Projects
Ecological impact of the spatiotemporal distribution of termite hills of the Katanga mine area and their agronomic potentiality in an ecological system Soils-Termite hills-Vegetation. Ghent University
In this research project the use of termite materials as a natural soil amendment will be tested in the tradional agricultural systems of the local farmers through the monitoring of experimental plots.The dynamics of heavy metals in termite mounds will be studied as well especially in areas where rocks containing these heavy metals occur close to the surface. This will allow us to assess the potential pollution of the agricultural lands.
BOF PhD: Label free imaging of nanoparticles for a study of their impact on biological processes in dendritic cells. Hasselt University
VITO PhD: Label-free imaging of nanoparticles for the study of their impact on biological processes in dendritic cells. Hasselt University
Modelling and predicting invasive species spread and potential ecological impact in the Azores Meise Botanic Garden
The importance of macrozooplankton egg banks for ecological risk assessment: a case study with pesticides. KU Leuven
Currently, agricultural land comprises about 40% of the worlds land surface, producing food for six billion people. Projections are that the global human population will continue to increase and a doubling is expected by 2050. This continued population growth is accompanied by a sharp increase in food demand, which has put a lot of pressure on the agricultural sector to increase crop yields. Pesticides have been increasingly used to help ...
Ecological study on foreshore sand suppletion at the Flemish coast Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
What ecological effects on the Belgian coast does a foreshore suppletion (creating an underwater sand buffer) have on the marine ecosystem in the shallow surf zone (1-2 m depth)? This project provides scientific support for the Belgian Master plan for Coastal Defense. Beach suppletions and other coastal defense works are planned along the Belgian coast to safeguard the coastal inhabitants. In ...
Ecological study of underwater supplementations on the Flemish coast Ghent University
This study clarifies how foreshore replenishment in the near future can contribute to a '' natural '' coastal security for conservation and nature. The ecological functioning of the beach and surf zone as parts of the coast base is up to now not sufficiently clear. We expect that this study raises the debate about the possible impact on the natural sand replenishment on the Belgian coast for a more objective and more scientific level. During ...
Evolutionary ecological study of the pace-of-life syndrome in Ischnura damselflies. KU Leuven
To understand and predict patterns in trait variation along environmental gradients and in response to stressors, the integration of traits into suites of correlated traits or ‘syndromes’ has received increasing attention. Because of the presence of such syndromes, the plastic and evolutionary responses of organisms to selection pressures involve coordinated changes in many traits. A promising concept for the integration of traits is the ...
A comparison of the effects of organic and conventional agriculture on biodiversity and the functioning of small aquatic systems – an ecological and evolutionary ecological perspective (not on website ADS because backup for FWO fellowship application) KU Leuven
Agriculture is fundamental to feed and supply worldwide human populations. It is also one of the human activities with larger effects on the environment. Organic farming has been suggested as a greener alternative to conventional agriculture. Small waterbodies, such as ponds and shallow lakes, are excellent sentinels of human impact, as they are highly sensitive to local environmental change. Their ecology and functioning is largely ...