Biogeomorphology

There is a well known saying that God created the earth but the Dutch created the Netherlands. This saying
may be true for the situation since the late middle ages but it is certainly untrue on a longer timescale. The
formation of the Dutch coast during the Holocene has been the result of an interaction between sea transgression and the deposition of marine and fluvial sediment. A wedge-type deposition was formed on the
Pleistocene substrate up to 30 m in height! In this process peat formations have played an important role. In
the low-lying areas a fast peat growth rapidly covered the substrate and thereby promoted the availability
of sediments for the adjacent coast. Natural processes destroyed peat formations quickly and initiated a
new cycle. This 'breathing' of the coast shaped the Netherlands to its present form. This is a clear example of
the influence that biology (plant growth and peat formation) can have on geomorphology1.
The effect of geomorphology on biology is well known.
Habitats of species (their living environment) are to a
large extent determined by physical factors such as inundation frequency, flow velocity, depth and sediment
characteristics.
Interactions such as these form the area of interest of
biogeomorphology. Biogeomorphology or, ecomorphology, is a research area where biology, ecology, hydrology and morphology come together. Biogeomorphology
of water systems is the discipline that treats hydromorphology and biology together as one single subject.
In the latter years there is a growing awareness of
the impact of biological processes on geomorphology
and vice versa. Moreover there are a growing number
of clients that come to Deltares / Delft Hydraulics
with questions related to the interdisciplinary field
of biogeomorphology. Therefore, biogeomorphology
has become one of the focus areas at Deltares / Delft
Hydraulics.
People working in the fields of civil engineering and hydrology use the

term morphology instead of geomorphology. However, for biologists

morphology has a different meaning. To avoid confusion the term
geomorphology is used.

Aerial view of the dune breach of Texel, The Netherlands

Deltares / Delft Hydraulics and biogeomorphology

To perform biogeomorphological studies, or multidisciplinary studies in general, there are two important
boundary conditions that have to be satisfied:
1. there needs to be a strong knowledge base in the
underlying disciplines, and
2. the underlying disciplines have to be well integrated.
During the more than 80 years of her existence,
Deltares / Delft Hydraulics has built up a considerable amount of knowledge and experience in the fields
of hydraulics, hydrology, morphology, water quality
and ecology, both in fresh water and coastal marine
systems. This know-how has been put to use in a broad
variety of projects ranging from harbour and dam constructions to coastal management studies.
The second condition is often underestimated, but is
equally important as the first.
Deltares / Delft Hydraulics provides the perfect environment for a fruitful interaction between disciplines:
there is no division between people with different
expertise but a division along system lines such as
the marine and coastal system and the inland water
The Drowned Land of Saeftinge, the Netherlands

system. This allows for an optimal communication

and co-operation of the different disciplines to tackle
problems in the most effective way.
Besides the above mentioned vital boundary conditions, Deltares / Delft Hydraulics has a unique combination of expertise in highly sophisticated numerical
models, a variety of experimental facilities and field
measurements.
Biogeomorphology at Deltares / Delft Hydraulics deals
with problems and questions on:
1. The incorporation of biological processes in
morphological modellingand biogeomorphological
experiments
2. The effects of morphological changes on biological
communities: impact studies
3. Management of water systems

research issues
biological forcing of hydromorphological modelling
Given the existence of interactions between geomorphology and biology, morphological models can be
improved by implementing routines which describe the
effects of the biological communities on the morphodynamics. The research issues that are addressed and
related to this topic are:
The effects of biological communities on hydromor
phology through near-bed velocity, roughness, silt
trapping, biostabilisation and bioturbation. Both on
intertidal areas (salt water systems) and floodplains
(rivers).
The relevant temporal and spatial scales and scale
interactions.
Process oriented research in experimental facilities
focusing on bio(de)stabilisation, sediment/water
exchange and sediment trapping for future model
development.
impact studies
The impact of human interference on water systems
may lead to morphological changes. These may have
effects on a biological community or a single species.
The research issues here are:
The definition of abiotic factors governing biological
communities, considering life stages, habitats and
reproductive strategies (timing and scales).
The definition of thresholds for the occurrence of
different habitats/ecotopes.
The quantitative assessment of the relations
between governing abiotic factors and biological
communities or single species.

