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.
