaluated and used for the assessment
of the status of implementation of the trilateral Targets.
Chapter 1 contains an overview of the main national and international
regulations in the Wadden Sea Area. It should be noted that,
during the finalization of the manuscript, a new National Park
Law was adopted by the Schleswig-Holstein Government. The main
elements of the new Law have been included in chapter 1, but
could not be taken into consideration in chapters 2 and 5.
In chapter 2 a comprehensive overview is presented of human activities
in the Wadden Sea Area.
Chapter 3 addresses climate change and is divided into a part
about changes in storminess and water level and a part about
effects of changes in temperature.
In Chapter 4 data on inputs and concentrations of nutrients,
heavy metals, selected organochlorines and oil are evaluated,
generally for the period 1985-1996.
Chapter 5 deals with biological features. In the first part of
this chapter species and communities are addressed and in the
second part the typical Wadden Sea habitats.
The material presented in chapters 1 to 5 was contributed by
a large number of experts from government institutes, universities
and consultancies.
The assessment chapter 6 was drafted by the QSR Group on the
basis of the expert information from chapters 1 to 5. In 1997
already a preliminary assessment had been published on the occasion
of the 8th Trilateral Governmental Wadden Sea Conference in Stade,
Germany. On the basis of comments received and new data, an updated
assessment was prepared.
Although chapter 6 has been drafted under the responsibility
of the trilateral Quality Status Report Group and the Trilateral
Monitoring and Assessment Group, the main conclusions reflect
the opinions of the individual contributors.
Chapter 6 is intended as a starting point for discussions with
experts, policy makers and managers in the run-up to the 9th
Trilateral Wadden Sea Conference. It will become clear in these
discussions to what extent further specification or generalization
will be necessary.
Further
Info and Download (pdf)
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Lars
Maltha Rasmussen, David M. Fleet, Bernd Hälterlein, Ben
J,. Koks, Petra Potel, Peter Südbeck, 2000. Breeding
Birds in the Wadden Sea in 1996. Results of a total survey in
1996 and of numbers of colony breeding species between 1991 and
1996. Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 10. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat,
Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Group, Joint Monitoring
Group of Breeding Birds in the Wadden Sea,
Wilhelmshaven.
(printed copies not available anymore)
Summary
This report on "Breeding
Birds in the Wadden Sea in 1996" is the sixth publication
of the Joint Monitoring Program for Breeding Birds in the Wadden
Sea under the framework of the overall Trilateral Monitoring
and Assessment Program (TMAP).
The results of the second total survey of breeding birds throughout
the entire Wadden Sea from 1996 are presented and compared with
the first complete count in 1991 (Fleet et al. 1994). Moreover,
for the colony nesting species, changes in distribution and abundance
are given on an annual basis for the period 1991-1996. The species
accounts focus especially on the most important factors affecting
population trends.
The report covers 31 typical
breeding bird species, which inhabit coastal habitats, including
all waders, gulls and terns, Great Cormorant, Eurasian Spoonbill,
Hen Harrier, Shelduck, Common Eider, Red-breasted Merganser and
Short-eared Owl. The results are presented with distribution
maps of the species in 1996, trends in overall numbers and information
on habitat choice, distribution, population size and changes.
New trilateral guidelines for monitoring the populations involved
have been implemented since 1995 (Hälterlein et al. 1995).
These have improved the quality of the data that are collected
under the program.
The report confirms the outstanding
significance of the breeding bird fauna of the Wadden Sea. The
Wadden Sea is of great importance for a number of coastal species
supporting large proportions of the Northwestern Europe breeding
populations. More than 50% of the northwest European population
of Gull-billed Tern, Eurasian Spoonbill and Avocet breed in the
Wadden Sea (Appendix C).
The population trends for most species of gulls in the period
1991 to 1996 were stable or increasing. The population of Lesser
Black-backed Gull increased 115% in the six-year period and the
population of Herring Gull was markedly reduced in the western
Wadden Sea. It is suggested that the fisheries in the southern
North Sea affect the relative abundance of the two species.
For some colony breeding
species, the data presented in this report show that exchange
of breeding individuals takes place to a large extent across
borders and even with populations outside the Wadden Sea. It
emphasizes that co-ordinated monitoring is necessary to explain
changes in abundance of shared bird populations. The case of
the Sandwich Tern demonstrates clearly that both short and long-term
changes can only be understood if all colonies in the Wadden
Sea are monitored annually. For some other species, it seems
that decreases in some regions are compensated for by increases
elsewhere. Black-headed Gull and Common Tern showed opposite
trends in Niedersachsen and, large regional changes in the western
Wadden Sea. The Wadden Sea population of both species remained
stable over the period 1991-1996.
