Abstract
Biodiversity in the semi-natura1 Dutch wetlands is influenced by a complex of factors, ranging from (1) water tables, soil and chemistry, (2) spatial connections, (3) succession and (4) impacts of human activities and management. Especia11y the management options (e.g. mowing, dredging and sod cutting, supplied water) and spatial relations influence the equilibria in the wetlands. Up to now modeling has been restricted to ( 1) and related partial modeling of plant species (Barendregt et al., 1993, Latour & Reiling, 1993; Ertsen, 1995), aquatic macro-fauna (Amesz & Barendregt, 1996) and vegetation in ecotopes (Witte et a1., 1994). Modeling for evaluation at the level of biodiversity has not yet been undertaken. This project aims to extend existing models to include elements of factors (2) to (4), by integrating academic knowledge from hydrologica1 and ecosystem modeling with field expert judgments by managers and other specialists. This is aimed to result in an approach that captures the ecosystem structure and biodiversity of the wetland ecosystem as a whole, the spatia1 relations (areas with specific succession phase ), and the human disturbances. This in turn can then be linked to the economic model and analysis, a11owing to trace the influence of economic development of wetland areas.
Netherlands