The laboratory of Plant Ecology researches many aspects of the dynamic interactions between plants and their environment with a special emphasis on water and carbon fluxes in xylem and phloem. Its projects include work on crops and trees in both man-made and natural ecosystems. Its research activities range from plant ecophysiology to the structure and function of plants and the role of plants in the global water and carbon cycle. Its researchers study the dynamic plant- environment interplay with detailed measurements of the microclimate and on the plant itself using an array of plant sensors. They also apply radioactive and stable isotope tracers and medical imaging techniques (micro-CT, MRI and plant-PET) to visualise and better understand xylem and phloem functioning. At the laboratory, mechanistic plant models, in 2D and 3D, are developed as avenues for improving our understanding on how plants grow and respond to changes in the environments they inhabit, and also novel plant-based control and stress detection systems are developed.
The marine aspect of the research is related to mangroves and includes foliar water uptake capacity in mangrove species, and associated anatomical and hydraulic features.
De Clercq, P.; Pauwels, E.; Top, S.; Steppe, K.; Van Labeke, M.-C. (2023). Effect of seaweed-based biostimulants on growth and development of Hydrangea paniculata under continuous or periodic drought stress. Horticulturae 9(4): 509. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9040509, more
Top, S.; Vandoorne, B.; Pauwels, E.; Perneel, M.; Van Labeke, M.-C.; Steppe, K. (2023). Plant sensors untangle the water-use and growth effects of selected seaweed-derived biostimulants on drought-stressed tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum). Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 42: 5615-5627. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00344-023-10941-0, more
Schaepdryver, K.H.D.; Goossens, W.; Naseef, A.; Ashtamoorthy, S.K.; Steppe, K. (2022). Foliar water uptake capacity in six mangrove species. Forests 13(6): 951. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f13060951, more
Schreel, J.D.M.; Van de Wal, B.A.E.; Hervé-Fernandez, P.; Boeckx, P.; Steppe, K. (2019). Hydraulic redistribution of foliar absorbed water causes turgor-driven growth in mangrove seedlings. Plant Cell Environ. 42(8): 2437-2447. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/pce.13556, more
Steppe, K.; Vandegehuchte, M.W.; Van de Wal, B.A.E.; Hoste, P.; Guyot, A.; Lovelock, C.E.; Lockington, D.A. (2018). Direct uptake of canopy rainwater causes turgor-driven growth spurts in the mangrove Avicennia marina. Tree Physiology 38(7): 979-991. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpy024, more
De Deurwaerder, H.; Okello, J.A.; Koedam, N.; Schmitz, N.; Steppe, K. (2016). How are anatomical and hydraulic features of the mangroves Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata influenced by siltation? Trees-Struct. Funct. 30(1): 35-45. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00468-016-1357-x, more
Van de Wal, B.A.E.; Guyot, A; Lovelock, C.; Lockington, A; Steppe, K. (2015). Influence of temporospatial variation in sap flux density on estimates of whole-tree water use in Avicennia marina. Trees-Struct. Funct. 29(1): 215-222. dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00468-014-1105-z, more
Vandegehuchte, M.W.; Guyot, A; Hubeau, M.; De Swaef, T.; Lockington, A; Steppe, K. (2014). Modelling reveals endogenous osmotic adaptation of storage tissue water potential as an important driver determining different stem diameter variation patterns in the mangrove species Avicennia marina and Rhizophora stylosa. Ann. Bot. 114(4): 667-676. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aob/mct311, more
Vandegehuchte, M.W.; Guyot, A.; Hubeau, M.; De Groote, S.R.E.; De Baerdemaeker, N.J.F.; Hayes, M.; Welti, N.; Lovelock, C.; Lockington, D.; Steppe, K. (2014). Long-term versus daily stem diameter variation in co-occurring mangrove species: Environmental versus ecophysiological drivers. Agr. Forest Meteorol.. 192: 51-58. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2014.03.002, more
