Species Distribution Models of Intertidal Benthos : tools for Assessing the Impact of Physical and Morphological Drivers on Benthos and Birds in the Wadden Sea

Introduction The Wadden Sea and its coastal area is threatened by relative sea level rise (RSLR). Particularly, the risk that intertidal _ats will drown and that the main land may _ood increases with rising sea level and subsidence of the land and sea_oor. Dutch authorities are investigating how sediment nourishments in the outer deltas of the Wadden Sea may help avoid the drowning of intertidal _ats and reduce the risk of _oods. RSLR by itself and in combination with nourishments will a_ect the morphology of the system, its hydrodynamics and the sediment composition of the subtidal and intertidal sea_oor. These changes are expected to in_uence the distribution of benthos and shorebirds. This report investigates possible responses of benthos communities on the basis of analysis of the distribution of intertidal benthos and relationships with physical drivers. Expected responses of a number of shorebird species are based on their diets and expected changes in benthos abundance and distribution.