LAQUAN - Belgian Federal Science Policy Office · 01 part 2 global change, ecosystems and biodiversity spsd ii scientific support plan for a sustainable development policy laquan

PART 201 GLOBAL CHANGE, ECOSYSTEMS AND BIODIVERSITY S

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L A Q U A NL A T E Q U A T E R N A R Y C L I M A T E H I S T O R Y O F C O A S T A LA N T A R C T I C E N V I R O N M E N T S : A M U L T I - P R O X Y A P P R O A C H

C O N T E X T

LAQUAN aims to maintain and develop Belgium’srole as an integral part of two international researchprogrammes. Both are core projects in the BritishAntarctic Survey (UK) 2000-2006 five year scienceprogramme “Signals in Antarctica of Past GlobalChanges (SAGES), which combines lake, ice andmarine sediment cores in an integrated study of pastenvironments. The project contributes to the SPSD II objectives“Atmosphere and Climate”, by developing newmethodologies, which will allow a better under-standing of past climate change in Antarctica. It alsowill contribute to the development of datasets forthe validation and calibration of climate and icesheet models.

P R O J E C T D E S C R I P T I O N

LAQUAN aims to contribute to the study of the LateQuaternary climate history of two contrastingAntarctic environments (Larsemann Hills andAlexander Island), by a multi-proxy, multi-siteresearch of sediment cores from coastal lakes.

ObjectivesThe specific objectives of the project are:1) The further development and testing of moleculartools (based on rDNA) for palaeoenvironmentalreconstruction.2) The development of calibration datasets of fos-silizable protists and biomolecules representing cur-rent environmental variability in contrasting mar-itime and continental Antarctic coastal regions.3) The construction and validation of interferencemodels and indices to reconstruct environmentalconditions based on fossil assemblages of a range ofmicro-organisms and biomolecules.4) The application of these multiple proxies in theanalysis of sediment cores from coastal lakes in con-tinental and maritime Antarctica.5) The participation in the integrated analysis of mul-tiple biological, physical and chemical proxies and inthe formulation of regional reconstruction of climatechange in Antarctica during the past 30.000 years.

Methodology

Link with international programmesLAQUAN is an integral part of two internationalresearch programmes, "Palaeolimnological investiga-tions of coastal continental lakes in the LarsemannHills" and "Millennial-scale History of the George VISound Ice Shelf and Palaeoenvironmental History ofAlexander Island, Antarctic Peninsula".

Expected results1) The project and its integration in internationalresearch programmes will be presented in a websitethat will be updated regularly to include a summaryof major findings and the final results and will pro-vide access to the database containing the calibra-tion datasets and image databases.2) We anticipate that the project will spawn primaryresearch papers, which will appear in front-line jour-nals and that these will be used in major review andsynthesis papers. In addition, the project will presentdata to the scientific, political and public communi-ties at the occasion of international and nationalmeetings.3) The image database will contain new digitalimages of lacustrine and marine microfossils, taxo-nomic descriptions and autoecological and distribu-

Duration of the project: 01/12/2000 – 28/02/2005Budget: € 545.787,18Keywords: Antarctica, Larsemann Hills, Molecular Markers, Diatoms, Lake Sediments Development

of molecular markersULG/RUG

Calibrationdataset rDNA

markersULg/RUG

Calibrationdataset diatoms

& pigmentsRUG/ULg/

InternationalPartners

transfer functions

RUG

PalaeoecologicalresearchRUG/ULg/


reconstructionenvironmental

historyRUG/ULg/


website andexploitation

RUG/ULg/

synthesis andpublicationRUG/ULg/


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A publication of the PPS Science policyWetenschapsstraat 8 Rue de la Science - B - 1000 BrusselsTEL.: + 32 2 238 34 11 - FAX: + 32 2 230 59 12 - http://www.belspo.beApril 2003

C O N TA C T I N F O R M AT I O N

Co-ordinator

Wim Vyverman Universiteit Gent (RUG)Vakgroep Biologie –OnderzoeksgroepProtistologie en AquatischeEcologie

Krijgslaan 281 – S9B-9000 Gent

Tel: +32 (0)9 264 85 01Fax: +32 (0)9 264 85 99

[email protected]

Partner

Annick WilmotteUniversité de Liège (ULg)Centre d’ingénierie desprotéines - Institut deChimie

Sart Tilman, B6B-4000 Liège

Tel: +32 (0)4 366 38 56Fax: +32 (0)4 366 33 64

[email protected]/cingprot/

Users CommitteeFor the complete and mostup-to-date composition ofthe Users Committee, please consult our FederalResearch Actions Database(FEDRA) by visitingwww.belspo.be

tional data. This database will provide an importanttool to both palaeoecological and taxonomicresearch in polar environments.4) The new rDNA sequences will be deposited ininternational databases.5) The project will contribute to work tasks set by thePast Global Changes (PAGES) component of theInternational Geosphere Biosphere Programme(IGBP) and by projects of the Scientific Committee forAntarctic Research (SCAR) Global Change andAntarctica Programme (GLOCHANT). Specifically, itwill contribute to PAGES Stream 1 (last 2000 years)and stream 2 (late Quaternary), and to theGLOCHANT projects (also adopted by PAGES):International Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition(ITASE), Antarctic Ice Margin Evolution (ANTIME)Stream 1 (last 20 000 years), and Palaeoenvironmentsfrom Ice Cores (PICE).6) Data from our major activities will be depositedwith the PAGES International Palo-Data System atthe World Data Centre-A for Palaeoclimatology(WDC-A) in Boulder, Colorado.7) This project will contribute to the further develop-ment of the Belgian expertise in Antarctic researchand to the realisation of the responsibilities and roleof Belgium in the Antarctic Convention.8) The development of new biological proxies toreconstruct climate-induced environmental changesin Antarctica will provide an important tool forfuture international research and is a distinguishingfeature of Belgium’s role in this project.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

RUGDevelopment of calibration dataset for lacustrinediatoms from Continental and Maritime Antarctica.The construction of inference models on the basis ofthe calibration datasets and on the basis of the cali-bration datasets constructed by ULg. The applicationof the transfer functions on sediment cores from theLarsemann Hills and Alexander Island. Integration ofthe biological (microfossils, molecular markers, pig-ments) and the sedimentological proxies in thereconstruction of climatic and environmentalchanges in the two Antarctic regions.

ULgTesting and development of molecular methodolo-gies for the reconstruction of past environments.Construction of a calibration dataset of rDNA mark-ers from continental and maritime Antarctica.Participation in the construction of inference modelsand the integration of the different proxies.

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C L I M L A K EC L I M A T E V A R I A B I L I T Y A S R E C O R D E D I N L A K E T A N G A N Y I K A

CONTEXT

Many changes in the climate in the recent yearsaffect the life of millions of people in the world(increase of air temperature, droughts or intenserainfalls...). For the humankind, it is important tounderstand the causes of those changes to either actdirectly upon them (by reducing CO2 emissions anddecrease the greenhouse effect for example) or todevelop methods that will help to foresee and miti-gate the type of climate changes expected.Information is needed on the natural variability ofthe climate on earth. One of the ways to reach thisobjective is to study sediments of lakes. The sedi-ments of Lake Tanganyika are among the oldest onearth (10-20 millions years old). They contain remainsof algae assemblages that developed in various lakeand climate conditions. Information on the earth’sclimate history can help to forecast future change ofthe earth climate.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

ObjectivesThe first objective of CLIMLAKE is to collect data forquantifying pelagic communities changes (bacteria,phytoplankton, protozoa, metazooplankton andpelagic fishes). It is aimed at relating these data tothe physical and chemical variables, hydrodynamicsand climate variability. These relationships shouldhelp to interpret changes in sediments and in somealgae (diatom) assemblages in sediment cores, there-by providing insight on past climate at different timescales. A model (ECO-HYDRO) linking the lake move-ments with the changes in organisms in the lake dur-ing the 3 annual cycles will be developed.

The second objective of CLIMLAKE is to relate thelocal climate and changes of the lake characteristicswith remote variations in oceanographic and climat-ic conditions. This objective should be achieved bycoupling the eco-hydrodynamic model of LakeTanganyika with a local and regional climate model.

The third objective is to use the coupled model ECO-HYDRO and the sediment proxies of the lake forinvestigating the environmental and climate changesthat occurred during the past 1500 years at Lake

Tanganyika and to compare this to the climate vari-ability studied in other areas of the world during thesame period.

Methodology1 Set-up of a new programme for data acquisition,consisting of meteorological measurements (continu-ous) and limnological sampling (biweekly) at two sta-tions of Lake Tanganyika during 3 years (2002 –2004).2 Development of an hydrodynamic model for pre-dicting upwelling and internal waves from wind pat-tern and velocity and other relevant variables avail-able from existing data sets of previous studies; vali-dation of the model will be carried out with the newdata acquired in the study.3 Use of trace elements indicators (Sr, B, Ba, Mn, RareEarth Elements, Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu) in order to quantifythe water movements.4 Test a bivalve mollusc (Pleiodon spekii) as arecorder for environmental change using microdrilland laser ablation with ICP-MS to perform reliableweekly to daily trace element distributions in chemi-cally marked shells. After validation, we hope to usethese shells to study past changes during the instru-mental period (last 100 years) and tune the model.5 Use a new isotopic indicator (based on silicon iso-topes) to track changes of diatom production in thesurface waters by calibration against primary produc-tion measurements and other productivity proxies(e.g. Ba excess).6 Use of limnological indicators, in particular phyto-plankton composition, which responds in the shortterm (days, weeks) to fluctuations of various factors(light, temperature, mixing regime, nutrient inputsto surface layers).7 Continuation of analysis of sediment cores address-ing environmental change in Lake Tanganyika duringthe past 1500 years using diatoms, sedimentologyand other proxies.8 Development of a descriptive lake model integra-ting climate and weather data, hydrodynamics, nutri-ent availability, primary production, plankton com-munity structure and geochemical indicators.9 Development of a predictive model to relate cli-mate change and ecosystem function.

Interaction between the different partnersDuring a first period of 3 years, three teams (Namur-FUNDP, Gent-RUG and Tervuren-MRAC-KMMA) aredeveloping a monitoring (in partnership withZambian and Tanzanian colleagues) collecting andanalysing data in several fields (limnology, planktonand geochemistry mainly). During the first 2 years, afourth team (UCL) is developing a hydrodynamicmodel based on previous observations. This informa-tion will be updated and tuned at the end of the sec-ond year of monitoring with recent data. Ecological

Duration of the project: 01/12/2001 – 28/02/2005Budget: € 1.236.984,29 Keywords: Climate Change, Palaeoclimate, Limnology, Modelling, Tanganyika

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information will then be implemented with thehydrodynamic model to constitute a multidisciplinarytool to be used for sediment interpretation andobtaining past climate information. The model willfinally be used in the frame of climate change sce-narios to forecast possible environmental changes.

Link with international programmes■ The project fits the objectives of IGBP's Core ProjectPAGES ("Global Palaeoclimate and EnvironmentalVariability"). It aims to study the past climate variabi-lity (Timestream 1: Holocene with special emphasison the last 2000 yr.) in a site along the PEP-3 (Pole-Equator-Pole (Afro-European) Transect. – The projectis closely collaborating with IDEAL (InternationalDecade for the East African Lakes), a program that ispart of PAGES.

■ The project meets also the aims of WCRP/CLIVAR asit will improve the understanding of decadal to cen-tury scale climate variability, especially as relevant toimproving predictability, through the use of highresolution palaeoclimatic data as well as building amodel dealing with the impact of the actual climatevariability and changes on a great lake ecosystem.

■ The project also corresponds to the themes definedin Key Action 2 "Global change, climate and biodi-versity" of the "Energy, Environment & SustainableDevelopment" Programme of EC DG XII.

■ The CLIMLAKE project works in close collaborationwith two African research institutes: TAFIRI(Tanzanian Fisheries Research Institute) in Tanzaniaand DOF (Department of Fisheries) in Zambia.

Expected results ■ The project is presented in a web site that is updat-ed every 6 months(http://www.fundp.ac.be/urbo/climlake.html).■ Beside the international peer review publications,the project will present data adapted to diverse typesof audiences (scientific, politics, general public...).■ An interdisciplinary database will be made availableto the climate modellers. It will hold three types ofinformation: (a) Lake Tanganyika information (lim-nology), (b) regional data on climate, (c) global dataindices.■ The results of the project (palaeoclimate series) willbe made available to the international research com-munity. This is a participation of Belgium researchersto important international climate research programsuch as IGBP/PAGE.■ This research is part of the international effort deal-ing with the global warming issue. The records ofglobal signals and their comparisons, particularly forthe recent Holocene is a key point to understandactual climate changes.■ An international symposium will be organised on"The African Rift Great Lakes as recent and past cli-mate impacts recorders”.■ Climate-fisheries relationships will help to supportthe fisheries management and its sustainability atLake Tanganyika.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

FUNDP Limnological sampling (temperature, light, dissolvedoxygen, conductivity, pH, nutrient, metazooplank-ton, elemental analysis, pigments,...).

MRAC-KMMA ■ Diatom productivity (silicon isotopes) and geochem-istry of water, particles and mollusc shells.■ Database (climate, limnology...).

RUG ■ Study of the present phytoplankton (distribution,dynamics).■ Palaeolimnological analysis of fossil diatoms in sed-iment cores.

UCL ■ Building a 3D hydrodynamic model from wind pat-tern, velocity and other variables.■ Coupling to an ecological model in collaborationwith all the teams.


