The Marine Biology research group (MARBIOL) performs ecological and systematic research on marine ecosystems. Since its foundation in the 1970s, there has been a geographical expansion of the study areas (North Sea to tropical and polar regions, including deep-sea ecosystems) and a shift from morphological, taxonomic and ecological studies based on field observations towards process-oriented and functional studies with an experimental, bio(geo)chemical and molecular approach. The policy-oriented questions regarding sustainable fisheries, marine spatial planning and nature conservation constitute important elements in the valorisation of the fundamental research conducted by the group. The research focuses on three research pillars:
Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning: Marine biodiversity loss and invasive species are a concern for ecosystem functioning, jeopardising the provision of ecosystem goods and services and therefore affecting human well-being. By performing laboratory and field experiments and observational studies, a better understanding of the marine ecosystem is aimed for, giving the baseline and best practice to underpin sound ecosystem management. In this context, the group studies food web structure and flow of energy, species interactions, dispersal ecology, population dynamics, acclimation and adaptation, taxonomy, patterns of diversity and community structure, diversity-ecosystem functioning relationships, resistance and resilience of populations, communities and ecosystem functioning, carbon and nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration in marine sediments;
Anthropogenic impact and climate change: MARBIOL focuses on advancing the field of climate change ecology and anthropogenic impact assessment in general, as marine communities are under increasing pressure. The group has a specific interest in how ecosystems, and specifically benthic systems, communities and species, cope with those changes at the level of individuals and populations and how these form ecological patterns across spatial scales. The research includes the study of the effects of microplastics, the impact of deep-sea mining, the effect of offshore wind farms and anthropogenic underwater noise, the impact of fisheries and aquaculture, impacts of specific aspects of global change such as ocean acidification and warming, sea ice decline and glacier retreat on functioning of marine ecosystems, species interactions and energy flow in marine food webs;
Marine resource and environmental management: The group aims to improve insights into the complexities of marine resources (and related activities) and environmental management in order to provide guidance for sustainable value creation. Understanding the interplay between all stakeholders (policy, science, industry and society) and underlying impacts of marine resource exploitation is key to a sustainable use of the sea. In this context, research focus is on deep-sea mining,marine renewable energy, environmental monitoring, fisheries, aquaculture, sand extraction and the role of biodiversity for coastal restoration.
Claessens, M.; Rappé, K.; Monteyne, E.; Wille, K.; Noppe, H.; Vincx, M.; De Brabander, H.; Roose, P.; Mees, J.; Janssen, C. (2008). INRAM - Integrated Risk Assessment and Monitoring of micropollutants in the Belgian coastal zone. Universiteit Gent: Gent. 1 poster pp., more
Claessens, M.; Rappé, K.; Monteyne, E.; Wille, K.; Noppe, H.; Vincx, M.; De Brabander, H.; Roose, P.; Mees, J.; Janssen, C. (2008). INRAM - Integrated Risk Assessment and Monitoring of micropollutants in the Belgian coastal zone, in: Mees, J. et al. (Ed.) VLIZ Young Scientists' Day, Brugge, Belgium, 29 February 2008: book of abstracts. VLIZ Special Publication, 40: pp. 37, more
Rappé, K.; Vincx, M. (2008). Blue mussels and Pacific oysters in Belgian coastal harbours as test organisms for environmental stress, in: Mees, J. et al. (Ed.) VLIZ Young Scientists' Day, Brugge, Belgium, 29 February 2008: book of abstracts. VLIZ Special Publication, 40: pp. 62, more
Rappé, K.; Vincx, M. (2008). Blue mussels and Pacific oysters in Belgian coastal harbours as test organisms for environmental stress. Universiteit Gent: Gent. 1 poster pp., more
Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ugent; Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models; Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, Ugent; Marine Biology Section, Ugent. Belgium. INRAM. Integrated Risk Assessment and Monitoring of micropollutants in the Belgian coastal zone - SSD - Belgian Science Policy. http://www.vliz.be/projects/inram/imis.php?module=dataset&dasid=1414, more
Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Ugent; Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models; Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, Ugent; Marine Biology Section, Ugent. Belgium. INRAM. Supporting environmental data of the INRAM sampling campaigns.- SSD - Belgian Science Policy. Available online http://www.vliz.be/projects/inram/imers.php. [accessed on ‘date’], more
Marine Biology Section, Ugent. Belgium. INRAM. Benthic fauna monitoring- SSD - Belgian Science Policy. Available online http://www.vliz.be/projects/inram/imers.php. [accessed on ‘date’], more
Marine Biology Section, Ugent. Belgium. INRAM. Blue Mussel and Giant Pacific oyster studies - SSD - Belgian Science Policy. [accessed on ‘date’], more
Marine Biology Section, Ugent. Belgium. INRAM. Mysid population studies - SSD - Belgian Science Policy. Available online http://www.vliz.be/projects/inram/imers.php. [accessed on ‘date’], more
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INRAM is a project Supported by