Study of the relative importance of primary production, bacterial production and detritus avection for the planktonic foodweb. Biotic interactions in the micro- and macrobenthic foodweb. Feeding behaviour of macrocrustacea, fish and birds.

This project aims to contribute to a better understanding of the structure and function of estuarine food webs by studying selected biotic interactions in the plankton and benthos of the Schelde estuary (The Netherlands, Belgium). The objectives are:
1) The study of the relative importance of primary production, bacterial production and detritus in the planktonic food wed.
2) The study of important biotic interactions in the micro- and meiobenthic food wed.
3) The study of the feeding ecology of higher tropic levels (fish, macrocrustacea and avifauna) and their impact on lower trophic levels.

The present object examines biotic interactions in both the plantonic and benthic food chain of the Zeeschelde, the Wester- schelde and the coastal area of the North Sea. The use of living and dead particular dissolved matter by plankton and benthos is the main interest of this study. The sampling sites are characterised by high turbitity and cover a salinity gradient. In particular, the use of organic matter by the present fish populations is analysed by the Laboratory of Ecology and Aquaculture. This study thus combines detailed data of the abundance, biomass and species composition of the fish assemblages with stomach contents analyses.