MUDFLAT ECOLOGY

Intertidal mudflats are distinct highly productive marine habitats which provide important ecosystem services to the land sea interface In contrast to other marine habitats and despite a large body of primary scientific literature no comprehensive synthesis exists such that the scattered knowledge base lacks an integrated conceptual framework We attempt to provide this synthesis by pulling together and contextualizing the different disciplines tools and approaches used in the study of intertidal mudflats The editor pays particular attention to relationships between the various components of the synthesis both at the conceptual and the operational levels validating these relationships through close interaction with the various authors