The Oosterschelde Estuary (The Netherlands): a Case-study of a Changing Ecosystem

This book describes a feat of marine civil engineering ± the building of a storm barrier across the Oosterschelde estuary in Zeeland ± and subsequent changes to the ecosystem. The estuary is an internationally important wetland, on which large numbers of migratory birds depend for winter feeding, it has an unusual landscape and geological structure, and sustains an essential ®shing industry. Thirty-®ve research papers (reprinted from Hydrobiologia) are grouped into eight themes or sections following a general introduction; each section then has its own shorter introduction. The themes deal with Hydrodynamic and Geomorphological Changes in the Tidal System, Structure and Function of the Pelagic System, Structure of the Benthic System, Ecology of the Salt Marshes, Response of Benthic Suspension Feeders to Environmental Change, Analysis of a Dynamic Simulation Model for the Oosterschelde Ecosystem, Higher Trophic Levels, and a ®nal section is entitled The Oosterschelde Estuary: An evaluation of Changes. The papers are of a high standard and the value of the book lies in the variety of approaches that has been made to the study of a single incident of major conservation impact. Other wildlife conservation departments across the world will ®nd many useful ideas and conclusions. There are nearly 30 attractive and well-printed colour photographs; in particular, the one of the 1809 map is of interest ± it was only in the second half of the 19th and in the 20th centuries that the dynamic outline of the estuary was made rigid with sea walls. A general index is useful, but references to single subjects are not broken down into smaller units, and there is little cross-referencing. There are no running headings at the top of the pages to help the reader ®nd the various sections readily. A single bibliography might have given the project more unity. These small quibbles apart, the book is thoroughly recommended, and the editors and publishers are to be congratulated. With the possibility of global warming and sea level rises before us, the work is timely and welcome.