English name: Laboratory of Ecology and Systematics
Thesaurus terms (10) : Biodiversity; Eutrophication; Evolution; Heavy metals; Mangroves; Morphological variation; Organic pollutants; Phylogeny; Plankton; Zooplankton
Taxonomic terms (5) : Amphibia [WoRMS]; Brachyura [WoRMS]; Copepoda [WoRMS]; Echinodermata [WoRMS]; Holothuroidea [WoRMS]
Geographical terms (2) : ANE, Netherlands, Delta Area [Marine Regions]; ANE, North Sea [Marine Regions]
Address:
Pleinlaan 2
1050 Brussel
Belgium
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Tel.: +32-(0)2-629 34 05
Fax: +32-(0)2-629 34 03
E-mail: 
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Type: Scientific
Level: Labo
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| Abstract: |
| The main research topic is the functioning of marine and coastal ecosystems, focusing on the management and conservation of endangered systems. Plankton (particularly phytoplankton) in aquatic systems represents the basis of all food chains. In coastal systems, plants as sea grasses and sea algae have an important contribution to the formation of organic material in the water. In tropical systems, trees, as mangroves play an additional important role in this process. In our research team we are focusing on the role of plankton in open versus coastal systems. The biodiversity and the function show large differences, due to the difference in terrestrial inputs, including pollution. In estuaries this difference is still reinforced: a decrease of biodiversity can be shown in a gradient from open sea to estuarine systems, and an opposite increase of material in suspension from various origins. The functioning of these systems is in turn completely different: in open sea systems food chains are prevalent and in coastal and estuarine systems the microbial so called "loop" prevails. This knowledge is applied in the assessment of the influence of the organic material in suspension on wetlands of the Scheldt estuary. In order to understand this ecological functioning better, comparative research is done at different latitudes: temperate and cold seas versus tropical and equatorial seas. In tropical seas, besides the role of plankton, the role of groundwater regarding the distribution of mangroves and the ethology and developmental biology of the mangrove oyster Saccostrea cucullata is under study. The relevance of the mangrove ecosystem is enormous. However, it is only during the last ten years that its importance has been recognised. Our research results, especially in the field of groundwater flow, are internationally recognised as a new breakthrough towards sustainable management of mangrove forests. Furthermore, the three way chemical communication between adult oysters and their larvae is a new finding in science. Finally, a new research group is starting a study of the phylogeny and biodiversity as a tool for conservation and management of marine and terrestrial tropical systems. |
| Publications (11) |
Top | Projects | Datasets |
( 6 peer reviewed ) split up filter
 Lionard, M.; Muylaert, K.; Hanoutti, A.; Maris, T.; Tackx, M.; Vyverman, W. (2008). Inter-annual variability in phytoplankton summer blooms in the freshwater tidal reaches of the Schelde estuary (Belgium). Est., Coast. and Shelf Sci. 79(4): 694-700. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2008.06.013, more- Tackx, M.L.; De Pauw, N.; Van Mieghem, R.; Azémar, F.; Hannouti, A.; Van Damme, S.; Fiers, F.; Daro, N.; Meire, P. (2004). Zooplankton in the Schelde estuary, Belgium and the Netherlands: spatial and temporal patterns. J. Plankton Res. 26(2): 133-141. dx.doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbh016, more
- Appeltans, W.; Hannouti, A.; Van Damme, S.; Soetaert, K.; Vanthomme, R.; Tackx, M. (2003). Zooplankton in the Schelde estuary (Belgium/The Netherlands). The distribution of Eurytemora affinis: effect of oxygen? J. Plankton Res. 25(11): 1441-1445. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbg101, more
