Functional guilds of fishes and macrocrustaceans in the Westerschelde and Oosterschelde estuary

Several subhabitats (e.g. intertidal and subtidal soft substratum or saltmarsh creeks) have been defined within the estuarine reaches of the Westerschelde and the Oosterschelde. This complex system can serve as spawning ground, nursery area, feeding ground and as a pathway in diadromous migrations. This study concentrated on the significance and role of these selected habitats in the life cycle of fishes and macrocrustaceans. Therefore, both habitat availability and habitat use were quantified. The importance of estuarine biotopes as habitats for fish was evaluated through a Habitat Utilisatio... Mehr ...