IMIS

Samples were collected in February, April, June and August in the saltmarsh of Waarde. In the saltmarsh of Saeftinghe samples were collected in April, June and August. A passive fishing method was used to sample the organisms migrating in and out of the creeks. The gear used was a simple fykenet that was operated from a bridge across the saltmarsh creek. When water started to enter the creek on the rising tide, the net was placed on the creek bottom, its mouth facing the current. Ropes and weights kept the net in place and the net was hauled every hour. After the moment of high water the net was placed at the other side of the bridge, now facing the ebb current. Measurements of the current and waterheight allowed quantification of the catches in relation to the volume of water which passed through the net. All animals caught were identified to species level, counted and measured under the binocular microscope. The dry weight of the detritus present in all samples was measured and used as an environmental variable. Common species caught included, Neomysis integer, Mesopodopsis slabberi, Crangon crangon, Palaemonetes varians, Corophium volutator, Gammarus salinus, Carcinus maenas, Pomatoschistus microps and Platichthys flesus postlarvae.