| Bfn Abiotic factors | |
|---|---|
| Context | Bfn Natural values of solid dikes |
| Type | Condition |
| Decompositie type | IOR |
Abiotic factors are the non-living parts of the environment, that can influence the growth and survival of species and species communities. The chemical and physical properties of revetments and their location determine abiotic factors, for example, inundation time, water salinity, water and air temperature, exposure to waves and currents, wave runup, substrate properties. Sediment concentration in water is an important abiotic factor for the development of the fouling community, as it determines scouring and feed availability. A natural variation of abiotic factors occurs due to varied large and small spatial scales and differing local conditions. For example, position of the revetment determines available sunlight for the animal and plant communities, and physical and chemical water quality can significantly deviate from water body to water body. Seasonal changes also induce temporal variations in abiotic actors. It must be noted, that abiotic factors can be influenced by changing the physical properties of revetments, for example inundation time can be increased or decreased by changing the exposure or slope of the dike.
Substrate roughness in sheltered and exposed locations
Experiments conducted in sheltered locations with eco-concrete, C-fix plates, X-blocks and C-star have shown that of roughness on a cm scale facilitates development of seaweed and mussel beds. In time, as the size and density of these beds grow, the impact of the actual small scale substrate roughness on seaweed and macrofaunal communities living in the beds decreases. Additionally, larger scale structures on a dm-m level may become crucial for the survival and stability of these communities as they can provide shelter from wave impact. In order to expand the surface area of intertidal habitats in sheltered locations, smoother surfaces with higher wave runup can be implemented.
Experiment with eco-concrete plates in exposed locations, where sessile organisms need to cope with more intense wave forces and currents, shows that substrate roughness on a mm-dm scale also improves development and settlement of seaweeds and mussels during spring, summer and autumn. In winter time, most of these organisms are ripped or scraped off by wave action. Therefore, small scale roughness remains very important at exposed locations even after initial colonization has taken place, as a large part of the sessile communities need to grow back each year. Structures, such a small pools, holes and crevices, can mitigate this effect, by providing shelter for the organisms, thus increasing the overall biomass and cover of seaweeds and macrofauna.
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| Onderdeel van | Bfn Solid dike revetments and natural values |
|---|---|
| Instantie van | |
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| Draagt bij aan | Bfn Ecological functions |
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| Komt van | Type | Connectie type | Conditie | Waarde | Opmerkingen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bfn Properties habitat | Refers | abiotic factors | |||
| Bfn Properties revetments | Refers | abiotic factors |