The data emphasize that the
breeding bird populations represent a commonly shared resource
that needs common protection. For several breeding populations,
it is of crucial importance that appropriate protection measures
are undertaken to maintain their natural distribution and favorable
breeding success. For several species, protection measures could
improve breeding conditions. The population of Little Tern increased
for the first time in decades, possibly in response to better
protection, although numbers breeding, especially in the western
Wadden Sea, might remain very low due to lack of disturbance-free
areas on beaches. Kentish Plover continued to decline due to
loss of appropriate breeding sites through vegetation development
in recently embanked areas, and lack of suitable alternative
breeding habitats on the beaches exploited by tourists.
Two groups of non-colony
breeding wader species can be identified showing opposite trends.
Species that use mudflats as feeding habitat, such as Common
Redshank and Oystercatcher, are generally stable or increasing,
whereas most species dependent on terrestrial feeding in habitats
with traditional farming practices, such as Ruff and Dunlin,
are declining. The population of Oystercatcher in the Dutch Wadden
Sea is declining in contrast to the rest of the Wadden Sea, a
feature thought to be the result of over-exploitation of mussels.
For the populations of Ruff and Dunlin, the declines are alarming,
and protection measures are necessary to prevent the Dunlin and
Ruff from becoming extinct as breeding birds in the Wadden Sea.
For other wader species,
breeding in agricultural areas, like Northern Lapwing and Black-tailed
Godwit, the Wadden Sea is of increasing importance. Inland populations
have widely disappeared following intensification of farmland,
and the larger, protected coastal wetlands and meadows now represent
the last retreats. In The Netherlands, however, the inland meadows
are still of much greater importance for Northern Lapwing and
Black-tailed Godwit.
The Common Redshank has shown
a remarkable increase in areas in Niedersachsen and Schleswig-Holstein
where grazing has been reduced or stopped over large areas. In
contrast, declines were reported from the Dutch Dollard area,
where intensive grazing led to decreasing numbers.
So far, protection of the
Wadden Sea has mainly focused on the marine habitats, such as
tidal and intertidal areas, beaches and salt marshes, but the
protection of terrestrial habitats, such as wet dunes, brackish
meadows and permanent grassland in polders, clearly needs more
attention. The development of the newly reclaimed areas shows
that nature management behind the dikes cannot compensate for
the loss of salt marshes and mudflats. Through intensive nature
management, it is possible to improve conditions for some meadow
bird species and roosting conditions for birds in the wetland
areas in polders and behind the dikes. Nature restoration behind
the dikes (by re-establishing high and varying water tables,
permanent grasslands and swamps) could compensate for the loss
of breeding habitat in the former transition zone between the
Wadden Sea and the terrestrial habitats.
To be able to better understand
the distribution patterns and trends of breeding birds in the
Wadden Sea, it will be necessary to combine this information
with the results of the future monitoring of a number of parameters,
such as fishery, farming practice, tourism, habitat distributions,
pollutants in birds eggs etc.. Knowledge about breeding success
and mortality is also essential in order to understand the dynamics
of individual species in the ecosystem and to be able to explain
the observed trends, although data are still lacking for most
species. The implementation of the breeding success program under
the TMAP (Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Program) is necessary
to reach this goal.
This report proves a sound basis of ecological data relating
to breeding birds in the Wadden Sea upon which to base conservation
priorities and actions in the area. Monitoring is only possible
through the help of many volunteers and the co-ordination of
all efforts on the national and trilateral levels. This monitoring
continues to provide an early warning system and a mechanism
for evaluation of the nature conservation actions and achievements
in the Wadden Sea.
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Becker, P.H., J.
Muñoz Cifuentes, B. Behrends, K.R. Schmieder, 2001.
Contaminants in Bird Eggs in the Wadden
Sea. Temporal and spatial trends 1991 - 2000. Wadden Sea
Ecosystem No. 11. Common Wadden Sea
Secretariat, Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Group,
Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
After the pilot study in 1996
and 1997, the parameter "Contaminants in Bird Eggs" was
fully and successfully implemented within the Trilateral Monitoring
and Assessment Program (TMAP) in 1998. Since 1999, the entire Wadden
Sea from Balgzand in the western Dutch Wadden Sea to Langli in the
Danish northern Wadden Sea has been covered by 13 sampling sites to
monitor spatial and temporal trends in contamination of coastal birds.
