The University of Hull Hull, UK The recreation of estuarine ecosystem: a case study at Paull Holme Strays, Humber Estuary, UK being a Thesis submitted for the Degree of PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Hull by Bryan Allen Swig B.S. California Lutheran University M.S. California State University, Northridge i Table Of Contents _ TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................................. II LIST OF FIGURES..................................................................................................................................... IV LIST OF TABLES......................................................................................................................................VII ACKNOWLEDGMENTS........................................................................................................................... IX ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION ....................................................................................................X CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................1 Estuarine wetland charicteristics and their nature conservation intrests..............................................1 Loss of tidal flats and saltmarsh .............................................................................................................2 Managed realignment .............................................................................................................................3 Tidal flat and saltmarsh restoration .......................................................................................................5 The Humber esturary and Paull Holme Strays.......................................................................................7 Aims, Objectives and Hypothesis............................................................................................................8 CHAPTER 2 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE RESTORED WETLAND AT PAULL HOLME STRAYS ........................................................................................................................................................10 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................10 Materials and Methods .........................................................................................................................13 Hydrographic mapping ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Topographical survey ....................................................................................................................................... 14 Accretion/ Erosion monitoring ......................................................................................................................... 16 Water quality measurments .............................................................................................................................. 18 Redox measurments.......................................................................................................................................... 19 Sediment partical size analysis ......................................................................................................................... 20 Results...................................................................................................................................................25 Topographical survey ....................................................................................................................................... 25 Hydrographic mapping ..................................................................................................................................... 27 Sediment partical size analysis ......................................................................................................................... 29 Redox measurments.......................................................................................................................................... 34 Accretion/ Erosion monitoring ......................................................................................................................... 38 Water quality measurments .............................................................................................................................. 40 Discussion.............................................................................................................................................43 CHAPTER 3 SALTMARSH ASSEMBLAGES OF THE RESTORED TIDAL WETLANDS AT PAULL HOLME STRAYS .........................................................................................................................47 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................47 Materials and Methods .........................................................................................................................51 Floral surveys.................................................................................................................................................... 51 Seed dispersal ................................................................................................................................................... 53 Disturbance effects ........................................................................................................................................... 55 Data analysis ..................................................................................................................................................... 57 Results...................................................................................................................................................58 Floral surveys.................................................................................................................................................... 58 Seed dispersal ................................................................................................................................................... 60 Disturbance effects ........................................................................................................................................... 68 Discussion.............................................................................................................................................70 CHAPTER 4 BENTHIC INVERTEBRATE COMMUNITY STRUCTURE IN THE RESTORED WETLANDS AT PAULL HOLME STRAYS...........................................................................................77 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................77 Materials and Methods .........................................................................................................................80 ii Field methods.................................................................................................................................................... 80 Laboratory methods .......................................................................................................................................... 81 Data analysis ..................................................................................................................................................... 82 Results...................................................................................................................................................84 Discussion...........................................................................................................................................122 CHAPTER 5 ABUNDANCE AND BEHAVIOUR OF WADER AND WATERFOWL ASSEMBLAGES IN THE RESTORED TIDAL WETLANDS OF PAULL HOLME STRAYS ......130 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................130 Materials and Methods .......................................................................................................................133 Field methods.................................................................................................................................................. 133 Data analysis ................................................................................................................................................... 136 Results.................................................................................................................................................137 Discussion...........................................................................................................................................148 CHAPTER 6 USE OF RESTORED MUD FLATS BY FISH AT PAULL HOLME STRAYS..........154 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................154 Materials and Methods .......................................................................................................................156 Field methods.................................................................................................................................................