English name: Laboratory of Ecology and Systematics Parent institute: Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Faculteit Wetenschappen; Vakgroep Biologie (VUB-DBIO), more
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 (8) : Africa, East [Marine Regions]; ANE, Netherlands, Delta Area [Marine Regions]; ANE, North Sea [Marine Regions]; ISW, Indian Ocean [Marine Regions]; Kenya [Marine Regions]; Singapore [Marine Regions]; Sri Lanka [Marine Regions]; USA, Texas [Marine Regions]
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.
Harlay, J.; Borges, A.V.; Van der Zee, C.; Delille, B.; Godoi, R.H.M.; Schiettecatte, L.S.; Roevros, N.; Aerts, K.; Lapernat, P.E.; Rebreanu, L.; Groom, S.; Daro, M.H.; Van Grieken, R.; Chou, L. (2010). Biogeochemical study of a coccolithophore bloom in the northern Bay of Biscay (NE Atlantic Ocean) in June 2004. Prog. Oceanogr. 86(3-4): 317-336. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2010.04.029, more
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
Beenaerts, N.; Vanden Berghe, E. (2005). Comparative study of three transect methods to assess coral cover, richness and diversity. Western Indian Ocean J. Mar. Sci. 4(1): 29-37, more
Antajan, E.; Chrétiennot-Dinet, M.-J.; Leblanc, C.; Daro, M.-H.; Lancelot, C. (2004). 19'-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin may not be the appropriate pigment to trace occurrence and fate of Phaeocystis: the case of P. globosa in Belgian coastal waters. J. Sea Res. 52(3): 165-177. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2004.02.003, more
Antajan, E.; Gasparini, S. (2004). Assessment of Cryptophyceae ingestion by copepods using alloxanthin pigment: a caution. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 274: 191-198. https://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps274191, more
Gillikin, D.P. (2004). Osmoregulatory ability of Chiromantes ortmanni (Crosnier, 1965) subjected to dilute and hypersaline seawater. Crustaceana 77(1): 67-74. dx.doi.org/10.1163/156854004323037892, more
Gillikin, D.P.; De Wachter, B.; Tack, J.F. (2004). Physiological responses of two ecologically important Kenyan mangrove crabs exposed to altered salinity regimes. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 301(1): 93-109. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2003.09.024, more
Obade, P.T.; Dahdouh-Guebas, F.; Koedam, N.; De Wulf, R.; Tack, J. (2004). GIS-based integration of interdisciplinary ecological data to detect land-cover changes in Creek Mangroves at Gazi Bay, Kenya. Western Indian Ocean J. Mar. Sci. 3(1): 11-27, 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
Samyn, Y. (2003). Shallow-water regular echinoids (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) from Kenya. African Zoology 38(2): 193-212, 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
Bolton, J. J.; Coppejans, E.; Anderson, R. J.; De Clerck, O.; Samyn, Y.; Leliaert, F.; Thandar, A. S. (2001). Biodiversity of seaweeds and echinoderms in the western Indian Ocean. S. Afr. J. Sci. = S.-Afr. Tydskr. Wet. 97: 453-454, more
Gillikin, D.P.; De Grave, S.; Tack, J.F. (2001). The occurrence of the semi-terrestrial shrimp Merguia oligodon (De Man, 1888) in Neosarmatium smithi H. Milne Edwards, 1853 burrows in Kenyan mangroves. Crustaceana 74: 505-507. dx.doi.org/10.1163/156854001750243081, more
Gasparini, S.; Daro, M.H.; Antajan, E.; Tackx, M.; Rousseau, V.; Parent, J.-Y.; Lancelot, C. (2000). Mesozooplankton grazing during the Phaeocystis globosa bloom in the Southern Bight of the North Sea. J. Sea Res. 43(3-4): 345-356. dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1385-1101(00)00016-2, more
