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CoastBusters-LANICE
To what extent can the tubeworm (polychaete Lanice conchilega) in (wet) coastal strips be considered a potential ecosystem engineer that stabilizes sediment and increases biodiversity? That is the research question in COASTBUSTERS-LANICE, in which, for the purpose of coastal defense, nature restoration, offshore structures and Nature Inspired Design (NID), innovative technologies are being explored to complement known (harder) techniques. The research is driven by the fact that L. conchilega aggregations cannot be “planted” (as opposed to marsh plants or sea grasses). Therefore, we will research how the larvae of this species can be attracted by means of an artificial substrate to the targeted area to develop L. conchilega aggregations. To this aim, the influence of a wide range of substrate characteristics on local flow velocity, particle trapping and larval settlement will be measured. This will be done in the laboratory, in the flow flume and through field experiments a three study sites in the intertidal area. Secondly, the potential of an industrial application of L. conchilega as an appropriate NID concept needs to be quantified and be included in a modelling framework, to predict their use in any targeted area. The influence of its aggregations on flow velocity, wave climate and resulting sedimentation/erosion processes will be measured in the field. Results will be used to create a bio-hydro-sedimentological model (based on Mixt3SedFOAM and TELEMAC-GAIA) to evaluate its influence on the sediment balance in any target area (allow upscaling of results).