Website of the network:www.fundp.ac.be/urbo/climlake.html

Co-ordinator

Jean-Pierre Descy andPierre-Denis PlisnierFacultés UniversitairesNotre-Dame de la Paix(FUNDP) Département de BiologieUnité de Recherches enBiologie des Organismes -Laboratoire d'Ecologie desEaux Douces

61, rue de BruxellesB-5000 Namur

Tel: +32 (0)81 72 44 05Fax: +32 (0)81 23 03 91

[email protected]

[email protected]

Partners

Luc André, LaurentAlleman and Pierre-Denis PlisnierMusée Royal de l'AfriqueCentrale (MRAC-KMMA) Section de Pétrographie-Minéralogie-Géochimie

Leuvensesteenweg 13B-3080 Tervuren

Tel: +32 (0)2 769 54 59Fax: +32 (0)2 769 54 32

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

Wim Vyverman andChristine CocquytUniversiteit Gent (RUG) Vakgroep Biologie –OnderzoeksgroepProtistologie en AquatischeEcologie

Krijgslaan 281, S-8B-9000 Gent

Tel: +32 (0)9 264 85 01Fax: +32 (0)9 264 85 99

[email protected]

[email protected]

Eric Deleersnijder andJaya NaithaniUniversité Catholique deLouvain (UCL) Institut d'astronomie et degéophysique GeorgesLemaître (ASTR)

2, chemin du CyclotronB-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve

Tel: +32 (0)10 47 32 97Fax: +32 (0)10 47 47 22

[email protected]@astr.ucl.ac.bewww.astr.ucl.ac.be

Users CommitteeFor the complete and mostup-to-date composition ofthe Users Committee, please consult our FederalResearch Actions Database(FEDRA) by visitingwww.belspo.be p

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E S A C I IE X P E R I M E N T A L S T U D I E S O F A T M O S P H E R I C C H A N G E S I I

C O N T E X T

ESAC II is a collaboration between four Belgian teamsin a national effort to investigate the Earth’s atmos-pheric variability and changes. It started in 2001, for4 years, and it is the continuation of a former project,ESAC I (1997-2000), involving the same research con-sortium. The project contributes to the worldwideeffort of monitoring the atmosphere’s state and evo-lution, for acquiring a better understanding of thecontrolling processes, among others, in support ofregulations for protection, like the Montreal and theKyoto Protocols. Time series of observational data onthe chemical composition of the atmosphere will beextended, studies of atmospheric processes relevantto global change will be expanded and the resultswill be disseminated to a larger public, includingenvironmental authorities or policy makers who areconcerned with sustainable development.


ObjectivesThe main objectives of ESAC II are: ■ to extend and improve the internationally recog-nised extensive Belgian contribution to atmosphericresearch that started in the fifties; ■ to investigate, mainly with experimental means, thechemical composition of the atmosphere, to detectand understand its evolution. Special attention willbe paid to the evolution of the ozone layer andchemical species and processes with an impact on cli-mate change;■ to support the Belgian policies and decisionsregarding the Amendments to Montreal and KyotoProtocols.

Methodology In ESAC II, regular surveillance of the atmosphere isachieved with continuous measurements fromground-based instruments at four European stations:Ukkel (Belgium, 50.5°N, 4.3°E), Harestua (Norway,60.2°N, 10.7°E), Jungfraujoch in the Swiss Alps(46.5°N, 8°E), and Observatoire de Haute Provence(France, 44°N, 6°E). These remote sensing instru-ments target key atmospheric components that play

a role in ozone depletion, the increase of UV radia-tion at the Earth’s surface, or climate change. AtUkkel, the monitoring techniques include regularozone balloon soundings. In addition a few meas-urement campaigns are programmed to contributeto instrument intercomparisons and particular morelocal studies. Among the selected campaign sites is Ilede la Réunion (22°S, 55°E) in the subtropics.Laboratory measurements of the spectroscopic prop-erties of atmospheric species are carried out in sup-port of the field observations. Finally, numericalmodelling activities contribute extensively to theinterpretation of atmospheric observations. The dataare analysed, validated and “translated” into infor-mation that will be valuable for various bodies inter-ested in the variability of the Earth’s atmosphere andits long-term evolution.

Interactions between the different partners The partners involved are: the Belgian Institute forSpace Aeronomy, the Royal Meteorological Instituteof Belgium, the Groupe Infra-Rouge de PhysiqueAtmosphérique et Solaire of the University of Liègeand the Laboratoire de Chimie Physique etMoléculaire of the University of Brussels. They workin close collaboration with international partners.The groups share manpower and instruments forperforming observations and they exchange dataand expertise for the analysis and interpretation ofmeasurements.

Link with international programmes The observatories involved in ESAC II are part of theNetwork for the Detection of Stratospheric Change(NDSC) and the results of the observations will bearchived in the NDSC database. NDSC is a major com-ponent of the international effort of monitoring andinvestigating the atmosphere. It has been endorsedby national and international scientific agencies,including the International Ozone Commission (IOC),the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). ESAC II research objectives are also in line with sever-al other international programmes such as theresearch project on Stratospheric Processes and theirRole in Climate (SPARC) that is part of the WorldClimate Research Programme (WCRP).

Expected results and/or products The ESAC II results will be of interest for both the sci-entific community and the larger public audience:■ ESAC II will provide 4-years extended time series ofozone and key ozone-related chemical compounds,radioactively active gases, source gases, troposphericspecies and spectral UV irradiance measurements, atthe 4 stations involved.■ The data and the coupling of them with model

Duration of the project: 01/12/2001 - 28/02/2005Budget: € 1.049.308,49Keywords: Stratospheric Ozone, Climate Change, Air Pollution

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Website of the network: www.oma.be/ESACII/Home.html

Co-ordinator

Martine de MaziereBelgisch Instituut voorRuimte-Aëronomie (BIRA-IASB)

Ringlaan 3B-1180 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 373 03 63Fax: +32 (0)2 375 84 23

[email protected]/BIRA-IASB/

Partners

Hugo De BackerKoninklijk MeteorologischInstituut van België (KMI-IRM)


Tel: +32 (0)2 373 05 94Fax: +32 (0)2 375 12 59

[email protected]://ozone.meteo.be/

Réginald ColinUniversité Libre de Bruxelles(ULB)Unité de Spectroscopie del’Atmosphère - Laboratoirede Chimie PhysiqueMoléculaire (LCPM)

CP 160/9,50, Avenue F.D. RooseveltB-1050 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 650 24 20 Fax: +32 (0)2 650 42 32

[email protected]/rech/inventaire/unites/ULB587.html

Emmanuel MahieuUniversité de Liège (ULg) Institut d’Astrophysique etde Géophysique

5, avenue de CointeB-4000 Liège

Tel: +32 (0)4 366 97 86Fax: +32 (0)4 366 97 11

[email protected]://sunset.astro.ulg.ac.be/girpas/girpasf.html/

Users Committee For the complete and mostup-to-date composition ofthe Users Committee, please consult our FederalResearch Actions Database(FEDRA) by visitingwww.belspo.be

studies provide new insights in the chemical compo-sition and behaviour of the atmosphere.■ Investigations of the tropical atmosphere will beinitiated with observations at Ile de la Réunion.■ New observational techniques and data analysismethods are adjusted, e.g., for the determination ofthe tropospheric concentrations of key species, andfor improving the precision of spectroscopic labora-tory measurements.■ Geophysical and spectroscopic data are submittedto international databases for further exploitation bymodellers, satellite validation teams, etc… ESAC I andESAC II are providing very valuable independent datafor satellite validation.

Results will be disseminated regularly via the projectwebsite (http://www.oma.be/ESACII/Home.html) andpublications, and through participation of the con-sortium to international assessments and/or pressreleases. The goal is to inform decision-makers andenvironmental authorities at regional, national,European and worldwide levels on the progress andfindings of the project, in particular issues of rele-vance to the Montreal and the Kyoto Protocols.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

All partners participate in atmospheric monitoringwith specific instruments, as well as in data analysis,validation, interpretation and archiving, and infor-mation exchanges with dedicated users. In particular:

BIRA-IASBThe Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy co-ordi-nates the project and related webpage, and the cam-paign-based activities. It operates instruments at all 4stations.

KMI-IRMThe research group ‘Ozone’ of the RoyalMeteorological Institute of Belgium co-ordinates thedissemination of information. It is responsible for theO3 data at Ukkel.

ULgThe University of Liège co-ordinates all activities con-cerning the long-term surveillance of the atmosphereand related data analysis, validation and interpreta-tion. It performs measurements at the Jungfraujochsince the early 50s.

ULBThe University of Brussels co-ordinates the laboratorymeasurements and the collection of supporting data.

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C A L M A R SV A L I D A T I O N O F M A R I N E C A L C A R E O U S S K E L E T O N S A S R E C O R D E R S O F G L O B A L C L I M A T E C H A N G E

C O N T E X T

Five Belgian Institutions (the Royal Belgian Instituteof Natural Sciences: Department of Invertebrates(RBINSc); the Royal Museum for Central Africa,Section of Mineralogy, Petrography andGeochemistry (MRAC); Université Libre de Bruxelles,Laboratoire de Biologie Marine (ULB); VrijeUniversiteit Brussel, Laboratory of analyticalChemistry and Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry(VUB); University of Antwerp, Ecophysiology,Biochemistry and Toxicology Unit, Department ofBiology (UA)) have set up a project to validate theuse of CALcareous MARine Skeletons as recorders ofglobal climate changes.Potential recorders have been selected among threetaxa: sclerosponges, bivalves, and echinoderms, fortheir contrasted characteristics: lifetime, growth rate,and mineralisation features. Areas of interest spreadfrom the North East Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean.


ObjectivesThe potential as environmental recorders of scle-rosponges, bivalves, and echinoderms is well known,and the originality of CALMARS rather resides inthree new perspectives. ■ the comparative analysis of contrasted taxa will sus-tain the validity of the recorded global changes;■ laser ablation technology will ensure day to sea-sonal resolution depending of the taxon used; ■ focus will go to a better understanding of the path-ways of proxy incorporation and on the relative con-trols by environmental and physiological conditions,emphasising on reconstruction of sea surface tem-perature (SST), salinity, phytoplankton biomass andproductivity, and trace metal content.

MethodologyCALMARS approach is based on a combination offield and laboratory work. Field work consists in reg-ular samplings of each group at a few selected sitesin both tropical and temperate settings (North Sea &Scheldt, Norway, Jamaica and Kenya) where long-term monitoring of environmental conditions is car-ried out to follow up the recording of seasonal vari-ations in the skeleton. Single samplings along envi-

ronmental gradients are also performed in order toassess the recording of latitudinal variations.Specimens preserved in museums will help to extenddata in time and localities. Proxies studied are Mg, Sr,Ba, Cd, Mn, U, B, Pb, Zn and O13Ccarb, O18Ocarb,using laser ablation ICP-MS in order to gain a hightime resolution. Effects of environmental parametersare tested for each group under experimental condi-tions (in situ with incubation chambers or in aquari-um). Impact of ambient substrate concentrations andphysico-chemical conditions are also studied in con-trolled in-vitro experiments, during which incorpora-tion of proxy are followed after radioactive and sta-ble isotope spiking to ascertain results obtainedalong naturally occurring gradients.

Interaction between the different partnersSee reverse side

Link with international programmesPalaeo-oceanographic studies of climate change tomodern-day analyses of pollution impacts.

Expected results and/or productsCALMARS aims at improving and extending therecords of global change in the oceanic domain witha peculiar interest for the climate databases.Through a network of biologists and geochemists ofcomplementary experience, CALMARS intends to: ■ better validate the existing proxies by a thoroughexperimental investigation of the physiological andenvironmental factors that interplay to control theproxy incorporation within the various existing min-eralogical types of biogenic carbonates; ■ refine the existing records by improving the recent-ly developed analytical tools and generating very-high resolution records of the validated proxies; ■ greatly enlarge the application scales of these prox-ies by a direct comparison of different biological taxaunder contrasted tropical and temperate settingsfrom the North Atlantic ocean. From this, CALMARSexpects to generate robust high-resolution timeseries of several tracers which are of prime impor-tance to better simulate the carbon cycle and willtherefore be used by other research networks tounderstand present day global change and predictfuture changes; ■ develop algorithms for climatic and environmentalchange from proxy records.

Development of educational aspects from thisresearch is planned by creating and regularly updat-ing a website, describing the main lines of theresearch. A scientific film and/or a didactic CD-ROMproduced by the pedagogic staffs from the twoinvolved federal scientific institutions (RBINSc andMRAC) are also planned.

Duration of the project: 01/12/2001 - 28/02/2005Budget: € 1.112.025,56Keywords: Palaeoclimate, Carbon Cycle, Climate Change, Sea Surface Temperature

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Website of the network:www.vub.ac.be/calmars/

Co-ordinator

Philippe WillenzRoyal Belgian Institute ofNatural Sciences (RBINSc)Department ofInvertebrates

29, rue VautierB-1000 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 627 42 53Fax: +32 (0)2 627 41 41

[email protected]

Partners

Philippe DuboisUniversité Libre deBruxelles (ULB)Laboratoire de Biologiemarine

CP 160/15Av. F.D. Roosevelt, 50B-1050 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 650 28 39Fax +32 (0)2 650 27 96

[email protected]

Luc AndréMusée Royal de l'Afriquecentrale (MRAC-KMMA) Section de PétrographieMinéralogie-Géochimie


Tel: +32 (0)2 769 54 59Fax: +32 (0)2 769 54 32

[email protected]

Frank DehairsVrije Universiteit Brussel Departement AnalytischeChemie (VUB-ANCH)

Pleinlaan 2B-1050 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 629 32 60Fax: +32 (0)2 629 32 74

[email protected]

Ronny BlustUniversiteit Antwerpen(UA)Departement Biologie -Ecofysiologie, Biochemie enToxicologie groep - RUCACampus

Groenenborgerlaan 171B-2020 Antwerpen

Tel: +32 (0)3 218 03 44Fax: +32 (0)3 218 04 97

[email protected]


PA R T N E R S

Activities

RBINSc has a long experience on Caribbean scle-rosponges (ultra-structure and in situ growth ratemeasurement). Fieldwork is conducted at theDiscovery Bay Marine Laboratory, Jamaica.ULB has a large experience in biomineralisationprocesses of echinoderms through morphological,biochemical, physiological and environmentalapproaches, both in the field and in the laboratory. UA performs research on bioavailability, bioaccumu-lation and effects of metals in aquatic organisms andstudies effects of environmental conditions on kinet-ics of metal accumulation. MRAC and VUB-ANCH have developed togetherexpertise for trace element analysis by ICP-MS andLaser Ablation ICP-MS. VUB-GISO has a long-standing experience in stableisotope geochemistry as applied to climate change.

