Fish community dynamics in a cold temperate tidal lagoon in the Wadden Sea, in relation to changes in environmental conditions

Abstract

The thesis investigated the effects of long-term and seasonal changes in environmental conditions on fish communities in the Wadden Sea. Using a monthly fish monitoring dataset from 2007 to 2019, a total of 55 fish species were recorded, including 8 new observations of Lusitanian, boreal, and Atlantic species, while four species from earlier surveys (1989-1995) were no longer present. The fish community was dominated by 22 species, which accounted for over 95% of the total abundance. These species exhibited three distinct trends: dome-shaped, increasing, or decreasing, influenced by winter temperatures which impacted recruitment. The analysis revealed seasonal groupings based on species’ temperature preferences, affecting their migration patterns. Warming autumn temperatures delayed cod (Gadus morhua) immigration and whiting (Merlangius merlangus) emigration into the Wadden Sea. Environmental factors, primarily water temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll a, explained 18% of fish community variation on a seasonal basis and 10% on an inter-annual basis. Species richness was higher at 5°C and 15°C, reflecting seasonal immigration and emigration patterns. However, species diversity was negatively correlated with water temperature, as Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) and small sand eel (Ammodytes tobianus) dominated the summer, and whiting dominated autumn. Species richness declined with increasing water depth, as more species migrated to intertidal habitats during high tide. Evenness increased with water depth near seagrass meadows and bivalve beds, while pelagic species entered deep tidal channels during high tide. Fifteen young-of-the-year YOY fish species were observed at various developmental stages, with most supplied from the North Sea. Environmental factors significantly explained 39% of YOY fish variations. Clupea harengus had two cohorts (autumn and spring hatched), while Nilsson’s pipefish (Syngnathus rostellatus) had one cohort spawned within the Wadden Sea.