Where and why do creeks evolve on fringing and bare tidal flats?

Although tidal flats appear homogeneous from a distance, morphological variations are found on various spatial scales. These are driven by physical and/or biological processes. In this paper, we consider the creeks that are present on fringing tidal flats and which are orientated approximately perpendicular to the main channel. To explain why...

Linking the morphology and ecology of subtidal soft-bottom marine benthic habitats: A novel multiscale approach

High-resolution surveying techniques of subtidal soft-bottom seafloor habitats show higher small-scale variation in topography and sediment type than previously thought, but the ecological relevance of this variation remains unclear. In addition, high-resolution surveys of benthic fauna show a large spatial variability in community...

Sediment Disposals in Estuarine Channels Alter the Eco-Morphology of Intertidal Flats

Dredging of navigation channels in estuaries affects estuarine morphology and ecosystems. In the Western Scheldt, a two-channel estuary in the Netherlands, the navigation channel is deepened and the sediment is relocated to other parts of the estuary. We analyzed the response of an intertidal flat to sediment disposals in its adjacent channel...

Tidal flat-wetland systems as flood defenses: Understanding biogeomorphic controls

Coastal managers worldwide increasingly recognize the importance of conservation and restoration of natural coastal ecosystems. This ensures coastal resilience and provision of essential ecosystem services, such as wave attenuation reducing coastal flooding and erosion. In the continuum from unvegetated tidal flats to salt marshes and...

Eco-morphodynamic processes in the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta and the Dutch Wadden Sea

Description of eco-morphodynamic processes in the Dutch deltas.