The significance of ecosystem research in the Wadden Sea for monitoring and management

The Wadden Sea Ecosystem Research project is part of the German 'Federal Ecosystem Research Programme'. Deficits in the understanding of relationships between cause and effects in ecosystems led to the implementation of this programme. The Wadden Sea Ecosystem Research project aimed at providing a basic understanding of the ecosystem, examining the interactions of Nature and Man, providing instruments for the protection of the Wadden Sea, supporting the development of an integrated environmental monitoring, and developing methods for ecosystem research which can also be used for research in other ecosystems. Some examples of representative results are given, that are of particular interest to the Federal government. Parallel to ongoing scientific work, results of the Wadden Sea Ecosystem Research are transferred continuously into protection and management measures. Finally, the demands of the Federal government on a comprehensive evaluation and analysis (overall synthesis) of the Wadden Sea Ecosystem Research project are explained.