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Mastersthesis Reference Etude d'impact des changements hydrodynamiques induits par une ferme d'aquaculture de moules offshore
About 30 years ago, researchers of RBINS developed COHERENS (coupled hydrodynamical-ecological model for regional and shelf seas), a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model designed for a wide range of applications in coastal and shelf seas, estuaries, lakes and reservoirs. The main goal of this internship is to quantify the hydrographic changes (especially marine currents) induced by an offshore mussel aquaculture farm similar to the industrial project "Wesdiep Sea Farm", using the COHERENS model. The mussel aquaculture technique used in this project is known to disturb currents and turbulence in the water column. The goal of this internship is to implement the parameterisation of the impacts of the mussel droppers in the COHERENS hydrodynamic model as well as the addition of a new source term for turbulent kinetic energy production. Then, a sensitivity study will be carried out using the implementation made in a test case of a simplified mussel aquaculture farm. Note that in parallel to this report, a more complete report was produced for RBINS within the framework of this internship and the student has already been offered a contract of employment.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022 OA
Mastersthesis Reference Approche morphométrique et dendrométrique de la croissance du pin pignon (Pinus pinea L.) en Basse Provence. Caractères adaptatifs et variabilité des provenances.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Mastersthesis Reference Etude des peuplements de chênes lièges (Quercus suber L.) dans le Massif des Maures (Département du Var). Essai d’identification des "crûs de liège" et corrélation avec les différents paramètres de l’environnement.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Mastersthesis Reference Sedimentologische, stratigrafische en paleoecologische studie van de Pliocene en Quartaire afzettingen aangetroffen in fase 2 van het Verrebroekdok, provincie Oost-Vlaanderen.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications
Mastersthesis Reference Amino Acid Fingerprinting to Distinguish Between Faecal Pellets of Fouling Fauna near an Offshore Wind Farm
Installation of OWFs have increased with the aim to combat climate change. They act as hard substrates which facilitates the growth of fouling fauna that are capable of enriching the sediments surrounding OWFs. Hence, biogeochemical changes occur and potentially creates a carbon sink, possibly demonstrating an unexpected positive effect of OWFs. Faecal pellets released by fouling fauna cannot be easily distinguished from other end-members of the OM pool (phytoplankton, zooplankton) and therefore this enrichment pathway has not been quantified yet. This study focused on optimising a CSIA-AA protocol for the novel use of amino acid fingerprinting of the FPs of dominant fouling fauna collected from an OWF in Belgium and investigate species-specific and season-stable patterns in AAs. Results suggested that the CSIA-AA protocol was successful in characterising the AAs in the FPs and were able to identify trophic AAs (increase in δ 15 N with trophic level) that were species- specific (alanine and isoleucine) and some that were stable across seasons (aspartic acid and leucine). Hence, future research can use CSIA-AA to accurately identify season-stable tracers that are specific to fouling fauna, characterise other end-members of the OM pool and estimate the contribution of each member to the carbon budget of an OWF.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Mastersthesis Reference Protecting the marine environment whilst installing offshore windfarms: the effect of scour protection layers on benthic biodiversity
The North Sea will soon see the installation of a higher number of wind turbine foundations, greatly expanding the habitat options for reef species. These offshore structures constitute a new, artificial, hard substratum habitat on the Belgian continental shelf, where the seafloor is primarily made up of muddy and sandy sediment. The possibility of co-designing offshore wind farms with more microhabitats through increasing habitat complexity is one method for the multiple uses of wind farms. This method is known as nature-inclusive building. The structure and dynamics of ecological communities are significantly influenced by habitat complexity. Hence, an increased complexity frequently results in greater species variety and abundance. The objective of this study was to investigate whether adding complexity to the scour protection layer (SPL) increased the diversity and functionality of the ecosystem already present at the bottom of wind turbines (macrobenthos community). To study this, three different variables of 76 species were analysed: richness, biomass, and abundance. Despite being the first time to manipulate the SPL of wind farms, it has been possible to observe and demonstrate that the complexity of these structures affects the ecosystem’s richness. Of the four different treatments, a greater number of species were observed in the most complex ones (3 and 4) compared to the others. In addition, although there were no significant differences, trends of higher biomass of certain species (belonging to decapods and sea anemones) were observed in the presence of higher complexity. Conversely, the constant presence of amphipods was observed across all the treatments. With this study, we wanted to emphasise the importance of the artificial reef effect of the SPL and, together with the microhabitats that it can provide, if at the time of its construction, an attempt is made from an “eco-friendlier” perspective, combining the knowledge of ingested together with the biological. In addition, it provides more knowledge and understanding of this methodology by improving it and obtaining results more similar to those expected in the future.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Mastersthesis Reference Long-term impacts of offshore wind farms presence on benthic communities in the Belgian part of the North Sea
This study investigates the long-term impacts of offshore wind farms (OWFs) on macrobenthic communities at a far distance (250-500 m) from wind turbines in the C-Power offshore wind farm, on the ThorntonBank (Belgian Part of the North Sea) over a time span of 15 years (2005- 2020). We anticipated that due to the changes in hydrodynamics around wind turbines, together with the increase in depositional flow of faecal pellets produced by filter-feeding epifauna living on the foundation of the wind turbine, there will be an increase in macrobenthic abundance and species richness, as well as a shift in macrobenthos community composition. We also hypothesized that owing to fishery exclusion in offshore wind farms concession areas the ThorntonBank (impact area) and GooteBank (reference area) would grow apart from each other in terms of abundance and species richness, as well as in terms of species composition. Our 15 years analysis supported the hypothesis of an increase in macrobenthic abundance and species richness as fine sediment fraction and total organic matter content increase within the sediment of OWFs. The appearance and subsequent increase in Terebellidae sp. and Ophelia borealis suggested a shift in macrobenthos community composition when compared to the baseline study of 2005. However, changes in macrobenthic abundance, species richness and species composition were observed on both sandbanks, suggesting that either human activities that once took place on the GooteBank affected the communities there, or adding wind turbine does not generate strong impacts on macrobenthic communities. The observed fluctuations over the years could then be due to normal fluctuations in macrobenthos, or that other factors are at play such as climate change. However, in order to confirm these statements, additional studies on macrobenthos within the Belgian Part of the North Sea should be done on the long term. Further analysis should also be carried out in order to confirm the potential shift from a Nepthys cirrosa community toward an Abra alba community
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Mastersthesis Reference Effect of pile driving on the seasonal and geographical distribution of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phoecoena) in the Belgian Part of the North Sea
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Incollection Reference Les restes humains de la fortification
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2021
Mastersthesis Reference Variations spatiales des communautés de macroarthropodes du sol et de vers de terre d'un pré de fauche en réponse à des variations du régime de fertilisation minérale
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2021