Meyer, A.A.; Tackx, M.; Daro, N. (2000). Xanthophyll cycling in Phaeocystis globosa and Thalassiosira sp.: a possible mechanism for species succession. J. Sea Res. 43(3-4): 373-384. dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1385-1101(00)00031-9, 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
Rousseau, V.; Becquevort, S.; Parent, J.-Y.; Gasparini, S.; Daro, M.H.; Tackx, M.; Lancelot, C. (2000). Trophic efficiency of the planktonic food web in a coastal ecosystem dominated by Phaeocystis colonies. J. Sea Res. 43(3-4): 357-372. dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1385-1101(00)00018-6, more
Samyn, Y. (2000). Conservation of aspidochirotid holothurians in the littoral waters of Kenya. SPC Beche-de-mer Information Bulletin 13: 12-17, more
Dahdouh-Guebas, F.; Verneirt, M.; Tack, J.F.; Van Speybroeck, D.; Koedam, N. (1998). Propagule predators in Kenyan mangroves and their possible effect on regeneration. Mar. Freshw. Res. 49(4): 345-350, more
Dahdouh-Guebas, F.; Verneirt, M.; Tack, J.F.; Koedam, N. (1997). Food preferences of Neosarmatium meinerti de Man (Decapoda: Sesarminae) and its possible effect on the regeneration of mangroves. Hydrobiologia 347: 83-89, more
Osore, M. K. W.; Tackx, M.L.M.; Daro, M.H. (1997). The effect of rainfall and tidal rhythm on the community structure and abundance of the zooplankton of Gazi Bay, Kenya. Hydrobiologia 356: 117-126. dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1003147525611, more
Cannicci, S.; Dahdouh-Guebas, F.; Anyona, D.; Vannini, M. (1996). Natural diet and feeding habits of Thalamita crenata (Decapoda, Portunidae). J. Crust. Biol. 16(4): 678-683, more
Cannicci, S.; Anyona, D.; Dahdouh-Guebas, F. (1994). Homing in the mangrove swimming crab Thalamita crenata (Decapoda: Portunidae). Boll. Zool. 61(Suppl. 001): 92. dx.doi.org/10.1080/11250009409355930, more
Giuggioli, M.; Dahdouh-Guebas, F.; Cannicci, S. (1994). Feeding specialization and activity in certain mangrove crabs. Boll. Zool. 61(Suppl. 001): 41. dx.doi.org/10.1080/11250009409355978, more
Okemwa, E. N.; Revis, N. (1986). Planktonic copepods from coastal and inshore waters of Tudor Creek, Mombasa. Kenya J. Sci. (B Biol. Sci.) 7(2): 27-34, more
Joiris, C. (1978). Ecological implications of July seabird distribution in the northern North Sea. Ibis 120(1): 125-126, more
Beenaerts, N. (2007). Capacity building, training and education in ICZM, in: Claus, S. et al. (Ed.) Background report First BeNCoRe Conference: State of the Art and future of Belgian Coastal Research. BeNCoRe and its relation to the Green Paper on a future European Maritime Policy, Leuven, 26 April 2007. pp. 22, 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
Antajan, E.; Chrétiennot-Dinet, M.-J.; Leblanc, C.; Daro, M.-H.; Lancelot, C. (2004). 19'-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin may not be the appropriate pigment to trace occurrence and fate of Phaeocystis: the case of P. globosa in Belgian coastal waters, in: Antajan, E. Responses of calanoid copepods to changes in phytoplankton dominance in the diatoms - Phaeocystis globosa dominated Belgium coastal waters. pp. 48-62, more
Antajan, E.; Gasparini, S. (2004). Assessment of Cryptophyceae ingestion by copepods using alloxanthin pigment: a caution, in: Antajan, E. Responses of calanoid copepods to changes in phytoplankton dominance in the diatoms - Phaeocystis globosa dominated Belgium coastal waters. pp. 68-84, more
ECOMAMA students; Mubiana, V.; Beenaerts, N. (2004). International ECOMAMA community meets benthic communities at De Panne, in: Mees, J. et al.VLIZ Young Scientists' Day, Brugge, Belgium 5 March 2004: book of abstracts. VLIZ Special Publication, 17: pp. 48, more
Bolton, J.J.; Coppejans, E.; Anderson, R.J.; De Clerck, O.; Samyn, Y.; Leliaert, F.; Thandar, A.S. (2003). Biodiversity studies on seaweeds and echinoderms in the transition between temperate southern Africa and the tropical western lndian Ocean, in: Samyn, Y. Towards an understanding of the shallow-water holothuroid fauna (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) of the western Indian Ocean. pp. 338-339, more
