Plant and invertebrate diversity and management in wetlands: The salt marsh and reed beds of De Østlige Vejler, Denmark

Across the globe, the biodiversity is declining and habitats are deteriorating. Coastal wetlands are no exception, and face multiple threats including land reclamation, eutrophication and diking, while they are also likely to be affected by climate change.
This thesis investigates anthropogenic effects on coastal wetlands with focus on the salt marsh and reed bed habitats. The work is centered on De Østlige Vejler, Denmark, which is a protected area comprising lakes, salt marsh and reed beds. Here, I first examine the vegetation of the salt marsh and its response to anthropogenic disturbances. I investigate the effects of a century long tidal flood exclusion due to a dike, as well as the response of the salt marsh vegetation to interannual weather fluctuations. Second, I explored how plants and invertebrates in the reed bed response to reed bed management. I look into the effects of reed winter harvest, reed cutting and time since last harvest.