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Researcher

Jonas Schoelynck

  • Research Expertise:In my research I focus on the BIO in biogeochemistry. This means that I study the interaction of plants and animals with their environment, and in particular chemical and geomorphological processes in aquatic ecosystems. I have experience with fieldwork (taking samples in lakes, rivers and wetlands), chemical analyses of water, plants and soil in the lab and the processing of the results into new insights. Most of the research has been done in Belgium, the Netherlands and Poland, but I also participated in numerous expeditions to various African rivers and wetlands. Complementary to this fieldwork are laboratory tests. I tested many hypotheses in experiments, both on a small scale in the lab and on a mesocosm scale in the Mesodrome, a new state-of-the-art research facility on our campus. As a whole, I have the greatest affinity with aquatic plants, Chinese mitten crabs, hippos, the silicon cycle and the interaction of plants with water flow.
  • Keywords:WATER QUALITY, WATER FLUXES, SILICIUM, SILICA, AQUATIC ECOLOGY, Biology
  • Disciplines:Ecology, Biogeochemistry, Limnology, Climate change, Surface water hydrology, Plant ecology, Aquatic biology, Aquatic chemistry, Aquatic physics, Aquatic sciences, challenges and pollution not elsewhere classified, Environmental management
  • Research techniques:Various ecological issues are solved by taking samples in the field (usually water, plant and soil samples) and then measure their properties. This can be done both by performing chemical analyses in the laboratory and by measuring certain traits. Afterwards, this data is integrated to get an overall picture and to make connections. Causal relationships are usually proven by conducting targeted experiments.
  • Users of research expertise:Academics, water managers, policy makers