Meers, E.; Samson, R.; Tack, F.M.G.; Ruttens, A.; Vandegehuchte, M.; Vangronsveld, J.; Verloo, M.G. (2007). Phytoavailability assessment of heavy metals in soils by single extractions and accumulation by Phaseolus vulgaris. Environ. Exp. Bot. 60(3): 385-396. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2006.12.010, more
Meers, E.; Ruttens, A.; Geebelen, W.; Vangronsveld, J.; Samson, R.; Vanbroekhoven, K.; Vandegehuchte, M.; Diels, L.; Tack, F.M.G. (2006). Potential use of the plant antioxidant network for environmental exposure assessment of heavy metals in soils. Environ. Monit. Assess. 120(1-3): 243-267. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10661-005-9059-7, more
Meers, E.; Unamuno, V.R.; Du Laing, G.; Vangronsveld, J.; Vanbroekhoven, K.; Samson, R.; Diels, L.; Geebelen, W.; Ruttens, A.; Vandegehuchte, M.; Tack, F.M.G. (2006). Zn in the soil solution of unpolluted and polluted soils as affected by soil characteristics. Geoderma 136(1-2): 107-119. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2006.03.031, more
Meers, E.; Unamuno, V.; Vandegehuchte, M.; Vanbroekhoven, K.; Geebelen, W.; Samson, R.; Vangronsveld, J.; Diels, L.; Ruttens, A.; Du Laing, G.; Tack, F. (2005). Soil-solution speciation of Cs as affected by soil characteristics in unpolluted and polluted soils. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 24(3): 499-509. https://dx.doi.org/10.1897/04-231r.1, more
Volckaert, A.; Engledow, H.; Degraer, S.; Vincx, M.; Coppejans, E.; Hoffmann, M. (2002). The epilithic macrofauna and macroalgae of the hard substrates along the Belgian coast. Bull. Kon. Belg. Inst. Natuurwet. Biologie 72(Suppl.): 13-15, more
Bonte, D.; Maelfait, J.-P.; Hoffmann, M. (2000). Seasonal and diurnal migration patterns of the spider (Araneae) fauna of coastal grey dunes. Ekológia (Bratisl.) 19, suppl. 4: 5-16, more
De Deurwaerder, H. (2013). How are anatomical and hydraulic features of Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata trees influenced by siltation?, in: Mees, J. et al. (Ed.) Book of abstracts – VLIZ Young Marine Scientists' Day. Brugge, Belgium, 15 February 2013. VLIZ Special Publication, 63: pp. 125-126, more
Van de Wal, B.A.E.; Guyot, A.; Lovelock, C.E.; Lockington, D.A.; Steppe, K. (2013). Influence of spatial variation in sap flux density on estimates of whole-tree water use in Avicennia marina, in: Steppe, K. (Ed.) IX International Workshop on Sap Flow. pp. 101-106. https://dx.doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2013.991.12, more
Samson, R.; Provoost, S.; Willaert, L.; Lemeur, R. (2005). Supporting dune management by quantitative estimation of evapotranspiration, in: Herrier, J.-L. et al. (Ed.) Proceedings 'Dunes and Estuaries 2005': International Conference on nature restoration practices in European coastal habitats, Koksijde, Belgium 19-23 September 2005. VLIZ Special Publication, 19: pp. 345-354, more
Willaert, L.; Samson, R.; Provoost, S.; Verbeke, L.; Lemeur, R.; Meuleman, K.; De Wulf, R. (2005). LAI determination in dune vegetation: a comparison of different techniques, in: Herrier, J.-L. et al. (Ed.) Proceedings 'Dunes and Estuaries 2005': International Conference on nature restoration practices in European coastal habitats, Koksijde, Belgium 19-23 September 2005. VLIZ Special Publication, 19: pp. 681-682, more
Willaert, L.; Samson, R.; Provoost, S.; Lemeur, R.; Meuleman, K.; De Wulf, R. (2005). Comparison of LAI determination techniques in different dune vegetation types, in: Mees, J. et al.VLIZ Young Scientists' Day, Brugge, Belgium 25 February 2005: book of abstracts. VLIZ Special Publication, 20: pp. 69, more
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De Clercq, P.; Pauwels, E.; Top, S.; Steppe, K.; Van Labeke, M.-C. (2023). Effect of seaweed-based biostimulants on growth and development of Hydrangea paniculata under continuous or periodic drought stress. Horticulturae 9(4): 509.