ECOMAMA students; Mubiana, V.; Beenaerts, N. (2003). Flux 'n stock around the clock: a 24-h survey of carbon and nutrient dynamics in the Spuikom lagoon (Ostend, Belgium), in: Mees, J. et al.VLIZ Young Scientists' Day, Brugge, Belgium 28 February 2003: book of abstracts. VLIZ Special Publication, 12: pp. 36, more
Samyn, Y. (2003). Conservation of aspidochirotid holothurians in the littoral waters of Kenya, in: Samyn, Y. Towards an understanding of the shallow-water holothuroid fauna (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) of the western Indian Ocean. pp. 370-375, more
Polk, P. (2002). Oesters van weleer: een historische schets van de oesterkweek in de Oostendse Spuikom, in: Mees, J. et al.De Oostendse Spuikom: historiek, onderzoek en perspectieven. Relaas Spuikom Studiedag 8 december 2000 Duin en Zee (Oostende). pp. 9-12, more
Samyn, Y. (2002). Knowing and understanding the shallow-water holothurian biodiversity of the western Indian Ocean will even the path for conservation, in: Mees, J. et al. (Ed.) VLIZ Young Scientists' Day, Brugge, Belgium 13 March 2002: book of abstracts. VLIZ Special Publication, 7: pp. 24, more
Samyn, Y.; Appeltans, W. (2002). Maintaining native levels of shallow-water holothurian biodiversity in the western Indian Ocean (poster), in: Mees, J. et al. (Ed.) VLIZ Young Scientists' Day, Brugge, Belgium 13 March 2002: book of abstracts. VLIZ Special Publication, 7: pp. 42, more
Samyn, Y. (2001). Taxonomy, systematics and faunistics of the Holothuroidea from the Western Indian Ocean, in: VLIZ Young Scientists' Day, Brugge, Belgium 23 February 2001: book of abstracts. VLIZ Special Publication, 1: pp. 55, more
Samyn, Y.; Vanden Berghe, E. (2000). Faunistics as an impetus for conservation of sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) in the littoral waters of Kenya. CM Documents - ICES, C.M. 2000(Mini:14). ICES: Copenhagen. 1 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
Tack, J. F. (1999). Behavioural aspects of the mangrove oyster Saccostrea cucullata (von Born, 1778) explaining its macro and micro distribution along the Kenyan coast. Vrije Universiteit Brussel: VUB. 245 pp., more
Van Hout, T. (1998). Patterns of distribution of Echinothrix diadema (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) in the Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve, Kenya. MSc Thesis. Vrije Universiteit Brussel: Brussel. 71 pp., more
Van Mieghem, R. (1996). Mesozooplankton in de Zeeschelde. MSc Thesis. Vrije Universiteit Brussel: Brussel. 28 + annexes pp., more
Aernaudts, H. (1990). Seston in mangrove ecosysteem (Gazi, Kenia) = Seston in a mangrove ecosystem (Gazi, Kenya). MSc Thesis. VUB: Brussel. 52 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
Joiris, C. (1988). Goelands d'Audouin (Larus audouinii) et railleur (Larus genei) en baie de Calvi (Corse), in: Actes du colloque: recherches oceanographiques en mer Mediterranee (biologie, chimie, géologie, physique). pp. 193-195, more
Packard, T.T.; Joiris, C.; Lasserre, P.; Minas, H.J.; Pamatmat, M.; Skjoldal, A.R.; Ulanowicz, R.E.; Vosjan, J.H.; Warwick, R.M.; Le B. Williams, P.J. (1984). Respiration, in: Fasham, M.J.R. (Ed.) Flows of Energy and Materials in Marine Ecosystems: Theory and practice. Proceedings of a NATO Advanced Research Institute, held May 13-19, 1982, in Carcans, France. NATO Conference Series. IV. Marine Sciences, 13: pp. 641-649, more
Bossicart, M. (1981). Etude du zooplancton en Mer du Nord. W.H./1981 - 01. Ekologie en Systematiek, V.U.B.: Brussel. 73 pp., more