Interaction between the different partners

RBINSc ULB UA VUB MRAC

Field work - Tropics (Discovery Bay, Jamaica)- Sample collection accross environmental gradients (S,B,E)- Skeleton growth rate experimentation (S, E)- Proxy incorporation experimentation (S, E)- Transfer of samples between biotopes (B, E)- Survey of water temperature- Sampling from US musea collections (S, E, B)- Followed over various time scales

Field work - temperate region (Spuikom, Scheldt, Norway)- Sampling B, E according to natural gradients- In situ experimentation- Followed over various time scales

S= sclerosponges; B=bivalves; E=echinoderms

Isotope analysis(S, B, E)

Mathematical validation of data analysis(S, B, E)

Trace element analysis (S, B, E)

Laboratory experimentationProxy incorporation under controlled conditions (B, E)

Analysis GF-AAS(S, B, E)

Data integration: reconstruction of climatic and environmental conditions

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C C C CR O L E O F O C E A N I C P R O D U C T I O N A N D D I S S O L U T I O N O F C A L C I U M C A R B O N A T E I N C L I M A T E C H A N G E

C O N T E X T

The ocean constitutes a large sink for anthropogenicCO2 and thus plays a significant role in the globalbiogeochemical cycle of carbon and its perturba-tions. There remain, however, large uncertaintiesconcerning the uptake of anthropogenic carbon bythe ocean, mainly due to insufficient knowledge ofbiological processes controlling the CO2 concentra-tions in surface waters.

In particular, little attention has been paid to the roleof precipitation of calcium carbonate by calcifyingorganisms and the re-dissolution of their skeletons inmarine carbon cycle. These processes play, however, asignificant role in the buffering capacity of seawaterand its potential to act as a sink or a source of CO2

for the atmosphere. Their quantifications are there-fore fundamental not only for the understanding ofthe present-day situation but also for the predictivestudies in the context of global warming.


ObjectivesThe present research project (www.ulb.ac.be/sci-ences/dste/ocean/carbonate/frame.html) contributesto a better understanding of the oceanic inorganiccarbon cycle and its role in climate change. We aim atstudying the processes associated with the oceanicproduction and dissolution of calcium carbonate inorder to quantify the role of calcifying phytoplank-tonic organisms in sequestering CO2.

MethodologyThe objectives of our study will be achieved by com-bining field investigations, laboratory experimentsand modelling efforts.

Our field of study concerns the area of La ChapelleBank (about 47°30'N, 7°30'W) in the Gulf of Biscay(Northeast Atlantic Ocean). This site has been regu-larly visited since more than one decade in the frame-work of Belgian (Global Change) or European(OMEX) research projects, and a good knowledge ofthe physical processes occurring in the region hasbeen obtained. In addition, coccolithophorid blooms

have been frequently observed in the Gulf of Biscay.Previous measurements of the vertical distributionand fluxes of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) indicate arapid dissolution of the skeletons during settlingeven in the upper water column over-saturated withrespect to CaCO3. This site is thus a suitable locationfor studying the oceanic inorganic carbon cycle.

Field investigations, supported by remote sensingdata, will provide basic, physical, chemical (nutrients,organic and inorganic carbon species), biological(phytoplankton and zooplankton) information.Suspended matter will be collected by continuouscentrifugation, in situ filtration of large volumes ofwater and short-term deployments of sedimenttraps.

Process-oriented studies of the production of organ-ic and inorganic particulate carbon and the dissolu-tion of calcium carbonate will be conducted both inthe field and during laboratory assays, using 14C and45Ca incorporation experiments. The influence ofzooplankton grazing and of microbial degradationof organic matter on the dissolution of CaCO3 will beinvestigated in detail.

Particulate material collected in the Gulf of Biscaywill be studied from a physical and chemical point ofview using modern microscopic and spectroscopicmethods for their composition, morphology and dis-solution features.

The data acquired during this project will be used toformulate and to parameterise the rate equations forthe production and dissolution of calcium carbonate.They will also be used for validation purposes and/oras input variables of the ocean carbon cycle (OCC)models.

Interaction between the different partnersThe co-ordinator, the Laboratory of ChemicalOceanography and Water Geochemistry at theUniversity of Brussels (ULB-LOCGE), is responsible forquantifying the production of organic and inorganiccarbon and for studying the dissolution mechanismsof biogenic CaCO3 related to microbial respiration.

The Laboratory of Ecology and Systematics at theFree University of Brussels (VUB-ECOL) will investi-gate the role of zooplankton grazing in the dissolu-tion of CaCO3.

The Micro and Trace Analysis Centre at the Universityof Antwerp (UIA-MiTAC) will contribute to the phys-ical and chemical characterisation of suspended mat-ter in relation to the CaCO3 cycle.

Duration of the project: 01/12/2000 – 28/02/2005Budget: € 718.593,75Keywords: Global Change, Carbon Dioxide, Productionand Dissolution of Calcium Carbonate,Coccolithophorid, Marine Inorganic Carbon Cycle

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Co-ordinator

Lei ChouUniversité Libre d Bruxelles(ULB) Laboratoired’Océanographie Chimiqueet Géochimie des Eaux(LOCGE)

Campus de la PlaineCP 208, Boulevard duTriompheB-1050 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 650 52 37Fax: +32 (0)2 646 34 92

[email protected]/sciences/dste/ocean/

Partners

Marie-Hermande DaroVrije Universiteit Brussel(VUB)Vakgroep Biologie -Onderzoeksgroep Ecologieen Systematiek (ECOL)


Tel: +32 (0)2 629 34 06Fax: +32 (0)2 629 34 03

[email protected]/

René Van GriekenUniversitaire InstellingAntwerpen (UIA)Micro and Trace AnalysisCentre (MiTAC)

Universiteitsplein 1B-2610 Antwerpen

Tel: +32 (0)3 820 23 62Fax: +32 (0)3 820 23 76

[email protected]/u/vgrieken/

Users CommitteeFor the complete and mostup-to-date composition ofthe Users Committee,please consult our FederalResearch Actions Database(FEDRA) by visitingwww.belspo.be

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Link with international programmes The link with existing international programmes willbe made via the members of the Users Committee.■ Dr. C. Sabine (University of Washington) is involvedin the global estimations of the natural and anthro-pogenic reservoirs of carbon in the WOCE and JGOFSprogrammes.■ Dr. R. Francois (Woods Hole OceanographicInstitution) will contribute to a more completedescription of the transfer of carbon between theatmosphere and the ocean interior within the frame-work of his project at WHOI.■ Our project can be linked with the GAIM-IGBP pro-gramme via Dr. O. Marchal (Woods HoleOceanographic Institution) who will simulate CaCO3

fluxes in the global ocean models developed withinthe framework of the Ocean Carbon-Cycle ModelInter-comparison Project.■ The present research is also linked with the“seatruthing” of remote sensing data collected bySeaWiFS and MODIS through our collaboration withS. Groom (Plymouth Marine Laboratory).

Expected results and/or products■ The mechanisms and rate of individual processes ofcalcium carbonate production and dissolution will beclarified.■ The integrated production and fate of calcium car-bonate in the euphotic zone will be evaluated for thearea under investigation.■ The fluxes of organic and inorganic carbon at alarger spatial and temporal scale may be describedusing coupled 1-D hydrodynamic and biological mod-els.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

ULBThe Laboratory of Chemical Oceanography andWater Geochemistry (LOCGE), headed by Prof. LeiChou, has a long standing experience in the study ofthe biogeochemical processes and their perturba-tions affecting the cycle of various elements such ascarbon, nutrients, major, minor or trace elementseither on a local or global scale in the coastal seasand the ocean margins.

VUBThe Research Group Ecology and Systematics (ECOL),headed by Prof. Marie-Hermande Daro, is specialisedin zooplankton trophodynamics. Its research focuseson the ecological functioning of marine ecosystemswith special attention to the first tropic levels (phyto-and zooplankton).

UIAThe Micro and Trace Analysis Centre (MiTAC), headedby Prof. René Van Grieken, has extensive experiencein micro and trace analysis applied to environmentalstudies. The principal area of research concerns theevaluation of atmospheric deposition of nutrientsand heavy metals to the North Sea and the study ofaerosols in remote areas and their influence on theglobal climate.

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A N T H R O P O G E N I C A N D B I O G E N I CI N F L U E N C E S O N T H E O X I D I S I N GC A P A C I T Y O F T H E A T M O S P H E R E

C O N T E X T

Human activities induce large changes in the compo-sition of the atmosphere. For example, industrialactivities, the burning of fossil fuels, agriculturalpractices and vegetation fires release large amountsof gases and particles to the atmosphere. Chemicalprocesses in the troposphere determine the fate androle of many of these pollutants. They are responsi-ble for pollution (smog) episodes, and they controlthe abundance of greenhouse gases (ozone,methane) and aerosols. However, they are still poor-ly quantified, to a large extent because of their inter-action with biogenic compounds (hydrocarbons)released by vegetation.


Objectives■ To better understand the processes controlling thedistribution of chemical species in the troposphere,in particular oxidants and chemically controlledgreenhouse gases (methane, ozone).■ To determine the human influences on the chemi-cal composition of the troposphere, and provide esti-mates of its possible future evolution.■ To determine the impact of biogenic hydrocarbonson the tropospheric composition.■ To elucidate the oxidation mechanism of importantbiogenic hydrocarbons (terpenes) using laboratory(fast-flow reactor), theoretical and modelling studies.■ To generate the mechanistic data needed by atmos-pheric chemistry models in order to estimate theeffect of terpenes on the composition of the atmos-phere.

Methodology■ Use of the fast-flow reactor technique for the sim-ulation of atmospheric chemistry processes at a labo-ratory scale.■ Development and application of new analyticaltechniques for the determination of the terpenesoxidation products.■ Development and application of theoretical tech-niques (quantum calculations, Structure-ActivityRelationships, etc.) for the determination of the ter-

penes oxidation products, including aerosols.■ Development of a comprehensive chemical mecha-nism for the oxidation of terpenes in atmosphericconditions and validation of this mechanism by con-frontation with laboratory results.■ Determination of the global emissions of biogenichydrocarbons, and investigation of their uncertain-ties.

Interactions between the different partners■ Close collaboration between the teams ofChristiaan Vinckier (KULeuven) and Etienne Arijs(BIRA-IASB) for the application of the fast-flow reac-tor technique to the terpenes oxidation.■ Close collaboration between the teams of Jean-François Müller (BIRA-IASB) and Jozef Peeters(KULeuven) for the development and validation ofthe terpenes oxidation mechanism.■ The mechanistic data obtained from the laboratoryand theoretical studies will be integrated in a chem-ical model of the troposphere by the team of Jean-François Müller in order to determine their impact onthe tropospheric composition.

Link with international programmes■ EUROTRAC2: contributions of the KULeuven teamsto the subproject CMD (Chemical MechanismDevelopment);■ IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) :contribution of Jean-François Müller to e.g. the 3rdAssessment Report IPCC/TAR;■ Integration in European research networks of the5th Framework Programme.

Expected results■ New laboratory and theoretical techniques forinvestigating the oxidation of biogenic hydrocarbons(monoterpenes). ■ New comprehensive mechanisms representing theoxidation of several important biogenic hydrocar-bons (monoterpenes) in laboratory as well as inatmospheric conditions.■ Better assessment of the role of these hydrocarbonson the global troposphere, in particular regardingthe production of aerosols.■ Better assessment of the impact of anthropogenicemissions on the composition of the global tropo-sphere.

Duration of the project: 01/12/2001 - 28/02/2005Budget: € 1.167.900,77Keywords: Atmosphere, Tropospheric Chemistry, Human Impact, Vegetation, Hydrocarbons

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Co-ordinator

Jean-François MüllerInstitut d’AéronomieSpatiale de Belgique (BIRA-IASB)

3, avenue CirculaireB-1180 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 373 04 86Fax: +32 (0)2 374 84 23


Partners

Jozef Peeters andChristiaan VinckierKatholieke UniversiteitLeuven (KULeuven)Departement Chemie

Celestijnenlaan 200FB-3001 Heverlee

Tel: +32 (0)16 32 73 82Fax: +32 (0)16 32 79 92

[email protected]

[email protected]

Etienne ArijsBelgisch Instituut voorRuimte-Aëronomie (BIRA-IASB)


Tel: +32 (0)2 373 04 76Fax: +32 (0)2 374 84 23



PA R T N E R S

Activities

The groups of Vinckier and Arijs conduct laboratorystudies of the oxidation of several monoterpenes byOH in the presence of NO. They benefit from theexperience gained by Vinckier’s team during the pre-vious SPSD programme. In addition, Arijs andPeeters’s teams investigate other selected organicreactions. The groups of Peeters and Müller combine theoreti-cal and modelling studies in order to construct anoxidation mechanism for monoterpenes in generalconditions. Peeters’s team focuses on the gas-phasereaction steps, while Müller’s group works at theirintegration in a model that includes gas/particle-par-titioning effects. The latter group also assesses thebiogenic emissions as well as global impacts using athree-dimensional chemical model.

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B E L C A N T O I IA S S E S S I N G T H E S E N S I T I V I T Y O F T H E S O U T H E R N O C E A N ’ S B I O L O G I C A L C A R B O N P U M P T O C L I M A T E C H A N G E

C O N T E X T

Because of unique hydrodynamic and ecological fea-tures the Southern Ocean plays a key role in theglobal air-sea exchange of CO2. A sustained supply ofessential nutrients (N, P, Si) through deep-waterupwelling ensures the potential of the SO to furtherenhance CO2 uptake via the biological pump.However, in the High Nutrient Low Chlorophyllwaters of the modern Southern Ocean this does notoccur because biological production is iron limited.Future climate-driven changes in water circulation,eolian transport of continental dust, sea ice extentand lithogenic matter input from Antarctic conti-nent, shelf and slope areas will modify the naturalfertilisation patterns of the Southern Ocean. Thistogether with changes in stratification of the upperocean will impact on ecosystem structure and func-tion, export production and air-sea CO2 flux, with afeedback to climate.