- Tackx, M.L.M.; Herman, P.M.J.; Gasparini, S.; Irigoien, X.; Billiones, R.; Daro, M.H. (2003). Selective feeding of Eurytemora affinis (Copepoda, Calanoida) in temperate estuaries: model and field observations. Est., Coast. and Shelf Sci. 56(2): 305-311. dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0272-7714(02)00182-8, more
- De Brabandere, L.; Dehairs, F.A.; Van Damme, S.; Brion, N.; Meire, P.; Daro, N. (2002). d15N and d13C dynamics of suspended organic matter in freshwater and brackish waters of the Scheldt estuary. J. Sea Res. 48(1): 1-15. dx.doi.org/10.1016/s1385-1101(02)00132-6, more
- Muylaert, K.; Van Mieghem, R.; Sabbe, K.; Tackx, M.; Vyverman, W. (2000). Dynamics and trophic roles of heterotrophic protists in the plankton of a freshwater tidal estuary. Hydrobiologia 432(1-3): 25-36. https://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1004017018702, more
- Lancelot, C.; Rousseau, V.; Gypens, N.; Parent, J.-Y.; Bissar, A.; Lemaire, J.; Breton, E.; Daro, M.H.; Lacroix, G.; Ruddick, K.; Ozer, J.; Spitz, Y.; Soetaert, K.; Chrétiennot-Dinet, M.-J.; Lantoine, F.; Rodriguez, F. (2007). Advanced modeling and research on eutrophication AMORE II: final report. Belgian Science Policy: Brussel. 84 pp., more
- Muylaert, K.; Van Mieghem, R.; Sabbe, K.; Tackx, M.; Vyverman, W. (1999). Dynamics and trophic roles of heterotrophic protists in the plankton of a freshwater tidal estuary, in: Muylaert, K. Distribution and dynamics of protist communities in a freshwater tidal estuary = Verspreiding en dynamiek van protistengemeenschappen in een zoetwatergetijdengebied. pp. 71-86, more
- Van Mieghem, R. (1996). Mesozooplankton in de Zeeschelde. MSc Thesis. Vrije Universiteit Brussel: Brussel. 28 + annexes pp., more
- Delbeke, K.; Bossicart, M.; Joiris, C.; Bogaert, M.; Vanthomme, R. (1988). Huidige situatie van de verontreiniging van mariene en estuariene sedimenten door PCB's en lindaan. Beheerseenheid van het Mathematisch Model van de Noordzee en het Schelde-estuarium: Brussel. Vol. 1: tekst (45 p.); Vol. 2 (bijlagen) pp., more
- Billen, G.; Smitz, J. (1978). Mathematical model of water quality in a highly polluted estuary, in: Nihoul, J.C.J. Hydrodynamics of estuaries and fjords : proceedings of the 9th International Liège Colloquium on Ocean Hydrodynamics, 1977. Elsevier Oceanography Series, 23: pp. 55-62, more
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| Projects (10) |
Top | Publications | Datasets |
- AMORE II: Advanced modelling and research on eutrophication: linking eutrophication and biological resources, more
- AMORE: Advanced modelling and research on eutrophication, more
- Biological availability of heavy metals in sediments and benthos of the Scheldt estuary, more
- Biotic interactions in turbid estuarine systems, more
- Interaction of water column and the tide land in the Sea-Scheldt, more
- JEEP: Major biological processes in European tidal estuaries, more
- MATURE: Biogeochemistry of the maximum turbidity zone in estuaries, more
- OMES 1 Main: Research on the environmental effects of the SIGMA plan, more
- OMES 1: Characterisation of organic matter and plankton of the Zeeschelde, more
- Pigment analysis on suspended particulate matter, more
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| Datasets (4) |
Top | Publications | Projects |
- Laboratory for Ecology and Sytematics - VUB, Belgium; (2007): OMES: Examination of the plankton and organic matter in the flemish part of the Scheldt estuary., more
- Van Mieghem R.; Daro N.; Faculteit Wetenschappen, Laboratorium voor Ecologie en Systematiek. VUB: Belgium; (2016): Mesozooplankton in the Sea Scheldt between 1995 and 1996., more
- Projekt Zee - Scheldt estuary biotic data 1970-1976, more
- Projekt Zee - Scheldt estuary datasets 1970-1976, more
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