TROPHOS is a co-operation between five Belgian institutes (
UGent,
KULeuven,
IN,
MUMM and
VLIZ) and one Dutch institute (
NIOO-CEME) and aims at a better understanding of processes structuring the higher trophic levels in the North Sea. It is a four year research project carried out in the framework of the
SPSD-II research action of the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office.
As the link between ecosystem functioning and aquatic biodiversity will not be ignored, the results of this project will also contribute to the sustainable management of those areas of the Belgian Continental Shelf (Southern Bight of the North Sea) that meet the criteria for protection as marine reserves.
