Report: Salt marshes: Development; ecological value — Avifauna (2002)»

In the framework of the subproject “Ecological Valuability of Existing Kleientnahme — Avifauna”, the re-use of cottage areas by breeding birds in various salt marshes in the Jadebusen and Elisabeth-External Grodes was investigated. In 8 cottages, which differ in location or age, breeding bird mappings were carried out over a period of 10 years. In order to place the settlement of the cottages in a comparative framework, 9 mowed or unused comparison areas in old salt marshes over 5-10 years were examined, in addition, over shorter periods, some large-area salt marshes were mapped in the Jadebusen. Due to the results available, the long-term settlement processes in Kleipütten can now be described in their outlines. However, it is also apparent that the succession in Pütten is often site-specific and therefore results from one investigation area are not generally transferable to other areas. [...] Overall, it becomes clear from the compiled test results that, after a clover in the outer dike area, the affected area initially loses its previous ecological functions as a habitat of plants and animals of the salt marshes for the duration of a few years and replaces other functions. In the course of the further development of the Pütte, however, a natural and multifaceted water system and soil relief is formed, which results in a diverse biotope structure with different breeding habitats. The cottages of older ages, in which different salt marshes up to the upper salt meadow have been re-educated, are predominated to the same or higher extent as breeding habitats from the typical breeding bird species of unused salt meadows.’