Borkum The reef is a habitat with strong currents from various directions. These include tidal currents and the influence of the Wester- and Osterems rivers. There are many shallows here, making this reef dangerous. The bottom consists of sand and gravel.
The wooden groynes at the Ronden Plate are Borkum's oldest groynes. Due to sand shifts caused by current changes or storms, these are sometimes covered with sand or exposed. Some of them are permanently submerged. They provide a habitat for local mussels, snails, and crustaceans.
The tidal current brings a variety of different animals into the harbor basins. Shrimps live on the sheet pile walls and serve as food for many fish. When these are used up in late autumn and winter, the fish also migrate away.
The open sea covers seven tenths of the earth's surface and is a gigantic, interconnected ecosystem. The average salinity is 35 grams of salt per liter. If the dissolved salt were removed from the sea, it would cover the entire earth's surface to a height of 36 meters.
all around Borkum Numerous species of jellyfish live in the North Sea, depending on the season, wind, and current. These cnidarians owe their sometimes unusual names to their appearance and striking patterns. Currents often wash jellyfish onto our beaches.
Tidal creeks are like small rivers in the sand or mud flats that are still filled with water even at low tide. At low tide, small sea creatures that would not survive the regular drying out can be found here. The tidal creek is therefore an important habitat for many of the animals presented here.
The offspring of some predatory fish (eg catsharks) grow in what are known as mermaid pouches. Capsules washed up are usually empty because the embryo has already hatched. To protect them from predators, the egg capsules and young animals are separated from their larger relatives.
From masters of camouflage to unusual shallow water dwellers – also in the adjacent waters around the BorkumIn the marina, there are numerous creatures to discover that you don't normally see every day. A look into the water is worth it!
Wood floating in the sea is often covered with small algae, which in turn provide shelter for numerous small animals such as crabs and fish. This wood is often carried along the dune revetment by the currents, wind and waves.
At the pontoons in the BorkumNumerous ascidia, sea anemones, and soft corals grow in the harbors. These filter the plankton flowing in with the tides and transform the floating piers below the water's edge into colorful habitats.
The groynes built on the beach are bulwarks against storm surges. They have a windward and leeward side, where, for example, tree tube worms, hermit crabs, shore crabs and snails can be found. If the wind is favorable, marine luminescent animals are driven here.
Under certain conditions, large mussel beds can form on the seabed, which in turn provide a living environment for many other small creatures. Also in the mudflats of Borkum There are large mussel beds.
In the immediate vicinity of the beach, in the shallow water around the stone groynes, there are many small animals that can be observed with the naked eye. This is further proof that the North Sea inhabitants populate pretty much every free space and use it as a habitat.
The mudflats are the nursery of many sea creatures and one of the most important natural areas in Europe. The Wadden Sea is considered one of the world's largest wetlands and is a paradise for thousands of species of mussels, plants and small animals. It is so full of life that it also serves as a source of food for huge flocks of birds.
The concrete bases and stone coverings of the large offshore wind turbines have created a completely new habitat. Due to the current fishing ban, scientists hope that animal populations will recover here and new species will settle there.
