Estuaries are socio-ecological systems that can be represented as a holistic combination of biotic and abiotic conditions in spatially explicit units defined by: (i) the ecotope, integration physiotope (abiotic-homogeneous units) biotope (biotic-homogeneous units), (ii) anthrotope, synthesizing data on human drivers ecological change. Nested physiotopes were identified an estuary using hierarch...

Coastal dunes have high ecological value, but are often damaged or overexploited by beach tourism. The main problems for the vegetation of this ecosystem physical destruction and synanthropisation, latter due to colonisation both alien apophyte species, favoured human action. This study analyses degree synanthropisation a stretch coastline in southern Spain, systematically surveying flora prese...

Fucales are among the key algae on coast of Northern Hemisphere and being actively studied, although minor attention is paid for age structure, since there no reliable signs determining algae. Direct observations thallus growth evidence a variation this trait under different conditions. We assess rate linear number formed dichotomous branching per year in Fucus vesiculosus distichus Murman Coas...

Laube for their valuable advice, bright ideas, and numerous contributions. Second, I wish to thank all other WSL staff members that helped me to complete this project. This particularly includes PD Dr. Rolf Grütter for various inputs on ontologies and proofreading the thesis. Furthermore, I sincerely thank Dr. Thomas Scharrenbach for introducing me into Semantic Web software such as Pellet, Pro...