Disclaimer:
The authors are solely responsible for the content of this report. Material included herein does not represent the opinion of the European Community, and the European Community is not responsible for any use that might be made of it.
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According to KÜFOG 2010, the project area is characterized by diverse vegetation communities which were able to develop because of the different site specific conditions and agricultural use in part areas (Figure 6). Around the tidal polder, typical floodplain vegetation with reeds, ruderal vegetation and wood developed on the areas left to natural succession (Figure 4). In these areas, no maintenance and development measures are currently necessary.
Due to deposition of fine sediments, the tidal polder is affected by siltation. The need for partial dredging could not be investigated in the frame of the vegetation monitoring.
As recommended by MORITZ (2005), mowing of grassland areas should be continued to the benefit of species rich grassland development. Mowing should be favored over grazing.
The growth of grasslands indicates a sufficient amount of nutrients in the ground. The entry of nutrients takes place via episodical flooding. An additional application of fertilizer to the grassland is detrimental. For example, the grassland vegetation adjacent to the dike grew up high due to fertilizer application before the first mowing took place in 2010. This was connected with negative effects on the vegetation stock. In addition, the geographical position of the project area within the river flood plain has to be considered. In case of flood events, fertilizer could get into river.
Birds
Already during the construction phase, water and wading birds like Common snipe (Gallinago gallinago), Dunlin (Calidris alpina), Common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) and Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) took over the small waters appearing in the excavation pit. Numerous seagulls, ducks and geese used the new shallow water zone as resting place. The resting and migrant bird populations on the Kleinensieler Plate were considered as important for the federal state of Lower Saxony in terms of Goosander (Mergus merganser), Common teal (Anas crecca), Eurasian widgeon (Anas penelope), Gadwall (Anas strepera), Common gull (Larus canus canus) and Smew (Mergellus albellus) and as regionally important in view of Common snipe (Gallinago gallinago), Graylag goose (Anser anser) and Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula).
According to KÜFOG 2010, the Kleinensieler Plate became less important in view of grassland breeders during the previous years for site specific and supra-regional reasons. The attractiveness of grassland areas before and during breeding time could by increased by creating shallow water areas. In addition, small scale structure diversity could be improved by introducing extensive grazing. Also important is low vegetation at the beginning of breeding time.
In contrast to breeding bird development, wood and reed breeders find suitable habitats in the shore region of the shallow water zone which also attract demanding and endangered species. Due to the occurrence of numerous breeding pairs of endangered species, the project area represents a breeding bird site of importance for the federal state of Lower Saxony (MORITZ 2005).
During the last years, the attractiveness of shallow water areas and silted up mud areas for migratory birds increased. Different coastal birds used these areas for resting and feeding purposes.
Aquatic fauna
After measure implementation, the waters were immediately settled by numerous animal species of the brackish water zone. The shallow water zone is of special importance for zooplankton, vagile epifauna (e.g. opossum shrimps (Mysida) and juvenile migratory fish (flounders, gobies). The settlement of the water bed was less pronounced. Probably, the suspended matter entering the project area is too soft to be settled (UNIVERSITÄT BREMEN 2003).
After maintaining the shallow water zone and heightening two overflow barriers in 2005, the entry of suspended matter decreased significantly and sediments stabilized. Thus, the population densities in sediment developed positively. The importance of the shallow water zone for zooplankton and vagile epifauna could be confirmed.
Compared to juvenile flounders of the lower Weser, juvenile flounders using the shallow water zone as feeding ground showed significantly better filled stomachs. This finding points out the special importance of shallow water zones for the nutrition of flounders (Figure 9).
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Kleinensieler Plate
Table of content
- 1. Measure description
- 1a. Measure description
- 1b. Monitoring
- 1c. Monitoring results
- 2. Execution of main effectiveness criteria
- 2a. Effectiveness according to development targets of measure
- 2b. Impact on ecosystem services
- 2c. Degree of synergistic effects and conflicts according to uses
- 3. Additional evaluation criteria in view of EU environmental law
- 3a. Degree of synergistic effects and conflicts according to WFD aims
- 3b. Degree of synergistic effects according to Natura 2000 aims
- 4. Crux of the matter
- 5. Literature
Additional information
for this measure:
No further information available.
for this measure:
No further information available.
Monitoring results
VegetationAccording to KÜFOG 2010, the project area is characterized by diverse vegetation communities which were able to develop because of the different site specific conditions and agricultural use in part areas (Figure 6). Around the tidal polder, typical floodplain vegetation with reeds, ruderal vegetation and wood developed on the areas left to natural succession (Figure 4). In these areas, no maintenance and development measures are currently necessary.
Due to deposition of fine sediments, the tidal polder is affected by siltation. The need for partial dredging could not be investigated in the frame of the vegetation monitoring.
As recommended by MORITZ (2005), mowing of grassland areas should be continued to the benefit of species rich grassland development. Mowing should be favored over grazing.
The growth of grasslands indicates a sufficient amount of nutrients in the ground. The entry of nutrients takes place via episodical flooding. An additional application of fertilizer to the grassland is detrimental. For example, the grassland vegetation adjacent to the dike grew up high due to fertilizer application before the first mowing took place in 2010. This was connected with negative effects on the vegetation stock. In addition, the geographical position of the project area within the river flood plain has to be considered. In case of flood events, fertilizer could get into river.
Birds
Already during the construction phase, water and wading birds like Common snipe (Gallinago gallinago), Dunlin (Calidris alpina), Common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) and Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) took over the small waters appearing in the excavation pit. Numerous seagulls, ducks and geese used the new shallow water zone as resting place. The resting and migrant bird populations on the Kleinensieler Plate were considered as important for the federal state of Lower Saxony in terms of Goosander (Mergus merganser), Common teal (Anas crecca), Eurasian widgeon (Anas penelope), Gadwall (Anas strepera), Common gull (Larus canus canus) and Smew (Mergellus albellus) and as regionally important in view of Common snipe (Gallinago gallinago), Graylag goose (Anser anser) and Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula).
According to KÜFOG 2010, the Kleinensieler Plate became less important in view of grassland breeders during the previous years for site specific and supra-regional reasons. The attractiveness of grassland areas before and during breeding time could by increased by creating shallow water areas. In addition, small scale structure diversity could be improved by introducing extensive grazing. Also important is low vegetation at the beginning of breeding time.
In contrast to breeding bird development, wood and reed breeders find suitable habitats in the shore region of the shallow water zone which also attract demanding and endangered species. Due to the occurrence of numerous breeding pairs of endangered species, the project area represents a breeding bird site of importance for the federal state of Lower Saxony (MORITZ 2005).
During the last years, the attractiveness of shallow water areas and silted up mud areas for migratory birds increased. Different coastal birds used these areas for resting and feeding purposes.
Aquatic fauna
After measure implementation, the waters were immediately settled by numerous animal species of the brackish water zone. The shallow water zone is of special importance for zooplankton, vagile epifauna (e.g. opossum shrimps (Mysida) and juvenile migratory fish (flounders, gobies). The settlement of the water bed was less pronounced. Probably, the suspended matter entering the project area is too soft to be settled (UNIVERSITÄT BREMEN 2003).
After maintaining the shallow water zone and heightening two overflow barriers in 2005, the entry of suspended matter decreased significantly and sediments stabilized. Thus, the population densities in sediment developed positively. The importance of the shallow water zone for zooplankton and vagile epifauna could be confirmed.
Compared to juvenile flounders of the lower Weser, juvenile flounders using the shallow water zone as feeding ground showed significantly better filled stomachs. This finding points out the special importance of shallow water zones for the nutrition of flounders (Figure 9).