Bossicart, M. (1980). Etude du zooplancton en Mer du Nord. Croisière "Hétérogenéité spatiale" 17-18-19 avril 1978. Ekologie en Systematiek, V.U.B.: Brussel. 86 pp., more
Bossicart, M. (1980). Etude du zooplancton en Mer du Nord. W.H./1980 - 01. Ekologie en Systematiek, V.U.B.: Brussel. 69 pp., more
Bossicart, M. (1979). Etude du zooplancton en Mer du Nord. W.H./1979 - 01. Ekologie en Systematiek, V.U.B.: Brussel. 62 pp., more
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Heyden, D.; Moermans, R.; Bossicart, M. (1974). Observations sur la reproductibilité des mesures de respiration du zooplancton au Bassin de chasse d'Ostende (Spuikom) et en mer et variabilité dans le comptage de 10 sous-échantillons de zooplancton. Technical Reports I.C.W.B. - C.I.P.S., 1974/BIOL(01). Laboratoire de Biologie Marine (U.Lg.)/Laboratorium voor Ekologie en Systematiek (V.U.B.): Liège. 15 pp., more
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AMORE II: Advanced modelling and research on eutrophication: linking eutrophication and biological resources, more
AMORE: Advanced modelling and research on eutrophication
Anthropogenically Induced Changes in Groundwater Outflow and Quality and the Functioning of Eastern African Nearshore Ecosystems
Assessment of mangrove degradation and resilience in the Indian Sub-continent: the cases of Godavari Estuary and South West Sri Lank
BENCORE: Belgian Network for Coastal Reseach, more
Benthos, nekton and plankton of the North Sea and the Delta area. I
Benthos, nekton and plankton of the North Sea and the Delta area. II
Bioconcentration of organic micropollutants in marine ecosystems, more
Biodiversity studies on seaweeds and echinoderms in the transition between temperate southern Africa and the tropical western Indian Ocean
Biological availability of heavy metals in sediments and benthos of the Scheldt estuary
Biotic interactions in turbid estuarine systems, more
Causal factors of biodiversity : community structure, phylogeny and biogeography. A comparative study of the fauna of tropical and subtropical estuaries and lagoons
Causal factors of biodiversity: community structure, phylogeny and biogeography. A comparative study of the fauna of tropical and subtropical estuaries and lagoons. Study 1996
CCCC: Role of oceanic production and dissolution of calcium carbonate in climate change, more
COMETS: Cluster Eutrophication
Cooperation in the investigations over long-term exploitation of natural resources in mangrove forests
Cursus in Kustecologie, -beheer en -bescherming
De invloed van grondwateruitstroming langsheen de Oost-Afrikaanse kustzone op het voedings- en kolonisatiegedrag van de mangroveoester Saccostrea cucullata (von Born, 1778)
Ecology of commercially exploitable seacucumbers of Kenya
ECOMAMA: Ecological Marine Management
Exploitation on mangrove forest wood reforestation and oyster culture research project
FAME: Fundamental and Applied Marine Ecology
Faunistics of the Echinodermata of the western Indian Ocean
Fundamental and ecological aspects of the mangrove-ecosystem and its evolution under increasing anthropogenic pressure
Interaction of water column and the tide land in the Sea-Scheldt
JEEP: Major biological processes in European tidal estuaries
Lipofilicity and normalization of organic micro- pollutants in organic systems
Management mangroves of Kenya: synthesis ecological data
Marine and estuarine plankton, especially in the Western Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific
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Harlay, J.; Borges, A.V.; Van der Zee, C.; Delille, B.; Godoi, R.H.M.; Schiettecatte, L.S.; Roevros, N.; Aerts, K.; Lapernat, P.E.; Rebreanu, L.; Groom, S.; Daro, M.H.; Van Grieken, R.; Chou, L. (2010). Biogeochemical study of a coccolithophore bloom in the northern Bay of Biscay (NE Atlantic Ocean) in June 2004. Prog. Oceanogr. 86(3-4): 317-336.