Residues of the heavy metal mercury and of the organochlorines PCBs,
DDT and metabolites, HCB, HCH isomers and chlordanes (trans-chlordan,
cis-chlordan, trans-nonachlor, and cis-nonachlor) were analyzed in
Common Tern Sterna hirundo and Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
eggs. Sampling and analyses were carried out according to standardized
methods and guidelines (JAMP, OSPAR) tested successfully in previous
years. The parameter profits from similar former studies in the German
Wadden Sea back to 1981, now allowing the analysis of time trends over
two decades (1981 – 2000). Main focus of the report is the spatial
pattern of the recent contamination in 2000 covering the entire Wadden
Sea and the temporal trend during the last decade.
Interspecific
variation
Common Tern eggs were higher
contaminated by the analyzed chemicals than Oystercatcher eggs, with
the exception of chlordanes. The differences between the species in
accumulation of these substances depend on the environmental
contaminants’ load, and are explained by different feeding
strategies, breeding and migration behavior.
Geographical trends
Discriminant analyses clearly
separate the breeding sites by the given concentrations of all
chemicals in the mixture within the eggs. Spatial trends were more
distinct in the Common Tern. In general, eggs from breeding sites at
the inner German Bight (Elbe estuary and Trischen) were contaminated
on much higher levels (about 3 – 20 fold in the Common Tern) than
those collected at western and northern breeding sites of the Wadden
Sea indicating the lasting high importance of the Elbe as input source
of environmental chemicals. The geographical differences in PCBs’
levels were linked also with changes in the proportions of PCB
congeners of high and low degrees of chlorination, as well as in the
most toxic non-, mono- and di-ortho PCBs. In the Oystercatcher,
however, highest PCB, HCB and chlordane levels in eggs were found in
the western part of the Wadden Sea, at the Julianapolder and Dollard,
indicating recent discharges or high local loads originating from
former years.
Temporal trends
At most study sites, the temporal
trends from 1991 – 2000 revealed decreasing residues of mercury and
organochlorines, though some increases have been recorded (e.g. Elbe
estuary). The proportion of low chlorinated congeners within the
PCB-mixture decreased during the last decade indicating an advancing
metabolization. When considering both last decades (since 1981) the
strongest drops in the eggs’ contamination occurred during the late
1980s and early 1990s.
Target assessment
The results are discussed and
assessed with respect to the Targets of the Wadden Sea Plan. Most
results and developments are favorable in view of the state of Wadden
Sea pollution, which was clearly reduced during the last two decades.
So far critical levels are known, an impairment of breeding success by
the recent levels of the toxicants seems no longer likely. However,
there are some recent local problems of discharges or of persistence
of contaminants prohibited long time ago, which need further efforts
of environmental protection, monitoring and investigations.
Bird eggs as
indicators of contamination
The results emphasize the
advantages that eggs of coastal birds have in monitoring the pollution
state of the Wadden Sea. Consequently, the endorsement to install the
parameter has been justified by the experiences during the first years
of the monitoring after its implementation. "Contaminants in
Coastal Bird Eggs" has proved to be a very valuable, reliable,
feasible and logistically favorable instrument to monitor the
contamination of the Wadden Sea. As top predators the two bird species
integrate the chemical pollution of different trophic levels.
Recommendations and
gaps in monitoring
Considering the fact of still high
local contamination, the policies to reduce the application of
xenobiotic hazardous substances in the framework of OSPAR, the North
Sea Conferences and the EU should be intensified. With respect to the
monitoring we recommend:
1. to meet the requirement to
distinguish short-term fluctuations from time trends, a long-term
disposition of the parameter is advised;
2. some "new"
chemicals to date not studied in birds should be considered (e.g.
TBT, polybrominated biphenyls, bromocyclen or musk xylol);
3. an additional sampling site
at the delta of the Rhine influencing the Wadden Sea by its
contaminants’ loads should be included;
4. to implement the parameter
"Breeding Success of Coastal Birds", using birds as
sensitive indicators of environmental change including chemical
pollution. This instrument should be established as a valuable
supplement to "Contaminants in Bird Eggs" and to the three
other TMAP parameters utilizing birds to monitor the ecological
state of the Wadden Sea.
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