Deltares - Geo-engineering

management of watersystems
Management of water systems deals with: safety, the
variety of users and preservation of nature.
The modern concept of management considers all
these aspects. Research is done on:
The mapping of physiotopes/ecotopes based on
easily quantifiable parameters.
The development of models to predict ecological
changes.
study approach
Given the broad spectrum of problems and research
areas there is no single methodology applicable. To
illustrate the approaches used a number of projects are
presented here in some detail.
Humber project (2000)
This work was part of a large English research programme on estuaries led by HR Wallingford (UK: MAFF/
DEFRA, EA plus EN project). This project forms a good
example of the merger between morphological and biological expertise present at Deltares / Delft Hydraulics.
The long term (50 years) morphological developments
in the Humber estuary were modelled using the hybrid
model ESTMORF. The effects of these developments
on the physiotopes in the estuary were modelled by

An example how biology is influenced by morphology

considering the changes in three physical factors. It

was found in previous studies that each combination
of these factors defines a physiotope. The physiotope
model was validated with yearly data on macrobenthos
collected by the Environment Agency since the late
seventies. The conclusion was that overall there is a
good fit between predicted physiotopes and the present day distribution of macrobenthic assemblage.

the classification scheme. This is based on the assumption that all intertidal flats belonging to the same type
have parameters in the same ranges. In this way the
classification scheme can also be used as a qualitative
tool to predict changes caused by variations in some of
the descriptive parameters.
The general methodology to get to a classification
scheme is:
1. Identify a set of governing parameters and their
discriminating threshold values. This is done
studying a single flat, in this case the Molenplaat in
the Western Scheldt Estuary in the Netherlands.
2. Establish the relation between these and easyto-observe parameters, the so-called Rules.
3. Find out if parameters that are difficult to assess can
be inferred by combinations of other parameters.
4. Extend the data set to other intertidal flats to
complete the scheme.
the effect of submerged vegetation on turbidity
(1997-1999)
Besides large scale modelling and management projects, Deltares / Delft Hydraulics also performs more
fundamental studies within the field of eco-morphology. For the Institute for Inland Water Management
and Waste Water Treatment (RIZA-RWS) a study was
conducted on the influence of submerged vegetation on
hydrodynamics and turbidity levels in Dutch Lakes.
An extensive set of experiments were performed in the
tidal flume at Deltares / Delft Hydraulics. The effect of
natural and artificial vegetation on flow velocity, turbulent intensity, suspended sediment concentrations
and wave heights was measured. The results were used
to calibrate and validate a 1-DV advection-diffusion
model adapted to incorporate submerged vegetation.
Experimental data in combination with the model
results gave valuable insight into the phenomenon
of clear water above a vegetation field as commonly
observed in the Dutch lakes.

intertidal flat classification (1999)

In the European INTRMUD-project a methodology has
been developed to generate a set of abiotic and biotic
parameters for a qualitative intertidal flat classification. When complete, such a classification scheme
can be used to (roughly) assess missing parameters.
Once it is clear to which type a intertidal flat belongs,
as deduced from the known parameters, the ranges of
values for the missing parameters can be inferred from
Deltares - Geo-engineering

Exp. 1; natural vegetation

Exp. 2; long artificial vegetation
Exp. 3; short artificial vegetation

An experimental study in the tidal flume on the

effects of underwater vegetation on turbidity and
hydrodynamics, 1997-1999.
A definition of the inter-relations between physical
factors and benthos on an intertidal flat in the West
ernscheldt with different approaches, 2000-2001.
A study on the effects of the construction of the
seaward extension of the Rotterdam harbour on the
biological communities of flat fish and herring, 1999.

Average wave height [mm]

60.00

40.00

20.00

Vegetation
0.00
-4.00

0.00

4.00

position [m]

8.00

12.00

The effect of submerged vegetation on wave height

relevant experience
An experimental study on biogenic gas generation in
sediment storage depots and its effects on the
volume of the stored mud and on bottom erodibility,
started in 1996.
A study on cyclic rejuvenation of floodplains or on
the mutual interaction between hydromorphology
and the development of vegetation, 2000-2003.
Development of an ecomorphological module for the
Western Scheldt for long-term prediction of morpho
logical impacts (1998).
Development of a Nature Module for analysis of
ecological value and species succession on and near
land reclamation works (1999).

P.O. Box 177

2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands
ZKS-info@deltares.nl
www.deltares.nl

The Konkure river in Guinea

An assessment of the environmental impact of a
dam construction on the Konkure river, estuary and
adjacent coast in Guinea, 2001.
A study of the long-term morphological development
of the Humber estuary in combination with an
ecological assessment, the Habitat Evaluation Proce
dure (HEP), 2000.
The definition of measuring tools or indicators for
the quantification of geomorphological quality, with
the aim of monitoring water systems and
quantifying their morphological deterioration, 2000.
A pilot experimental study on the effect of worms
and diatoms on the bottom stability of mud depots,
2000-2001.
A large-scale management study of the rivers
Pannerdens Kanaal, IJssel, Waal and Neder Rijn in the
Netherlands with the aim of finding a balance
between safety from floods and natural values,
2000-2001.