Habitat-overstijgende interacties in het Waddengebied

Here, we report on the results of the OBN-project ‘Cross-habitat interactions in the Wadden Sea’. Evidence is mounting that ecological linkages between spatially separated key-habitats are vital for the functioning of these habitats. However, management of these habitats rarely considers such spatial interactions in their conservation or restoration approaches. The presented work was carried out in close collaboration with the project ‘Restoration of Griend’, and as such formed part of an integrated investigation into the importance of spatial connectivity between the island Griend and the surrounding mudflats for the restoration and conservation of this, and similar islands. The main goals were to (1) understand how spatial connectivity drives the functioning of the island and the surrounding habitats, and (2) provide recommendations regarding the integration of spatial connectivity into future management approaches.