This project focuses on the role of the SouthernOcean in Global Change. The research is conductedby BELCANTO (BELgian research on Carbon uptake inthe ANTarctic Ocean), an interdisciplinary network ofbiologists, geochemists, physical and ecological modellers. Focus is on the development of geochemi-cal proxies and numerical tools for understandingthe present-day functioning of the biological carbonpump in the iron-limited Southern Ocean and pre-dicting its evolution in response to increasing atmos-pheric CO2. The research methodology will combinecollection of historical and new field data, laborato-ry process-level studies and numerical work in orderto improve our understanding of the mechanismscontrolling the production of bloom-forming phyto-plankton groups, their sinking rate and biodegrada-tion when exported to the intermediate and deepwaters (100-1000 m).

ObjectivesThe general objective is to develop a 3-D ocean - sea-ice - biogeochemical model for the Southern Oceansouth of 30°S, in order to budget the present-day

CO2 uptake and predict the ocean’s response to dou-bled atmospheric CO2, scheduled for the second-halfof the 21st century.

Specific objectives are: (1) the set-up of in-vitroprocess studies to achieve a mechanistic understand-ing of (i) the different factors that control growth,sedimentation of Antarctic phytoplankton and itsbacterial breakdown and (ii) the potential proxies ofthese processes; (2) to complete existing databasesfor carbon fluxes; (3) to develop a realistic ocean -sea-ice - biogeochemical model for the region southof 30°S; (4) to simulate the situation at doubledatmospheric CO2.

Methodology and interaction between the differentpartners1 In-vitro experiments with phytoplankton cultures(ULB-VUB-MRAC) to study the factors controlling (i)growth, sedimentation and decay of phytoplankton(diatoms and Phaeocystis) under saturating and nonsaturating conditions of light, iron and Si (ULB) and(ii) new production (VUB) and the expression ofproxy signals such as Ba, barite (VUB-MRAC), 15N(VUB), 30Si (MRAC).

2 Composing a database for carbon fluxes (ULg-VUB-MRAC)pCO2 (ULg): (1) Collection of data for under-sampledregions and seasons; (2) Construction of anautonomous pCO2 analysis system for use on boardsupply ships; (3) Elaboration of algorithms for thereconstruction of pCO2 distribution fields based onsatellite observation (SEAWIFS) of SST and Chl a. (4)Deduce atmosphere-ocean CO2 fluxes using ERS windspeed data and pCO2 distribution fields.

Carbon export and mineralisation flux (VUB – MRAC):Estimation of the carbon export flux and the POCmineralisation profile in the mesopelagic water col-umn (100-1000m) using proxies (new production, f-ratio; 234Th-deficit; 30Si of biogenic silica; 15N ofsuspended organic matter; Ba-barite). These exportfluxes are compared with POC and proxy fluxes insediment traps, sediments and with model results.

Optimisation of the Ba-barite proxy (VUB-MRAC): (1)The co-variation of mesopelagic Ba and POC export isverified; (2) Identification of the different factorsthat control the Ba-signal; (3) Comparison of exportproduction based on mesopelagic Ba with exportproduction based on POC flux in sediment traps; (4)Reconstruction of the POC mineralisation flux andmineralisation profile for the mesopelagic water col-umn; (5) Optimisation of existing algorithms relatingthe mesopelagic Ba signal to export production anddevelop new ones.

Duration of the project: 01/12/2000 – 28/02/2005Budget: € 1.466.414,14Keywords: Southern Ocean, Climate Change, Air-Sea CO2 Fluxes, Biological Carbon Pump, Coupled Hydrodynamic-Biogeochemical Modelling

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Co-ordinator

Frank Dehairs Vrije Universiteit Brussel(VUB)Departement AnalytischeChemie (ANCH)


Tel: +32 (0)2 629 32 60Fax: +32 (0)2 629 32 74

[email protected]

Partners

Christiane LancelotUniversité Libre deBruxelles (ULB)Ecologie des SystèmesAquatiques (ESA)

Campus de la PlaineCP 221Boulevard du TriompheB-1050 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 650 59 88Fax: +32 (0)2 650 59 93

[email protected]

Luc AndréMusée royal de l’AfriqueCentrale (MRAC-KMMA)Section de Minéralogie etPétrographie


Tel: +32 (0)2 769 54 59Fax: +32 (0)2 759 54 32

[email protected]

Eric DeleersnijderUniversité Catholique deLouvain (UCL)Institut d’Astronomie et deGéophysique GeorgesLemaître (ASTR)

2, chemin du CyclotronB-1348 Louvain-la Neuve

Tel: +32 (0)10 47 32 97Fax: +32 (0)10 47 47 22

[email protected]

Michel FrankignoulleUniversité de Liège (ULg)Unité d’OcéanographieChimique -Geohydrodynamics andEnvironmental research(GHER)

Institut de Physique, Bat. B517, allée du 6 aoûtSart TilmanB-4000 Liège 1

Tel: +32 (0)4 366 33 26Fax: +32 (0)4 366 23 55

[email protected]/oceanbio/co2/


3 Numerical experimentation: Construction of a 3-DOcean-Ice-Biogeochemical model (ULB-UCL)Coupling of a biogeochemical model (SWAMCO) to a3-D ocean - sea-ice model: (1) Optimisation of the 3-D ocean – sea-ice model; simulations for the modernocean (1988-2000) and for the future ocean underdoubled atmospheric CO2 (UCL); (2) Aggregation andoptimisation of the existing 1-D biogeochemicalSWAMCO model (ULB); (3) Elaboration of an inte-grated ocean – sea-ice – biogeochemical model (UCL-ULB).The validated integrated model is used for the esti-mation of the CO2 mass balance on global, regionaland seasonal scales. Sink and source regions are iden-tified as is the sequestration of organic carbon in thedeep sea. The model is used to simulate the situationat atmospheric CO2 redoubling.

Expected resultsA better evaluation of the role of the Southern oceanin Global Change. This will be achieved as a result ofthe development and improvement of complementa-ry proxy approaches contributing to the understand-ing of the biological carbon pump functioning in aniron-limited Southern Ocean. Simulation of theSouthern Ocean’s carbon pump functioning at CO2

redoubling.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

VUB-ANCHHas expertise for (i) the determination of new pro-duction based on 15N isotope dilution methods andthe modelling of nitrogen fluxes related with uptakeand release; (ii) the application of proxies of newproduction and export production (Ba-barite; 234Th-deficit; 15N).

ULB-ESAHas expertise in the field of phytoplankton processes(growth, sedimentation, grazing, bacterial break-down) and the development of biogeochemical mod-els.

MRAC-KMMAHas expertise in the field of trace element and iso-tope proxy analysis and interpretation.

UCL-ASTRHas expertise with hydrodynamic modelling coupledocean – sea-ice models.

ULg-GHERHas expertise in the field of ocean – atmosphere CO2

exchange and physicochemistry of oceanic inorganiccarbon.

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A M I C SA N T A R C T I C I C E S H E E T D Y N A M I C S A N D C L I M A T I C C H A N G E : M O D E L L I N G A N D I C E C O M P O S I T I O N S T U D I E S

C O N T E X T

Over the last decades, a number of deep ice-coredrillings were carried out in Antarctica, such asVostok, Dome Fuji and more recently DomeConcordia. Analysis of these cores provides the scien-tific community with a continuous record of ice com-position, which makes it possible to reconstruct cli-mate and its variability over more than 500,000 yearsback in time (and possible to 800,000 years). Thesedata are necessary to understand the variability andstability of climate (both from the past as for thefuture) and the associated environmental change. Acentral role is played by the Antarctic ice sheet andits relation with sea level.


ObjectivesThe main objective of AMICS (Antarctic Ice SheetDynamics and Climatic Change: Modelling and IceComposition Studies) network proposal is to con-tribute to the international research effort leading toan improved understanding of the dynamic behav-iour of the Antarctic ice sheet resulting from climaticchange and its composition. More specifically it aimsat a better knowledge of the internal dynamics ofthe Antarctic ice sheet and to a better assessment ofthe interactions of the ice sheet with its boundaryconditions. The major components of this interdisci-plinary research objective are modelling and ice com-position studies.

MethodologyThe aim of this research network is to clarify thedynamic interactions between the ice sheet and itsboundary conditions, such as the substratum, basedon analysis of ice from the basal part of the Antarcticice sheet and ice sheet modelling. Results from theanalyses will put constraints on the basal boundaryconditions of the numerical model and will make val-idation of the model possible with regard to themelting and refreezing processes at the base. Furtherconstraints come from radio-echo sounding (RES) sur-veys and SAR interferometric applications. For thispurpose, the high-resolution numerical model ofcomplex ice flow will be adapted to three-dimen-sions and refined. With the numerical model we willtranslate the results of the ice composition analyses

into physical processes, hence providing the scientif-ic community with a model tool of complex basalinteraction. As basal processes play an important rolein the onset of fast-flowing areas such as ice streams,the role of ice streams, outlet glaciers and ice shelvesin the stability of the Antarctic ice sheet and theirinfluence on the variability of the ice sheet withchanging climate will be investigated.

Interaction between the different partners

Link with international programmesBoth teams are involved in the EPICA project(European Project on Ice Coring in Antarctica, ESF)and are the only Belgian teams that carry out fieldwork and co-operative research on the interior icesheet of Antarctica. There is a close collaborationwith the Vostok Project, the National Institute ofPolar Research (Japanese Antarctic ResearchExpedition), and the New Zealand Antarctic Project,besides the collaboration with a large number offoreign scientific research institutes and groups.

Expected results and/or productsWe expect to obtain analytical results from basal iceof Antarctic deep drillings, which will allow investi-gating the basal ice and allow specifying the dynam-ical behaviour of the ice sheet during past and futureclimatic changes, providing constraints to modellers.It is envisaged that the research on the basal mechan-ics as well as the numerical improvement of the mod-els will add significant knowledge to the resultsalready obtained in this field.

Results of this research will be circulated throughpublications in high-ranking international scientificjournals (peer reviewed). They will be represented atinternational symposia and workshops, with empha-sis on those workshops dedicated to Antarcticglaciology. A website is started to provide the com-munity with the project results: http://www.vub.ac.be/DGGF/amics

Duration of the project: 01/12/2000 – 28/02/2005Budget: € 774.816 Keywords: Glaciology, Glacier Modelling, Ice Composition, Climate, Antarctica

VUB ULB

Model development

Analysis of internallayers

Analysis of lake/edge ice

Ice analysis nearGrounding line

Dynamics at ice divide

Ice dynamics at margin

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Website of the network:www.vub.ac.be/DGGF/amics

Co-ordinator

Hugo Decleir andFrank PattynVrije Universiteit Brussel(VUB)Vakgroep Geografie


Tel: +32 (0)2 629 33 84Fax: +32 (0)2 629 33 78

[email protected]@vub.ac.be www.vub.ac.be/DGGF

Partner

Roland Souchez andRéginald LorrainUniversité Libre deBruxelles (ULB) Département des Sciencesde la Terre et del’Environnement (DSTE) -Unité de Glaciologie Polaire

CP 160/0350, avenue F.D. RooseveltB-1050 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 650 22 27Fax: +32 (0)2 650 22 26

[email protected]@ulb.ac.bewww.ulb.ac.be/rech/inventaire/unites/ULB182.html


PA R T N E R S

Activities

The two research teams of this network are the onlyones in Belgium that carry out both field work andresearch regarding the Antarctic inland ice sheet.Both are involved in the ongoing EPICA project(European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica). TheVUB team has a long-standing experience in model-ling of ice sheets and glaciers and model develop-ment for studying ice dynamics. The ULB team is spe-cialised in the study of ice composition, as a tool forunderstanding the formation and deformation ofbasal ice retrieved either from major deep ice-coredrillings or from natural outcroppings in bothGreenland and Antarctica

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M I L M OM O D E L L I N G T H E E V O L U T I O N O F C L I M A T E A N D S E A L E V E L O V E R T H E T H I R D M I L L E N N I U M

C O N T E X T

A large number of modelling studies have addressedthe likely effects of greenhouse gas induced climatechange over the 21st century, but the longer-termeffects have received much less attention. Yet theseeffects could be very significant, as a persistentincrease in global mean temperature may ultimatelyinfluence the large-scale processes in the Earth sys-tem that play a central role in determining global cli-mate. The aim of MILMO is to provide decision-mak-ers with long-term projections of climate and sealevel changes with increased confidence.

MILMO consists of Belgian scientists who are deeplyinvolved in the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel onClimate Change) and in international research pro-grammes on climate change such as IGBP(International Geosphere and Biosphere Programme)and WCRP (World Climate Research Programme).This ensures that the results will be widely dissemi-nated both to scientists involved in studying climatechange and the communities involved in impact stud-ies.


ObjectivesThe overall objective of MILMO is to improve projec-tions of global and European climate and sea levelchanges for the 21st century and to profoundly inves-tigate processes and dynamic feedback in the climatesystem as well as the likelihood of abrupt climate andsea level changes during the 3rd millennium. Theapproach is to implement and use an efficient three-dimensional atmosphere–vegetation–sea-ice–oceanmodel coupled with a model of the oceanic carboncycle and improved thermo-mechanical models ofthe Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. With the cou-pled model, we will study climate and sea-levelchanges for the periods 1750–2000, 2000–2100, and2000–3000. A series of sensitivity experiments willassess the importance of including interactive icesheet, land-vegetation, and carbon cycle representa-tions in the model.

