Projects
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 ...
Contribution of chemoautotrophic and chemosynthetic organic matter production pathways to freshwater and estuarine benthic invertebrate communities KU Leuven
Aquatic foodwebs can be fueled by photosynthetically produced organic matter (terrestrial or aquatic), or by chemo-autotrophic or methane (CH4)-based metabolic pathways. While CH4 production is generally much lower in estuarine and coastal systems than in freshwater sediments, the opposite holds for chemo-autotrophic pathways. While both the production and consumption of methane are known to be important to cosumers in specific environments, ...
Effectiveness and mechanisms of menthol inhalation for the relief of dyspnea in health and COPD (MENTHODYSC) KU Leuven
Dyspnea (breathlessness) is the aversive cardinal symptom in many common and debilitating diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is associated with severe disability, activity limitation and loss of quality of life. Since available treatment options are limited, novel and effective treatment approaches for the relief of dyspnea are urgently needed. Therefore, this project will systematically examine the ...
BEADS - Benthic fauna as drivers of ice-to-ocean iron transport in Arctic Fjords Ghent University
The ocean is the largest sink of CO2 and regulates the global climate. Marine primary production is a key process for CO2 removal and is limited by iron availability in large parts of the ocean. Marine iron concentrations are directly controlled by their sources to the ocean. Meltwaters from glaciers are considered as significant iron sources. To reach the ocean this glacial meltwater transits through fjords. When iron encounters oxygenated ...
Assessment of the roles of endogenous and environmental cues controlling cell size distribution and sexual reproduction in benthic diatom populations Ghent University
The evolutionary success of diatoms is often attributed to their unique life cycle, consisting of a long vegetative phase during which cell size gradually diminishes and a short sexual phase which is vital to restore cells to their original size. The life cycle is often described as a ‘sex clock’, and for a long time was hypothesized to be a self-sustained periodic process. Recent models, however, suggest that environmental conditions ...
The importance of microphytobenthos in sustainable ecosystem management: benthic primary production and sediment stability in estuaries. University of Antwerp
Contribution of chemoautotrophic and chemosynthetic organic matter production pathways to freshwater and estuarine benthic invertebrate communities Ghent University
Aquatic foodwebs can be fueled by photosynthetically produced organic matter (terrestrial or
aquatic), or by chemo-autotrophic or methane (CH4)-based metabolic pathways. While CH4
production is generally much lower in estuarine and coastal systems than in freshwater sediments,
the opposite holds for chemo-autotrophic pathways. While both the production and consumption
of methane are known to be ...
Understanding the influence of benthic biodiversity on biogeochemical cycling in polar marine ecosystems subject to rapid climate change Ghent University
Polar marine ecosystems are particularly experiencing strong modifications, because of their sensitivity to sea surface warming and sea ice retreat. We aim to investigate the influence of rapidly changing environmental conditions on sea floor biodiversity and biogeochemistry in polar marine ecosystems. Since the effects will be system-specific, two very contrasting ecosystems are targeted: a deep-sea Arctic and a coastal Antarctic site. ...