In the Wadden area, the mass of the algal vegetation consists of communities of three formations: the Vaucheria formation, the Rhizoclonitum formation and the Oscillatoriaceae formation, and has a mosaic pattern. This vegetation type is specified as the General Chlorophyceae foramtion complex, within which a zonation of consocions and community complexes can be distinguished. The Wadden area is subdivided into three geographical subareas, each with its own characteristics in the saltmarsh algal vegetation. The southern Wadden area, between Den Helder (The Netherlands) and Wangerooge (Germany), is the richest of the three. Algal consocions and vegetation patterns found in N.W. Europe but not in the Wadden area are discussed briefly. |