MethodologyInvestigating the long-term response of climate andsea level to human activities requires the operationof global three-dimensional models, which encom-pass all relevant components of the climate system(i.e., the atmosphere, the oceans, the ice masses, theupper Earth’s mantle, and the living world). But mostimportantly, these models must be computationallyfast enough so that integration of longer durationand a larger number of sensitivity experiments canbe performed than is usually the case with climategeneral circulation models. To achieve this requiressome simplifications in the most CPU-time demand-ing model component, which is usually the atmos-pheric component.

Models of this type do not yet exist but are beingdeveloped in several European and Americanresearch laboratories. Here we propose to build sucha model (LOVECLIM) by coupling an efficient three-dimensional atmosphere–vegetation–sea-ice–oceanmodel with a model of the oceanic carbon cycle andwith thermo-mechanical models of the Greenlandand Antarctic ice sheets. All three model componentswere partly developed within the First Multi-annualScientific Support Plan for a SustainableDevelopment Policy (SPSD I). We will also implementa global algorithm for calculating the melt from gla-ciers and small ice caps and a scheme for derivingthermal expansion from the ocean model to be ableto assess all major contributors to global sea levelchanges.

Interactions between the different partners

Duration of the project: 01/12/2001 - 28/02/2005Budget: € 970.255,26Keywords: Climate, Sea Level

Global coupledatmosphere -vegetation -

sea-ice - oceanmodel

UCL-ASTR(coord)

Antarctic andGreenland ice

sheet models +glaciers melting

algorithmVUB-DGGF

Global model of oceanic carbon cycle

ULg-LPAP

- Validationover the period 1 7 5 0 - 2 0 0 0- Climaticscenarios- Process studiesUCL-ASTR,VUB-DGGF,ULg-LPALP

Researchgroups

studying the impacts

LOVECLIM

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Co-ordinator

Thierry Fichefet Université Catholique deLouvain (UCL)Institut d’Astronomie et deGéophysique Georges Lemaître (ASTR)


Tel: +32 (0)10 47 32 95Fax: +32 (0)10 47 47 22

[email protected]

Partners

Philippe Huybrechts andHugo Decleir Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)Departement Geografie (DGGF)


Tel: +32 (0)2 629 35 93Fax: +32 (0)2 629 33 78

[email protected]

Guy Munhoven and Anne MouchetUniversité de Liège (ULg)Institut d’Astrophysique et deGéophysique Georges Lemaître(ASTR) - Laboratoire de PhysiqueAtmosphérique et Planétaire(LPAP)

5, avenue de CointeB-4000 Liège

Tel: +32 (0)4 254 75 71Fax: +32 (0)4 254 75 73

[email protected] www.ulg.ac.be

Users CommitteeFor the complete and most up-to-date composition of theUsers Committee, please consult our FederalResearch Actions Database(FEDRA) by visiting www.belspo.be

Link with international programmes MILMO's objectives are along the lines of those ofthe CLIVAR (Climate Variability and Predictability)and ACSYS/CliC (Arctic Climate System Study/Climateand Cryosphere) programmes of the World ClimateResearch Programme (WCRP), the InternationalGeosphere and Biosphere Programme (IGBP) and the6th Framework Programme of the European Union.

Expected results and/or productsOnce validated, the model will be utilised to advanceour understanding of interactions in the climate sys-tem, to improve climate change projections at thecentury time scale and beyond, and to explore thethreat of possible rapid climate and sea level changesduring the 3rd millennium. Dissemination of resultswill take place via the training of young researchers,participation in and presentations at national andinternational scientific meetings and publication ofresults in international, peer-reviewed scientific jour-nals. As far as possible, workshops will be organisedwith other Belgian teams involved in the SecondMulti-annual Scientific Support Plan for a SustainableDevelopment Policy (SPSD II) to inform them aboutour results. A specific website will be created on theserver of the co-ordinator. This website will providefull information about the objectives, the models,and the progress of the project. Furthermore, it willinclude a database with the relevant model outputs.It is also planned to incorporate the outcomes ofMILMO’s projections of climate and sea level changesin international climatic databases such as the IPCC’sone. So that a public as large as possible can knowabout the research results, members of MILMO willengage in vulgarisation activities such as (1) publica-tion of documents to be used by policy makers, theOSTC, non-governmental organisations, enterprises,and the general public, (2) conferences in universi-ties, schools, and societies, (3) press releases, and (4)printed press, television, and radio interviews.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

UCLOver the last 30 years, UCL-ASTR has gained a world-wide reputation for the study of climate, climaticchanges, and mesoscale meteorology. In particular, ithas a great deal of expertise in three-dimensionalglobal climate modelling.

VUBSince more than 15 years, VUB-DGGF is deeplyinvolved in ice-sheet modelling. It has developedthree-dimensional thermo-mechanical models for theGreenland and Antarctic ice sheets that wereamongst the first of their kind, and which are widelyregarded as state-of-the-art.

ULgResearch activities at ULg-LPAP cover two distinctareas: (1) modelling of biogeochemical cycles in con-nection with global change and sustainable develop-ment, and palaeoclimate studies; (2) physics of theEarth’s upper atmosphere and study of giant planets’auroras with the Hubble Space Telescope.

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E N S O - C H I L IA C O N T I N U O U S H O L O C E N E R E C O R D O F E N S O V A R I A B I L I T Y I N S O U T H E R N C H I L E . A C L U E T O A B E T T E R U N D E R S T A N D I N G O F I N T E R H E M I S P H E R I C C L I M A T E T E L E C O N N E C T I O N S

C O N T E X T

In recent years it has become increasingly clear thatthe Earth’s climate system is influenced by a wholeseries of natural variations, which operate on differ-ent time scales - from years to several thousands ofyears - and which may have different effects in dif-ferent regions. Moreover, climate processes in oneplace appear to be able to interact with climateprocesses elsewhere, by means of so-called telecon-nections. One of these “rapid” climate processes is "El NiñoSouthern Oscillation" (ENSO). This is an oceano-graphic and atmospheric climatic disturbance, whichoriginates in the southern Pacific Ocean, but influ-ences weather patterns and climate in many regionsof the world. A better understanding of the natural dynamics ofthe ENSO phenomenon - studied in detail in one ofthe ENSO key areas, i.e. the Chilean Lake District -and of its evolution through time is indispensable forimproving our knowledge of the functioning of theclimate processes in Europe, and of the natural evo-lution of the climate in the past, and possible also inthe future.


ObjectivesThe aim of this project is to provide a new, detailedsedimentary record of changes in precipitation andtemperature in the Chilean Lake District (SW SouthAmerica) for the last 10.000 years, in order to definethe regional impact of ENSO. Attention will also be paid to identifying millennium-scale abrupt climate changes (such as the "Little IceAge") in the area and to how they affect the ENSO-system, but also to the study of pluri-decadal cyclici-ty (i.e. 50-60 years) overprints on ENSO-intensities, asrecent studies highlight their possible global impactthrough oceanic circulation anomalies.Finally, the observed characteristics of the ENSO-sys-tem will be compared with well-documentedEuropean climate records, in order to detect possiblesimilarities, interactions or differences.

MethodologyThe project is based on a multidisciplinary analysis oflong sediment cores from two selected lakes in theLake District. A detailed reconnaissance will allow toselect the most suitable lakes and to locate in theselakes the most appropriate sites for coring. Fieldworkaround the lakes will allow defining the sedimentsource characteristics, the present-day vegetationand the geomorphology of the drainage basins.Multidisciplinary analysis of the cores will includephysical properties, sedimentary structures, mineral-ogy, age dating, tephrochronology and pollen stud-ies. The final result will be a well-dated, high-resolu-tion, mullet-proxy record of palaeoenvironmentaland/or palaeoclimate changes that affected the lakesand their drainage basins, and this in terms of pre-cipitation and temperature variations. Special analy-sis techniques will be applied to analyse the variabil-ity of this multi-proxy record, and to highlight theENSO-cyclicities and the occurrence of decadal to mil-lennium-scale climate variations. The results will beconfronted with existing climate models, in order torecognise possible long-distance interactions, as wellas the evolution of climate responses to naturaland/or anthropogenic perturbations.

Interaction between the different partnersThe project tasks will be executed jointly by the threeproject partners, in close concert with the main sub-contractors and the Chilean collaborators.

Link with international programmes■ The project fits the objectives of Focus 1 ("GlobalPalaeoclimate and Environmental Variability") ofIGBP's Core Project PAGES. It aims to study the pastclimate variability (Timestream 1: Holocene with spe-cial emphasis on the last 2000 yr.) in a site along thePEP-1 (Pole-Equator-Pole) transect of the Americas.■ The project also corresponds to the themes definedin Key Action 2 "Global change, climate and biodi-versity" of the "Energy, Environment & SustainableDevelopment" Programme of EC DG-XII.■ To a certain extent, the project will also answer tosome of the objectives of WCRP's CLIVAR-DecCenComponent Programme aimed at "…describing andunderstanding the patterns of global decadal-to-cen-tennial climate variability in the instrumental,palaeo-climatic, and model records…".

Expected results and/or productsThe expected outcome of the project will be a well-dated, high-resolution, multi-proxy record of varia-tions in precipitation and temperature in southernChile during the last 10000 years, and of the effectsand evolution of the ENSO-system during this timeperiod. Such a record will be instrumental in improv-

Duration of the project: 01/03/2001 – 28/02/2005Budget: € 585.003,93Keywords: Palaeoclimate, Climate Change, El Niño Southern Oscillation, Lake, Chile

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Co-ordinator

Marc De Batist Universiteit Gent (RUG)Renard Centre of MarineGeology (RCMG)

Krijgslaan 281, S-8B-9000 Gent

Tel: +32 (0)9 264 45 87Fax: +32 (0)9 264 49 67

[email protected]://allserv.rug.ac.be/~jphenrie/

Partners

Nathalie FagelUniversité de Liège (ULg)Département de Géologie –Unité de Recherche Argileset Paléoclimats

Allée du 6 août, B18Sart-TilmanB-4000 Liège

Tel: +32 (0)4 366 22 09Fax: +32 (0)4 366 22 02

[email protected]/urap/

Andre BergerUniversité Catholique deLouvain (UCL)Institut d'Astronomie et deGéophysique GeorgesLemaître (ASTR)


Tel: +32 (0)10 47 33 03Fax: +32 (0)10 47 47 22

[email protected]/


ing our knowledge of the natural cyclicities of anumber of basic components of the world climatesystem and on how and how fast specific climatechanges may have a global impact. As such, the proj-ect may produce results that are useful for outliningthe climatic boundary conditions to be taken intoaccount by future policies on sustainable develop-ment.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

RUGThe Renard Centre of Marine Geology (RCMG) will beinvolved with the reconnaissance of the study area,with the regional study of the different lakes, withthe actual sediment coring (subcontract to Universitéde Savoie) and with the development of an agemodel for the different cores.

ULgThree laboratories of the ULg will closely collaboratein the multidisciplinary analysis of the sediment cores(sedimentary structures, mineralogy, dating,tephrochronology and pollen-analysis) and of thecharacteristics of the drainage basin.

UCLThe ‘Institut d'Astronomie et de GéophysiqueGeorges Lemaître’ will focus on the mathematicalanalysis of the sedimentary signal and on the climatemodelling.

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C O N T E X T

The project deals with the theme “Atmosphere andClimate”. Atmospheric aerosols play an importantrole in climate and they have effects on humanhealth. Some parts of the project are carried out inthe context of the AEROSOL subproject of EURO-TRAC-2, which is a EUREKA project on the transportand chemical transformation of trace constituents inthe troposphere over Europe. Other parts of the proj-ect are done within the context of the InternationalGlobal Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) project, whichis a core project of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP).


ObjectivesThe aims of the project are: (1) to implementimproved collection procedures for carbonaceousaerosols, whereby the sampling artefacts are bettercontrolled or can be corrected for; (2) to developimproved methods for the characterisation of thecarbonaceous atmospheric aerosol, going from a bet-ter discrimination between organic and elemental(black) carbon over separation into a number of mainclasses to a more complete molecular characterisa-tion; (3) to identify new organic compounds that canbe used as markers for specific sources, source typesor processes, and/or atmospheric processes; (4) to usealready existing and newly developed samplers andanalytical methods for a detailed characterisation ofthe carbonaceous aerosol in Europe and (5) in tropi-cal and equatorial regions; (6) to employ the datasets on the carbonaceous aerosol, on inorganicaerosol constituents and on the particulate mass forsource identification and apportionment and foraerosol chemical mass closure work; and (7) to exam-ine the relationships between the carbonaceousaerosol chemical characteristics and the physical andoptical/radiative aerosol properties in order to assessthe contribution of the carbonaceous aerosol to thedirect and indirect effects of aerosols on climate.

MethodologyTwo approaches are employed to correct for the arte-fact collection of gaseous organic compounds inaerosol sampling. In the first approach use is made offilter holders that contain two filters in series. In thesecond approach, a denuder is placed upstream ofthe aerosol collector. Improved methods are devel-oped for the differentiation between organic andelemental carbon. For this, one resorts to a thermal-optical transmission technique. This technique isevaluated by participating in intercomparison studieswith foreign research groups. Methods are alsodeveloped for the determination of the water-solu-ble organic carbon (WSOC) in the aerosol. A "Totalorganic carbon" analyser is used for this work. Forthe fractionation of the WSOC, one resorts to anionexchange with high-performance liquid chromatog-raphy. Methods based on ion chromatography areused to measure low-molecular weight water-solubleorganic compounds. For a whole series of otherwater-soluble and apolar organic compounds, oneutilises capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrom-etry (GC/MS) in combination with appropriatederivatisation methods. The source identification andapportionment work is done with the aid of receptormodels.

Interaction between the different partnersThe RUG team performs the aerosol collections andthe work for the development and implementationof improved sampling procedures. It also performsthe analyses with the thermal-optical transmission(TOT) technique, with the "Total organic carbon"analyser and with ion chromatography. On the basisof the TOT results, samples are selected for the frac-tionation of the WSOC and for the extensive GC/MSanalyses. These two activities are carried out by theUIA team. The source identification and apportion-ment is a joint activity of the RUG and UIA teams,whereby chemical analysis results of both teams arebeing used.

