Seed-sediment Dynamics: An experimental study into the behaviour of seagrass seeds in a sand mixture informing a novel approach for large scale seagrass restoration

<br/>In response to the sharp decline of seagrass globally, various restoration techniques have been developed and applied; many at limited scale and with limited success. This research focuses on the fluid mechanics and behaviour of seagrass seeds in a sand mixture through physical laboratory experiments. The objective is to establish a...

[Seaweed] Farm to Table: Designing with shells, seagrass and seaweed for the Dutch Building Industry

Probabilistic characterization of the vegetated hydrodynamic system using non-parametric bayesian networks

The increasing risk of flooding requires obtaining generalized knowledge for the implementation of distinct and innovative intervention strategies, such as nature-based solutions. Inclusion of ecosystems in flood risk management has proven to be an adaptive strategy that achieves multiple benefits. However, obtaining generalizable...

Aspects of environmental impacts of seawater desalination: Cyprus as a case study

Cyprus relies on seawater desalination for a large part of its drinking water supply, with reverse osmosis providing more than 95% of the total desalination capacity in the country. Nevertheless, the environmental impacts of desalination for the Cypriot environment remain poorly understood. Using a combination of mining existing governmental...

Tropical Biogeomorphic Seagrass Landscapes for Coastal Protection: Persistence and Wave Attenuation During Major Storms Events

The intensity of major storm events generated within the Atlantic Basin is projected to rise with the warming of the oceans, which is likely to exacerbate coastal erosion. Nature-based flood defence has been proposed as a sustainable and effective solution to protect coastlines. However, the ability of natural ecosystems to withstand major...

The potential of coastal ecosystems to mitigate the impact of sea-level rise in shallow tropical bays

Shallow tropical bays in the Caribbean, like Orient Bay and Galion Bay in Saint Martin, are often sheltered by coral reefs. In the relatively calm environment behind the reefs, seagrass meadows grow. Together, these ecosystems provide valuable ecosystem services like coastal protection, biodiversity hotspots, nursery grounds for animals and...

Biogeomorphic modelling of tropical sheltered bays: Assessment of the role of seagrass ecosystems in tropical sheltered bays in the Caribbean

Coastal bays in the Caribbean accommodate different marine ecosystems, including seagrass meadows and coral reefs, which provide important ecosystem services. However, these marine ecosystems are endangered. Seagrass ecosystems have a key role in coastal bays, but despite their alarming rates of loss, they receive little attention compared to...

Predicting the impact of sea-level rise in Baie Orientale and Baie de L'Embouchure, Saint Martin: Application of a hydrodynamic model including seagrass and coral reefs

Shallow bays in the Caribbean, like Baie Orientale and Baie de L'Embouchure in Saint Martin, are often sheltered by coral reefs and covered by seagrass meadows. They provide valuable services as tourism and coastal protection. The ecosystems are linked through biological, chemical and physical processes. But they are under pressure due to sea...

Quantifying Wave Attenuation by Nature-based Solutions in the Galveston Bay

The main objective of this thesis is to assess the effectiveness of Nature-based Solutions in reducing flood risk in the Galveston Bay by means of wave attenuation. The methodology to answer these questions consists of both literature review and numerical modelling. The wave height reducing capabilities of marsh vegetation, seagrass meadows and...

Macrophytes in estuarine gradients: Flow through flexible vegetation

Aquatic plants –or macrophytes- are an important part of coastal, estuarine and freshwater ecosystems worldwide, both from an ecological and an engineering viewpoint. Their meadows provide a wide range of ecosystem services: forming a physical protection of the shoreline, enhancing water quality and harbouring many other organisms. Unfortunately...

Modeling the interaction between flow and highly flexible aquatic vegetation

Aquatic vegetation has an important role in estuaries and rivers by acting as bed stabilizer, filter, food source and nursing area. However, macrophyte populations worldwide are under high anthropogenic pressure. Protection and restoration efforts will benefit from more insight into the interaction between vegetation, currents, waves and...

Measurements and modelling of the effects of seagrass meadows on flow and sediment transport in the Bay of l’Ecluse, Dinard, France

Seagrasses are a valuable but threatened part of coastal systems. To aid restoration attempts, a model has been made to study the effect of such flexible aquatic vegetation on flow and sediment transport. Because this model needs to be tested against field results, a field experiment was undertaken around an eelgrass meadow in Dinard, France....

How to account for flexible aquatic vegetation in large-scale morphodynamic models

Worldwide, aquatic vegetation is important for the physical and ecological condition of coastal areas. Unfortunately, this vegetation (e.g. seagrasses) is also under pressure due to human activities. Protection and restoration are cumbersome, particularly because the complex relations between vegetation and its environment are not yet well...

The effect of sediment transport on eelgrass development – and vice versa

By changing flow patterns and sediment transport, aquatic vegetation can affect the development of estuarine bed topography. Besides, since the sediment transport also determines the amount of light available for photosynthetic growth, the presence of vegetation can also affect its own development. This selfsupporting interaction should be taken...

Modelling hydrodynamics in Eelgrass (Zostera Marina)

In many areas around the world, there is a large interest in the protection and restoration of aquatic vegetation, like eelgrass (Zostera marina), but little is known about the interaction of such vegetation with its environment. To improve this knowledge, a model has been developed that simulates this interaction between highly flexible...

Studie naar het effect van verschillende peilalternatieven op de waterkwaliteit en ecologie van het Veerse Meer: MER peilbeheer Veerse Meer

The effects of shellfish fishery on the ecosystems of the Dutch Wadden Sea and Oosterschelde

This publication summarises the findings of the scientific research projects carried out as part of EVA II, the second phase in the evaluation of shellfish fisheries policy in the Zeeland Delta and the Wadden Sea, and relates these findings to other studies on the ecological effects of shellfish fisheries in the Wadden Sea and elsewhere. Four...

Een model voor de zeegrasgroei in het Grevelingenmeer: Verslag onderzoek