Project properties
Title MSc thesis or internship: processes impacting vegetation establishment and development on a muddy salt marsh
Group Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group
Project type thesis
Credits 36
Supervisor(s) Marin van Regteren, Marinka van Puijenbroek (IMARES), Juul Limpens (PEN)
Examiner(s) Juul Limpens
Contact info marin.vanregteren@wur.nl
Begin date 2019/10/01
End date 2020/12/24
Description IMARES is looking for master students who would like to participate in the Mud Motor project. The Mud Motor project looks at the possibility to use dredge sediment disposal to stimulate vertical and lateral salt marsh growth. To assess the effects of enlarged sediment availability and sedimentation several field and lab experiments will be executed.

This project will try to unravel the mechanisms behind vegetation establishment at the salt marsh edge and yet un-colonised intertidal flat. Factors such as bed-level height, drainage capacity, seed availability and relative disturbance will be taken into account. You will design a field transplantation experiment, measure bed-level height, with an RTK-DGPS, to select locations appropriate for transplantation. In addition, you will assist with salt marsh vegetation cultivation, measure survival and development of transplanted seedlings and tussocks and determine local seed availability. You will analyse the data and write a report or MSc thesis.

You will be based at IMARES Den Helder for the duration of your project, starting date is negotiable though field experiments will have to be executed in spring. If you have any additional ideas or interests that you would like to incorporate, please email me to discuss the possibilities.

Used skills
Requirements Our main study area is Westhoek at the Frisian Wadden Sea coast so having a driver�s licence is beneficial, this site is extremely muddy so you shouldn�t be scared of dirt!