Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

Personal tools

You are here: Home

Search results

RSS Subscribe to an always-updated RSS feed.

1136 items matching your search terms.
Filter the results.
Item type



































New items since



Sort by relevance · date (newest first) · alphabetically
Article Reference Priorities for ocean microbiome research
Microbial communities have essential roles in ocean ecology and planetary health. Microbes participate in nutrient cycles, remove huge quantities of carbon dioxide from the air and support ocean food webs. The taxonomic and functional diversity of the global ocean microbiome has been revealed by technological advances in sampling, DNA sequencing and bioinformatics. A better understanding of the ocean microbiome could underpin strategies to address environmental and societal challenges, including achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals way beyond SDG 14 ‘life below water’. We propose a set of priorities for understanding and protecting the ocean microbiome, which include delineating interactions between micro- biota, sustainably applying resources from oceanic microorganisms and creating policy- and funder-friendly ocean education resources, and discuss how to achieve these ambitious goals.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Article Reference Physiological response to seawater pH of the bivalve Abra alba, a benthic ecosystem engineer, is modulated by low pH
The presence and behaviour of bivalves can affect the functioning of seafloor sediments through the irrigation of deeper strata by feeding and respiring through siphonal channels. Here, we investigated the physiological response and consecutive impact on functioning and body condition of the white furrow shell Abra alba in three pH treatments (pH = 8.2, pH = 7.9 and pH = 7.7). Although no pH effect on survival was found, lowered respiration and calcification rates, decreased energy intake (lower absorption rate) and increased metabolic losses (increased excretion rates) occurred at pH ~ 7.7. These physiological responses resulted in a negative Scope for Growth and a decreased condition index at this pH. This suggests that the physiological changes may not be sufficient to sustain survival in the long term, which would undoubtedly translate into consequences for ecosystem functioning.
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
Manual Reference A quarter of the Belgian Cerambycidae beetles fauna found in the botanical garden Jean Massart (Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference Three new localities for Gnoriums nobilis in northern Belgium (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference Pentaphyllus testaceus (hellwig, 1792) in de Botanische Tuin Jean Massart (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference Discovery of a new inland population of Amara strenua Zimmerman, 1832 at Heverlee, central Belgium (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2022
Article Reference Recent records of the very rare European carabid beetle Dyschirius (Eudyschirius) semistriatus (Dejean, 1825) (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018
Article Reference De spinnenfauna van enkele heidegebieden nabij Brugge. Deel 1. Bemonsteringen 2014-2015
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018