Link with international programmesThe development of improved collection and analyt-ical procedures and the aerosol studies in Europe arecarried out within the framework of the EUROTRAC-2 AEROSOL subproject. The aerosol studies in tropicaland equatorial regions fit in IGBP-IGAC activities andin components of it, such as the “Southern AfricanRegional Science Initiative” (SAFARI 2000) and the“Large Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment inAmazonia” (LBA). Part of the research in Brazil islinked with the EC-funded project SMOCC (“SmokeAerosols, Clouds, Rainfall and Climate: Aerosols fromBiomass Burning Perturb Global and RegionalClimate”). Finally, our studies in Europe are alsoutilised to contribute to the 2003 revision of the EU“Particulate Matter Directive”.

Duration of the project: 01/12/2000 – 28/02/2005Budget: € 757.438,67Keywords: Carbonaceous Atmospheric Aerosols, Climate, Chemical Characterisation, Aerosol Sources

C H A R A C T E R I S A T I O N A N D S O U R C E S O F C A R B O N A C E O U S A T M O S P H E R I CA E R O S O L S

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Co-ordinator

Willy MaenhautUniversiteit Gent (RUG)Vakgroep AnalytischeChemie - Instituut voorNucleaire WetenschappenOnderzoeksgroepTroposferischAërosolonderzoek enNucleaire Micro-analyse

Proeftuinstraat 86B-9000 Gent

Tel: +32 (0)9 264 65 96Fax: +32 (0)9 264 66 99

[email protected]

Partner

Magda ClaeysUniversiteit Antwerpen(UIA) DepartementFarmaceutischeWetenschappen Onderzoeksgroep Bio-organischeMassaspectrometrie


Tel: +32 (0)3 820 27 07Fax: +32 (0)3 820 27 34

[email protected]/far/departement_e/massa/index.html


Expected results and/or productsThe project will give rise to publications in interna-tional journals with peer review. In addition, it willresult in communications at international andnational conferences, symposia or workshops. Theproject and its results will be presented on a website,which will be set up by us. Furthermore, pertinentdata, data summaries and information will be madeavailable for use in national and international data-bases and websites. It is expected that many of ourresults will be of value for modellers and for envi-ronmental policy makers and advisers.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

RUGThis team has many years of experience in atmos-pheric aerosol research and in aerosol collections andanalyses. It was an active participant in several inter-national field campaigns. It has a large expertise inthe inorganic analysis of aerosol samples and per-forms analyses for organic and elemental carbon,water-soluble organic carbon and low-molecularweight water-soluble organic compounds.

UIAThe UIA team has a very large experience in massspectrometric methods for the characterisation ofbiomolecules and complex organic compounds. It hasa great expertise in capillary gas chroma-tography/mass spectrometry and in derivatisationtechniques, which aim at structure determination orsensitive analysis. It is an essential partner for thedetailed organic analyses of the aerosol samples.

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C A S T E CC A R B O N S E Q U E S T R A T I O N P O T E N T I A L I N D I F F E R E N TB E L G I A N T E R R E S T R I A L E C O S Y S T E M S : Q U A N T I F I C A T I O N A N D S T R A T E G I C E X P L O R A T I O N

C O N T E X T

The CASTEC project is situated within the frameworkof the Kyoto Protocol and the Belgian Federal Planfor Sustainable Development (2000-2004). The KyotoProtocol determines emission reductions for a basketof 6 greenhouse gases. During the first commitmentperiod (2008-2012) Belgium has to reduce its green-house gas emissions by 7,5% in comparison to thelevel of 1990 (baseline year emission). Articles 3.3 and3.4, of the Protocol offer an opportunity to demon-strate CO2 reduction/removal through C-sequestra-tion via afforestation, reforestation and deforesta-tion and forest management and additional human-induced activities (e.g. in agriculture).The project also falls within the scope of the BelgianFederal Plan for Sustainable Development. The pur-pose of this plan is, partly, to formulate a coherentpolicy of sectoral and transsectoral measures torealise the emission reductions of the Kyoto Protocolby means of a new Belgian climate plan.


ObjectivesThe main objective of this project is to produce a reli-able quantification and to perform a strategic explo-ration of the C-sequestration potential of Belgianforests, plantations, arable lands and grasslands todemonstrate atmospheric CO2 removal via terrestrialsinks. The data in the Belgian national greenhousegas inventory communications to the United NationsFramework Convention on Climate Change (UNFC-CC), indicate a large uncertainty and a clear lack ofinformation concerning the size and nature of thesereservoirs for CO2 reduction in Belgium. Modernenvironmental policy and decision-making need amultidisciplinary approach and more than one solu-tion. Therefore, the main objective is split into sever-al specific objectives, which will be covered in differ-ent Task Forces (TF):TF1: Determination of the C-sequestration potentialof arable land by exploring different soil manage-ment scenarios.TF2: Determination of the C-sequestration potentialof grassland and urban land.

TF3: Determination of the C-sequestration potentialof forests and biomass/bio-energy plantations.TF4a: Determination of nitrous oxide (N2O) and CO2

emission and methane (CH4) uptake as a result of themanagement scenarios of TF1, TF2 and TF3.TF4b: Establishment of methods for quantifi-cation/verification of annual new soil C accumula-tion.TF5: Optimisation of an existing Dynamic VegetationModel to predict C storage and C uptake in theecosystems of TF2 and TF3.

The baseline C storage for the reference year 1990for arable land (TF1), grassland/urban land (TF2) andforests/plantations (TF3) will be determined by usinghistorical data sets.

MethodologyThe following methods will, amongst others, be usedduring the course of the project:■ Collection of historical data sets for the calculationof the 1990 baseline.■ Re-sampling of a large number of locations forwhich the soil organic carbon content is alreadyknown for at least 2 points in time.■ Establishment of a plantation and other field trialsto investigate the effect of ecosystem managementon C-sequestration.■ Flux measurements (CO2, N2O, CH4).■ Process studies using stable isotopes.■ Modelling.

Interaction between the different partnersThe interaction between the different partners andthe different task forces is shown in Fig. 1. For moreinformation, we invite you to visit our website at:http://fltbwww.rug.ac.be/CASTEC.

Expected results and/or productsThe direct exploitation of the CASTEC project is situ-ated on a national level and within the internationalscientific community. Through a reliable quantifica-tion and the strategic exploration of the possibilitiesof C sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems in orderto meet the Belgian greenhouse gas emission tar-gets, this project will contribute to quality assurance,quality control and completeness of the Belgiangreenhouse gas inventory. Moreover, it can offer pol-icy options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Within the Intergovernmental Panel on ClimateChange (IPCC), however, many questions exist onreporting, exploration, monitoring and verificationwith regard to the application of articles 3.3 and 3.4of the Kyoto Protocol. This project can contribute insolving these international problems.In order to be successful, a modern environmental

Duration of the project: 01/12/2000 – 28/02/2005Budget: € 1.366.091,63Keywords: Global Change, C-Sequestration, Arable Land, Grassland, Forests

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Website of the network:http://fltbwww.rug.ac.be/CASTEC

Co-ordinator

Oswald Van Cleemput Universiteit Gent (RUG)Laboratorium voorToegepaste Fysicochemie

Coupure links 653B-9000 Gent

Tel: +32 (0)9 264 60 04Fax: +32 (0)9 264 62 42

[email protected]://fltbwww.rug.ac.be/isofys

Partners

Georges HofmanUniversiteit Gent (RUG)Vakgroep Bodembeheer enBodemhygiëne


Tel: +32 (0)9 264 60 54Fax: +32 (0)9 264 62 47

[email protected]://soilman.rug.ac.be

Raoul LemeurUniversiteit Gent (RUG)Laboratorium voorPlantecologie


Tel: +32 (0)9 264 61 16Fax: +32 (0)9 224 44 10

[email protected]://allserv.rug.ac.be/planteco/

Noël LustUniversiteit Gent (RUG)Laboratorium voorBosbouw

Geraardbergse Steenweg 267B-9090 Melle (Gontrode)

Tel: +32 (0)9 252 21 13Fax: +32 (0)9 252 54 66

[email protected]://allserv.rug.ac.be/~pvervaek/bosbouw/mainlab.htm

Lucien CarlierMinisterie van de VlaamseGemeenschapCentrum voorLandbouwkundigOnderzoek – Gent (CLO) -Departement Fytotechnieen Ecofysiologie

Burg. Van Gansberghelaan109B-9820 Merelbeke

Tel: +32 (0)9 272 27 00Fax: +32 (0)9 272 27 01

[email protected]


policy should rely on scientific analysis and a broadpartnership. Therefore, the most important elementof a successful environmental policy is bringingtogether all parties necessary for the correct imple-mentation of potential measures. With this in mind,an integrated assessment of the scientific researchresults will take place during a two-yearly workshop.The purpose of such a workshop is therefore notpurely scientific. It is our intention to communicatethe obtained scientific results as soon as possible to:scientists of related disciplines, policy makers, actorsinvolved (e.g. farmers organisations, foresters, …)and the media.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

RUG- Laboratory of Applied Physical ChemistryResearch at this laboratory deals with the biogeo-chemistry of C and N in terrestrial ecosystems, usingflux measurements and stable isotopes to unravel rel-evant processes.

RUG-Department of Soil Management and SoilCare This department focuses on the determination of theC-sequestration potential of Belgian cropland byexploration of different soil management scenarios,using existing data sets and modelling.

RUG-Laboratory of Plant EcologyResearch at this laboratory is focused on the carbonand water cycle of terrestrial ecosystems, includingthe up scaling by an experimental or a modellingapproach.

RUG-Laboratory of Forestry This laboratory is responsible for the carbon poolsinventory of Belgian forests and biomass plantationsand established a 1 ha short rotation plantation forresearch on the changes in above- and belowgroundcarbon pools.

CLOThe Department of Crop Husbandry and Eco-physiology conducts research concerning the impactof agricultural practices on yield and quality of cropsand plants and environment in the frame of themulti-functionality of a sustainable agriculture.

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C O N T E X T

Biological invasions are considered an increasingthreat to biodiversity, but the underlying principlesare poorly known. Also the way changes in the glob-al climate will affect invasions is not well understood.The aim of the current project is to develop animproved mechanistic framework to (a priori) estab-lish which communities are most susceptible to beinginvaded (‘invasibility’) and which species are expect-ed to become invasive (‘invasiveness’) under givenconditions. The overall goal of the project is to pro-vide a better scientific foundation for protectivestrategies towards biological invasions in grasslandsand field borders, so that management policies caneventually become proactive rather than curativetoday.


Objectives■ Identify factors critical to invasion, in order to a pri-ori monitor highly invasive species, to characteriseecosystems most susceptible to and conditions mostconducive to invasion, and to develop protectivestrategies.■ Identify interactions with climate change, by simu-lating invasion in grassland patches damaged by cli-matic extremes. Explain the underlying basis of sensi-tivity to climatic extremes in different species.■ Evaluate techniques to locally maximise diversity inplant communities, in casu field borders. Assesseffects of realised diversity in field borders on neigh-bouring crops. Devise management options to min-imise risks of invasion into field borders, and fromfield borders into arable land.

Methodology

UIA:1) Underlying mechanisms of establishment ofinvading speciesEight grass species acting both as invader and asinvaded system. One monoculture per species, eachwith 8 predetermined gaps to insert seeds of the 8possible invaders. Measurements on invaders: germi-

nation; survival; growth rate etc. Measurements oninvaded monocultures to determine invasibility (e.g.photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) in the gaps).

2) Effect of species diversity and climatic extremeson invasion 24 Different synthesised plant communities withspecies number varying from 1 to 8. Three replicatesets develop undisturbedly; the 3 others are exposedto a simulated heat wave. The 3 most aggressivespecies of Exp 1. are inserted as invaders in gaps.Measurements: gap conditions; invader survival/growth; critical traits for invasiveness/ invasibility;changes in ecosystem processes.

3) Predicting which grasslands are sensitive to cli-matic extremes Species are experimentally exposed to heat/droughtstress in the field (FATI-system), to investigate thephysiological/morphological basis of sensitivity to cli-matic extremes.

RUG:1) Creation of diversity reservoirs in field bordersFour different plant communities are installed under3 managements (2 cuts with no, 1 time or 2 timesremoval of the cuts):a) spontaneous vegetation;b) commercial blend of grasses, leguminous plantsand field flowers; c) same as b) but covered with the mown andchopped product from a botanically species-richroadside in the neighbourhood;d) locally bred grasses and dicots assembled in theneighbourhood.Measurements: characterisation of the seed bank;seed rain captation and determination; biomass pro-duction and quality; species presence, abundanceand shifts; PAR; mineral status of soil and vegetation;incidence and development of weeds, pests and dis-eases in the crops.

2) Effect of light and disturbance on invasionField border plots are installed along a tree lane con-sisting of 2 rows of very uniform 50- year-old beech-es, east-west oriented offering a sunny and a shadyside. Investigated factors: light effect and distur-bance effect (passage of a tractor in the middle ofthe plots) on selected invaders inserted in the borderplots.

Interaction between the different partnersThe research teams study different aspects of diversi-ty and biological invasion: UIA the theoretical eco-logical foundations and RUG the application in fieldborders in order to optimise diversity management.The interaction will focus on the integration of themore artificial detail experiments of UIA with theinformation from the field experiments of RUG.

