Projects
Monitoring the effect of windmills on the marine benthos of soft substrates Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Aquatic Environment and Quality, Central Services, Business Unit and Service Centre (Animal Sciences), Fisheries and Aquatic Production, Animal Sciences
Main research question/goal
How do offshore wind farms affect the fauna living on the sandy seafloor? Within this project, we investigate medium to long term effects of the construction and exploitation of offshore wind farms on the soft substrate epifauna and demersal fish. Additionally, we examine the effects of windmill farms on the trawling fishery (and alternative techniques), and the attraction effects of hard substrates on exotic ...
How do offshore wind farms affect the fauna living on the sandy seafloor? Within this project, we investigate medium to long term effects of the construction and exploitation of offshore wind farms on the soft substrate epifauna and demersal fish. Additionally, we examine the effects of windmill farms on the trawling fishery (and alternative techniques), and the attraction effects of hard substrates on exotic ...
Top-down and bottom-up controls in benthic food webs, and their importance for the dynamics and functioning of meiobenthos and bacteria. Ghent University
This project investigates the importance of (a) vertical (predation and food availability) and (b) horizontal (competition, facilitationU+2026) interactions for meiobenthic community assembly. It also investigates how meiofauna affect bacterial community structure, diversity and metabolism, and benthic ecosystem functions like organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling. The focus is on top-down effects and trophic cascades from ...
OSPAR eutrophocation macrobenthos monitoring of the Belgian coast Ghent University
Based on frequent sampling in 2009, the current project aims to evaluate the spatial distribution of the possible presence of eutrophication effects on the level of the benthos. These results, supplemented by existing scientific information, allow an assessment of the current eutrophication status in the BPNS. Additionally, the results enable an optimal spatial and temporal planning for future monitoring campaigns concerning eutrophication ...
Monitoring the effects of offshore wind farms on the endobenthos of soft substrates. Ghent University
Determining the one-year state of macrobenthic endofauna (macrobenthos) on the Thornton Bank and to identify possible effects of the construction and operation of the first wind turbines; - the baseline condition of the benthos in the reserved area of U+200BU+200BBelwind, in particular the Bligh Bank, to be examined as a basis for assessing the impact of the construction and operation phases of the wind farm (including the effects caused by ...
BIANZOII - Biodiversity of three representative groups of the Antarctic Zoobenthos - Coping with Change - second phase Ghent University
Polar regions experience greater rates of climate change than any other region in the world. Their biota are highly adapted to the extreme environment they are living in and appear vulnerable to shifts in climate conditions. Antarctic marine species are especially more sensitive to temperature variation as their physiology is set to a narrow range of temperatures. Because of the key-role of the Southern Ocean in the global system and the ...
The importance of microphytobenthos in sustainable ecosystem management: benthic primary production and sediment stability in estuaries. University of Antwerp
Microphytobenthos (MPB), the algae that inhabit the intertidal mudflats, are important for the functioning of estuarine ecosystems. Their high primary production is critical, producing oxygen and sustaining the highly biodiverse estuarine food web. MPB community also excrete sticky substances that decrease sediment resuspension in the water column and increase the light climate needed for primary production. Unfortunately, these mudflats are ...
Hyperbenthos MONEOS (De Vlaamse Waterweg) Research Institute for Nature and Forest
Epibenthos and juvenile fish sampling Ameland 2012 Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Main research question/goal
What are the long-term effects of sand suppletion on the present benthic fauna and the marine ecosystem? This research question is investigated by a study on foreshore beach nourishment at the Dutch Wadden Island Ameland. Through beach and foreshore replenishment, the Dutch sandy coast is 'naturally' protected against coastal erosion, while the coastal zone itself offers more space for various users. In 2010 and ...
What are the long-term effects of sand suppletion on the present benthic fauna and the marine ecosystem? This research question is investigated by a study on foreshore beach nourishment at the Dutch Wadden Island Ameland. Through beach and foreshore replenishment, the Dutch sandy coast is 'naturally' protected against coastal erosion, while the coastal zone itself offers more space for various users. In 2010 and ...
Zoobenthos biodiversity of the Can Gio mangrove ecosystem and the dissemination of its status and importance to the local communities. Ghent University
This projects aims to quantify and map the present benthic biodiversity in Can Gio mangrove forests, and to increase public awareness on importance of associated mangrove diversity and its importance