Duration of the project: 01/12/2000 – 28/02/2005Budget: € 604.711,47Keywords: Biological Invasion, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Grassland, Field Borders

I N V A S I O N A N D B I O D I V E R S I T Y I NG R A S S L A N D S A N D F I E L D B O R D E R S

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Co-ordinator

Ivan NijsUniversiteit Antwerpen(UIA) Departement Biologie -Onderzoeksgroep Planten-en Vegetatie-ecologie(PLECO)

Universiteitsplein 1B-2610 Wilrijk

Tel: +32 (0)3 820 22 57Fax: +32 (0)3 820 22 71

[email protected]://bio-www.uia.ac.be/bio/pleco/

Partner

Dirk ReheulUniversiteit Gent (RUG)Faculteit Landbouwkundigeen Toegepaste BiologischeWetenschappen - VakgroepPlantaardige Productie

Coupure Links 653B-9000 Gent

Tel: +32 (0)9 264 60 96Fax: +32 (0)9 264 62 24

[email protected]


Expected results and/or products■ Publication in peer-reviewed international journals. ■ Presentation of results on national and internation-al fora (conferences, ...).■ Construction of a website describing the objectivesand results of the project.■ Contribution to databases (IWETO, OSTC, the data-base ‘Understanding and Conserving Biodiversity inEurope’).■ Submission of the project as Core Project of IGBP-GCTE Focus 4.■ Participation to the Global Invasive SpeciesProgramme (GISP).■ Development of a mathematical model.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

UIAThe research group of Plant and Vegetation Ecologyconducts research in plant ecophysiology, physicalecology, crop micrometeorology, ecosystem physiolo-gy, plant sociology, and landscape ecology. Over thepast decades the group has been involved in impactstudies on acid rain, elevated CO2 concentrations,global warming, ultraviolet-B, changes in biodiversi-ty and biological invasion. Experimental research isoften coupled to existing or newly developed mod-els.

RUG The department ‘Plant Production’ focuses itsresearch into plant breeding; farming systems: mono-cultures versus crop rotation; research into grasslandand forage crops; extensivation of grassland systems.The objective trough out all research items is thedevelopment of a sustainable agriculture, supportedby divergent research activities and concepts.

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M E T A G EE S T I M A T I N G G R E E N H O U S E G A S F L U X E S F R O M B E L G I A NE C O S Y S T E M S U N D E R G L O B A L C H A N G E S C E N A R I O S

C O N T E X T

Numerous studies have achieved a detailed under-standing of the processes determining greenhousegas (GHG) fluxes both at the global and local scale.However, policy-makers require information at inter-mediate scale levels (i.e. the national scale) in orderto make informed judgements about the effective-ness of different strategies for sustainable develop-ment. Currently, the inventory of the fluxes of themajor GHG: CO2, N2O and CH4, emitted by agricul-ture, land use change and forestry is carried out forthe regions of Belgium under its obligations to theKyoto Protocol using a standard methodology (IPCC,1996). These guidelines have unfortunately a numberof limitations and uncertainties due to aggregatednational scale, default value parameters, calculationsbased on simple empirical expressions and insensitiv-ity to changes arising from climate and land use.


ObjectivesThe overall aim of the project is to develop aGeographical Information System (GIS) to estimategreenhouse gas fluxes from terrestrial ecosystems inBelgium under global change scenarios.

The specific objectives are:■ to construct an operational GIS defining the param-eters required to estimate GHG fluxes from agricul-ture and forestry for landscape units of Belgium;■ to implement the IPCC emission inventory modelsfor the main greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O and CH4)with respect to fluxes from agriculture, land use, landuse change and forestry for the landscape units;■ to improve the parameters of the IPCC models anddevelop ecosystem specific emission factors;■ to develop a spatially explicit model of land use andmanagement change for Belgium and to implementthis model within the GIS framework;■ to construct a range of plausible scenarios of envi-ronmental change and evaluate their impacts onGHG emissions.

MethodologyThe integration of the work packages is illustrated inthe project diagram.

Work package 1: Construction of the GIS frame-work The GIS system consists of polygons derived from anoverlay of the CORINE land cover map and the soilassociation map (Tavernier and Maréchal, 1972). Soildata (e.g. the ‘Aardewerk’ data base; Van Orshovenet al., 1993), climate data and miscellaneous datasuch as fertiliser use, livestock numbers and cultivat-ed area per crop type are geo-referenced to the poly-gons.

Work package 2: Implementation of the IPCCgreenhouse gas inventory models for the landscapeunits within the GIS frameworkN2O and CH4 fluxes from agriculture and livestockhusbandry are calculated from national statisticsavailable at the district level. A rule-based approachallows the conversion from the district level to thelandscape polygons. Carbon stocks are calculated forthe landscape polygons from soil data and regionalforest inventories. As a first approach, CO2 fluxes asa result of land use/management change will be esti-mated by comparison of carbon under similar envi-ronmental conditions.

Work package 3: Improvement of IPCC modelparametersA database containing results of experimental workregarding fluxes of GHG from agriculture andforestry will be compiled. The database will beanalysed in order to develop so-called pedotransferand ecosystem response functions relating IPCCmodel parameters to the landscape attributes avail-able in the GIS database.

Work package 4: Land use change modellingThe approach to modelling agricultural land usechange will be based on the use of optimisation tech-niques that simulate the decision-making process ofland users given a type of land use. A number of dif-ferent models will be used based on the approachesdeveloped within the ACCELERATES project financedby the EU.

Work package 5: Construction and evaluation interms of greenhouse gas fluxes of a range of plausi-ble global change scenariosThe estimates of land use change will be driven byglobal change scenarios. These scenarios will includeestimates of changes in climate and socioeconomics.An important benefit of the scenario approach isthat these allow direct comparison of changes arisingfrom either climate or socio-economic change. Thus,the relative importance of socio-economic and bio-physical drivers can be assessed, and the policy impli-cations can be highlighted.

Duration of the project: 01/12/2000 - 28/02/2005Budget: € 704.215,92Keywords: Global Change Scenarios, Greenhouse Gas Fluxes from Terrestrial Ecosystems, Carbon Sinks, Emission Factors, IPCC Guidelines

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Website of the network:www.geo.ucl.ac.be/metage/index.html

Co-ordinator

Bas van Wesemael andMark Rounsevell Université Catholique deLouvain (UCL)Département deGéographie

3, place Louis PasteurB-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve

Tel: +32 (0)10 47 20 56Fax: +32 (0)10 47 28 77

vanwesemaelgeog.ucl.ac.bewww.geo.ucl.ac.be

Partners

Jos Van Orshoven Katholieke UniversiteitLeuven (KULeuven)Departement Landbeheer

Vital Decosterstraat 102B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 (0)16 32 97 47Fax: +32 (0)16 32 97 60

[email protected]

Eric Laitat Faculté Universitaire desSciences Agronomiques deGembloux (FUSAGx)Unité de Biologie végétale– Ecophysiologie des arbresforestiers

2, passage des DéportésB-5030 Gembloux

Tel: +32 (0)81 62 24 64Fax: +32 (0)81 60 07 27

[email protected]/ecophys


Interaction between the different partnersThe GIS, constructed by the KULeuven team is a focalpoint ensuring integration of the results. The FUSAGxand the UCL teams will at first concentrate on thedevelopment of spatially variable model parametersreflecting variability in soil and climate conditions. Ata later stage the UCL team will provide the land usechange model for Belgium. Finally, all teams will beinvolved in the formulation of scenarios and evaluat-ing the fluxes of greenhouse gases.

Link with international programmesThe approach to land use change modelling will bebased on previous projects financed by the EU(IMPEL). The results of a case study for Belgium con-structed in current EU financed project (ACCELER-ATES) will be used to simulate the impacts of globalchange scenarios. Expansion factors applied to forestinventories are calculated in consultation withEuropean initiatives within the COST E21 project.

Expected results and/or products■ A spatial representation of baseline carbon stocks insoil and biomass for Belgium.■ CO2 fluxes from forest soils under baseline condi-tions.■ Improved emission factors for N2O from soils relat-ed to environmental conditions.■ Estimates of uncertainty for N2O emissions fromsoils.■ Scenarios for future land use change.■ Future stocks and fluxes in response to land use andclimate change scenarios.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

UCLThe Geography department has a strong backgroundin ecological and land use change modelling. TheUCL team is involved in several EU projects and theland use change modelling part of the METAGE proj-ect will be developed in close collaboration withthese EU projects.

METAGE Project diagram

Improved model parameters (wp3)

(UCL, FUSAGx)

Plausible global change scenarios

(wp5)(all)

Flux models-Soil C (KUL)Biomass C (FUSAGx)

Non-CO2 (UCL)(wp2)

Land use changemodels (wp4)

(UCL)

GIS framework

Polygons withuniform Land use

Soils Climate

(wp1 )(KUL)

Thematic maps of Belgium

GHG Fluxes from terrestrial

ecosystems

Information system

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▼

▼

▼

▼

KULeuvenThe research focus of the department of LandManagement is on biophysical land process studies,spatio-temporal land modelling and decision supportregarding land use and management. Basic researchtools are empirical and process-based models, geo-matics and earth observation. Knowledge is devel-oped in numerous projects funded by regional,national and international authorities.

FUSAGxThe group Forest Tree Ecophysiology has developedfrom 1987 onwards several field experiments andmodels related to the physiological responses of for-est trees to elevated CO2 concentrations in open topchambers. At present, these experiments focus onroot dynamics and forest soil respiration in order toelaborate long term scenarios of plant response toglobal change.

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X Y L O B I O SD I V E R S I T Y , E C O L O G Y A N D R O L E S O F S A P R O X Y L I CO R G A N I S M S I N B E L G I A N D E C I D U O U S F O R E S T S

C O N T E X T

Saproxylic organisms depend during some part oftheir life cycle upon wood substrates or wood-inhab-iting fungi. They account for as much as 25% of allforest-dwelling species, including specific andspecies-rich fungi and invertebrate communities.Saproxylic organisms play a critical role in forest soilfertility and ecosystem functioning since they recycleconsiderable amount of nutrients through multi-trophic interactions. Most of the species, however,have undergone dramatic declines throughoutEurope, mainly as a result of large-scale intensive for-est management and fragmentation. Moreover afew saproxylic insect species have been identified asa major cause of tree damage and significant eco-nomical losses once their populations increase abovesome abundance threshold.


While an increasing number of studies dealing withthe conservation of saproxylic organisms have beencarried out in several European countries, mainlybased on recommendations by the Council of Europeto retard the loss of species, there is a clear lack ofinformation on their taxonomy and ecology inBelgian deciduous forests.

ObjectivesBased on recommendations from the EuropeanCouncil, the project, named XYLOBIOS, aims todevelop a national expertise in the study of diversity,ecology and roles of saproxylic organisms living inbeech and oak forests. Besides increasing publicawareness for their importance in forested habitatsand the identification of biodiversity hotspots, themain objective of the project is to address simultane-ously and to link both ecological and economicalissues raised by forest management, with beech mor-tality in southern Belgium as a study case.

Methodology■ Enquiries sent to foresters to identify forest areas ashabitats for diversified saproxylic communities, with

tree species (oak/beech), availability of woody debris,and dead wood continuity in relation to past forestmanagement history as the main criteria of selection.■ Enquiries sent to naturalists to gain better knowl-edge on the current distribution of flagship species,indicators of microhabitats and succession processesfound in natural and poorly managed forests.■ Development of an insect sampling methodologybased on a comparative analysis of capture efficiencyamong different kinds of traps used during the firstyear.■ Study of relationships between the number ofsaproxylic species and their abundance in forest withlocal (soil properties, vegetation structure and com-position, climate, altitude, woody debris availability)and regional (landscape properties) ecological condi-tions.■ Bark sampling on recently logged beech trees toidentify the main insect species and functionalgroups involved in their colonisation after death.■ Building of a website to ensure accessibility andreadability of the information for a larger audience,in particular regarding the importance of dead woodand saproxylic organisms in forest ecosystem func-tioning.■ Simulation of different management strategies andtheir effects on the economical value and multifunc-tional use of the forest.

Interaction between the different partnersThe main objective of the project is to provide aglobal and multifunctional analysis of the results.This implies from the different partners to work inclose co-operation during the whole research period,whether they are working on the field, identifyingorganisms at the Natural History Museum ofBelgium, etc.

Link with international programmesThe research project does not fit into larger interna-tional programmes, although it benefits from contin-uous and dynamic exchanges with researchers fromwell-known European forest research institutes(Finland, France, Ireland, Portugal, Slovakia,Sweden).

Expected results and/or productsBesides a better understanding about the role thatbiodiversity plays in the recycling of organic matterin forest soils, this project aims to clarify the nationaldistribution of saproxylic insects, to quantify theirimpacts in deciduous forests, and to identify themain determinants of their diversity. Results will bemade available through national and internationalpublications, a website, and build-up of a centraliseddata bank from national biological inventories.

Duration of the project: 01/12/2000 – 28/02/2005Budget: € 810.611,83Keywords: Deciduous Forest, Coarse Woody Debris,Biodiversity, Saproxylic Insect, Wood Decomposition

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Co-ordinator

Marc DufrêneMinistère de la Région wallonne (MRW)Centre de Recherche de laNature, des Forêts et duBois (CRNFB) Direction de la Nature, dela Chasse et de la Pêche

23, avenue Maréchal JuinB-5030 Gembloux

Tel: +32 (0)81 62 64 29Fax: +32 (0)81 61 57 27

[email protected]://mrw.wallonie.be

Partners

Jacques Rondeux Faculté Universitaire desSciences Agronomiques(FUSAGx) Unité de Gestion etEconomie forestières

2, passage des DéportésB-5030 Gembloux

Tel: +32 (0)81 62 23 20Fax: +32 (0)81 62 23 01

[email protected]/gf/

Philippe LebrunUniversité Catholique deLouvain (UCL) Unité d’Ecologie et deBiogéographie (ECOL) -Centre de recherche sur laBiodiversité (BDIV)

5, place Croix du SudB-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve

Tel: +32 (0)10 47 34 88Fax: +32 (0)10 47 34 90

[email protected]

Patrick Grootaert Koninklijk Belgisch Instituutvoor Natuurwetenschappen(KBIN-IRSNB) Departement Entomologie– Insecten


Tel: +32 (0)2 627 43 02Fax: +32 (0)2 627 41 13

[email protected] www.naturalsciences.be


PA R T N E R S

Activities

CRNFBContact: Philippe Fayt, Biologist. Co-ordinator of theproject, involved in the different steps, includinginformation systems, enquiries and publications for alarger audience.

FUSAGxUnité de Gestion et Economie Forestières. Contact:Jean-Marc Henin, Forest Engineer, PhD student.Sampling, identification, analyses and writing. Studymainly the diversity and succession of insects whichcolonise dying and dead beeches (i.e. bark beetlesand associated fauna).

UCLUnité d’Ecologie et de Biogéographie. Contact:Christophe Pontégnie , Forest Engineer, PhD student.Sampling, identification, analyses and writing.

KBIN-IRSNBThe department Entomology-Insects of the RoyalBelgian Institute of Natural Sciences. Contact: VeerleVersteirt, Biologist, PhD student. Sampling, identifi-cation, analyses and writing.

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C O N T E X T

Species go extinct enormously faster now than in thelast few million years. This dramatic reduction ofEarth’s biodiversity is mainly attributable to habitatloss and isolation due to human activities. The sever-ity of the threat, largely ignored some decades ago,is now a major concern for scientists, managers, andgovernments. (The latter have undertaken actions:SPSD II is an example).Conservation biology has shifted from local (focalarea or species) towards landscape level approaches,including ecological networks. But the management,restoration, or re-creation measures are still rarelybased upon ecological knowledge of (target) speciesand their associated habitats.There is an urgent need for sound, scientificallybased procedures to evaluate the conservation effi-ciency of different network scenarios for a series of(target)-species and their habitats.


Basing upon (1) long-term studies in regions withvarious degrees of landscape fragmentation, (2) pre-cise descriptions of the population dynamics, in thoseregions, of several animal species with contrastedecological requirements, (3) estimates of dispersalrates between habitat patches, (4) evaluations of theconnectivity and of habitat quality through GIS-based models, this project aims at building spatiallyexplicit models of population viability as a functionof landscape structure. This should enable us to esti-mate the time to metapopulation extinction, theprobability of survival over long periods (100 years)and the risk of genetic loss under various scenarios ofhabitat restoration, in order to provide guidelinesand criteria to evaluate the “quality” of a landscapein conserving biodiversity.

ObjectivesThis project aims at modelling population dynamicsof several functionally different species as a functionof the structure of the landscape, in order to helpdecision-makers to forecast the consequences of dif-ferent habitat restoration scenarios on the evolutionof biodiversity.

Methodology1 Population dynamics: Standard capture-mark-recapture methods are applied, with technical adap-tations specific to each target species.2 Description of population dynamics: Demographicparameters (survival rates and recruitment) of popu-lations inhabiting local habitat patches are estimatedusing «high-tech» methods (constrained linear mod-els), based on probabilistic models describing theoutcomes of capture-mark-recapture experiments.3 Estimation of dispersal rates: For some species (but-terflies) direct observation of movements betweenhabitat patches is possible. For mammals, radio-tracking may occasionally reveal such movements;but we mainly rely upon molecular methods to iden-tify immigrants by comparing their «genetic signa-ture» to the profile of genotypes in the local popula-tion.4 Evaluation of connectivity and of habitat quality:Physical and vegetal characteristics of the targetregions are mapped. Using GIS tools and models ofhabitat patch occupancy and of «cost distance»,maps of habitat quality and of resistance (againstmovement between habitat patches) are producedfor the focal species and used in spatially explicitmodels of the dynamics of these species over the tar-get regions.

Interactions between the different partnersThis project is clearly interdisciplinary. UIA and UCLteams have recognised expertise in complementaryfields, which they share in the frame of this project(including mutual training sessions). Specific UIAexpertise is in molecular methods and in cost distancemodelling. UCL expertise is in the estimation ofdemographic parameters and in population viabilityanalysis. Both teams have long-term data on severalspecies (butterflies, rodents) in different regions,which are used in the present project.

Expected results and/or productsThe expected output of this project is a tool to esti-mate the time to metapopulation extinction, theprobability of survival over long periods (100 years)and the risk of genetic loss under various scenarios ofhabitat restoration, in order to provide guidelinesand criteria to evaluate the "quality" of a landscapein conserving biodiversity.The proposed methodology does not provide a glob-al solution to the problem of biodiversity conserva-tion at the scale of a landscape. A landscape mustsupport a sustainable ecosystem, and not merely beviable for some emblematic species. The exercisemust be performed for an array of species, hopefullyencompassing all functional compartments of theecological web. The best scenario for one species maybe a bad scenario for another species. The globally

Duration of the project: 01/12/2000 – 28/02/2005Budget: € 579.822,96Keywords: Biodiversity, Conservation Biology, Land Use Management, Habitat Fragmentation, Population Viability Modelling

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C A D I L L A CL I N K I N G D I S P E R S A L, C O N N E C T I V I T Y, A N D L A N D S C A P ES T R U C T U R E T O P R O D U C E H A B I T A T E V A L U A T I O N /R E S T O R A T I O N G U I D E L I N E S

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Co-ordinator

Eric Le BoulengéUniversité Catholique deLouvain (UCL)Faculté d’ingénierie biologique, agronomiqueet environnementale(AGRO) - Unité d’environnemétrie etde géomatique (ENGE)

2, place Croix du SudB.P. 16B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve

Tel: +32 (0)10 47 44 88Fax: +32 (0)10 47 88 98

[email protected]

Partners

Michel BaguetteUniversité Catholique deLouvain (UCL)Unité d'écologie et de biogéographie (ECOL)

4, place Croix du SudB-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve

Tel: +32 (0)10 47 34 95Fax: +32 (0)10 47 34 90

[email protected]

Erik MatthysenUniversiteit Antwerpen(UIA)Departement Biologie –LaboratoriumDierenecologie


Tel: +32 (0)3 820 22 63Fax: +32 (0)3 820 22 71

[email protected]/bio/


optimal scenario necessarily will be a compromise. Aperspective towards such a compromise may be to tryto apply the concept of desirability functions used inthe statistical problem of finding experimental con-ditions that optimise a multivariate response. Ourproposal is the first necessary step towards this direc-tion.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

UCL-ENGEThe Environmetry and Geomatics Unit aims at under-standing and modelling processes underlying(meta)population dynamics. We specialise upondemographic parameter estimation, experimentalplanning, analysis methods, and field techniques.

UCL-ECOLSince 1994 we initiated several projects on popula-tion ecology and genetics of different taxa in theirnatural habitats. The general aim is to investigatemechanisms responsible for the adaptation of popu-lations to selective pressures of a changing, hetero-geneous environment.

UIAThe Laboratory of Animal Ecology investigates thefunctioning of animal populations, focusing on inter-action between individual and population processes.Fundamental questions concern adaptation in behav-ioural and ecological traits, and micro-evolutionaryprocesses. Applied ones concern the impact of envi-ronmental changes on natural populations.

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S I S C OS I L I C A R E T E N T I O N I N T H E S C H E L D T C O N T I N U U M

A N D I T S I M P A C T O N C O A S T A L E U T R O P H I C A T I O N

C O N T E X T

Anthropogenic activities have significantly increasedthe riverine fluxes of N (nitrogen) and P (phospho-rous) to the coastal zones. In contrast, the major landsource of dissolved Si (silicon) is through chemicalweathering of silicate minerals and dissolved Siinputs to aquatic systems have barely been altered.The excess delivery of N and P, compared to Si, hasled to profound modifications of the phytoplanktonsuccession and has thus perturbed significantly manycoastal ecosystems.

The Si retention in the river-estuary-coastal zone con-tinuum, a selective and efficient filter for nutrients, ispoorly known at present time owing to our insuffi-cient understanding of the processes affecting thebiogeochemical cycling of Si. The processes control-ling the Si riverine flux deserve thus a better quan-tification in order to evaluate its impact on primaryproduction and on the further alteration of themarine food web.


ObjectivesThe overall objective of the project is to elucidate thebiogeochemical cycling of Si and its anthropogenicperturbations in the river-estuary-coastal zone con-tinuum of the Scheldt. We aim, in particular, at iden-tifying the sources and sinks of Si in the aquatic con-tinuum, and at quantifying the major processes con-trolling the biogeochemical behaviour of Si in thewater column and in the sediments. The results willbe used to assess the budget of Si and its fluxes car-ried by the Scheldt to the Southern Bight of theNorth Sea.

MethodologyIn order to achieve the aims, the present research willbe carried out by combining 1) analyses of historicaldata, 2) field surveys and laboratory investigations,and 3) model developments.

A Si database will first be constructed and its analysiswill allow the evaluation of the historical evolutionof the concentration of this nutrient along the

Scheldt continuum. A series of fundamental physico-chemical and biological parameters will be measuredin the dissolved and particulate phases along thecontinuum during the first two years. Pore waterprofiles of dissolved Si (DSi) and biogenic Si (BSi) con-tents in sediments will be determined to quantify thetransformation of Si occurring during early diagene-sis.

In addition to field surveys, biogeochemical process-es controlling the production, regeneration andretention of BSi will be studied both in the field andin the laboratory using natural samples and cultureddiatoms. Incorporation experiments of 14C and 32Siwill be conducted to estimate the primary produc-tion versus diatom production. Dissolution assays ofBSi will be carried out to evaluate the regenerationrate of this biogenic element. The diagenetic process-es will also be studied to assess the DSi fluxes acrossthe sediment-water interface.

Finally, a Si module will be developed and imple-mented within an existing coupled hydrodynamicand biogeochemical model (CONTRASTE), originallydeveloped to estimate long-term fluxes of reactivespecies in strong tidal estuaries. The improved modelwill allow us to assess the reduction in Si fluxes alongthe Scheldt continuum and to evaluate its impact oncoastal eutrophication by modifying the marine foodweb in the Southern Bight of the North Sea.

Interaction between the different partnersThe co-ordinator, the Laboratory of ChemicalOceanography and Water Geochemistry at theUniversity of Brussels (ULB-LOCGE), will focus itsefforts on studying processes controlling the produc-tion, regeneration and retention of BSi in the watercolumn and in the sediments.

The Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecologyat the University of Gent (RUG-LPAE) is responsiblefor investigating diatom dynamics and the role ofmicrobial activity on the regeneration of BSi. It willalso be in charge of the diatom culture collection andits maintenance.

The department of Geochemistry at the UtrechtUniversity (UU-GEO) is the European collaborator inthe project. It is the leading partner for the model-ling of Si biogeochemical cycle in the Scheldt contin-uum.

Link with international programmes The link with international programmes will be madethrough our collaboration with the foreign membersof the Users Committee:■ Prof. Hamborg is co-ordinating a EU project“SIBER” on the Si biogeochemical cycle in the Baltic

Duration of the project: 01/02/2002 – 30/04/2006Budget: € 727.000Keywords: Coastal Eutrophication, Biogenic Silica,Scheldt Estuary, North Sea, Biogeochemical Cycle ofSilica

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Website of the network:www.ulb.ac.be/sciences/dste/ocean/SISCO/frame.html

Co-ordinator

Lei ChouUniversité Libre deBruxelles (ULB)Laboratoired’Océanographie Chimiqueet Géochimie des Eaux(LOCGE)

Campus de la PlaineCP 208Boulevard du TriompheB-1050 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 650 52 37Fax: +32 (0)2 646 34 92

[email protected]/sciences/dste/ocean/

Partners

Wim VyvermanUniversiteit Gent (RUG) Vakgroep Biologie –OnderzoeksgroepProtistologie en AquatischeEcologie (LPAE)

Krijgslaan 281-S9B-9000 Gent

Tel: +32 (0)9 264 85 01Fax: +32 (0)9 264 85 99

[email protected]/

Pierre RegnierUniversiteit Utrecht (UU)Departement Geochemie(GEO)Budapestlaan 4NL-3584 CD Utrecht

Tel: +31 (0)30 253 54 09Fax: +31 (0)30 253 53 02

[email protected]/


Sea Ecosystem. He is also actively involved in SCORand IGBP-LOICZ who recently stressed the importantrole of Si in regulating coastal food webs.■ Dr. Conley, also a partner in SIBER, has the expertisein Si biogeochemistry and coastal eutrophication. Heis participating in a EU funded research training net-work “Si-WEBS” to which the present network willbe associated.■ Dr. Garnier has been actively involved in the FrenchPIREN programme of the Seine basin on nutrient bio-geochemistry and will provide knowledge in thediatom and Si dynamics.■ Dr. Middelburg will collaborate in the framework ofa Dutch-Flemish project, aiming at studying the car-bon and nitrogen dynamics in the Scheldt estuary.

Expected results and/or productsThe following research results are expected from theproject:■ A database of existing historical data on dissolvedSi, other nutrients and related parameters incorpo-rating the results acquired in the present project.■ A comprehensive understanding of the Si biogeo-chemistry in the Scheldt continuum.■ Parameterisation of rate constants for processescontrolling the production, regeneration and reten-tion of Si in the Scheldt continuum.■ A Si diagenetic model for the quantitative assess-ment of the recycling efficiency, the burial flux andthus the retention of Si in contrasting estuarine sedi-ments.■ An improved transport-reaction model with theimplementation of a new Si module, allowing theprediction of Si fluxes delivered by the Scheldt to theSouthern Bight of the North Sea.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

ULBThe Laboratory of Chemical Oceanography andWater Geochemistry (LOCGE) has focused its researchactivities on studying the biogeochemical processesaffecting the carbon cycle and associated elements inaquatic systems. Its expertise includes kinetics of min-eral weathering and developments of methodologiesin the field of aquatic and sedimentary geochemistry.

RUGThe Laboratory of Protistology and Aquatic Ecologyspecialises in protist biodiversity and their role inaquatic ecosystem functioning. Relevant expertiseincludes diatom culturing and a range of techniquesto study natural protist and bacterial communities.

UUThe department of Geochemistry emphasises thestudy of biogeochemical complexity in earth surfaceenvironments combining field-, laboratory and mod-elling work. The partner of the present project, Prof.P. Regnier, is the co-ordinator of the modelling groupand is the originator of the coupled transport-reac-tion model CONTRASTE.

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M A R E B A S S EM A N A G E M E N T , R E S E A R C H A N D B U D G E T I N G O F A G G R E G A T E S I N S H E L F S E A S R E L A T E D T O E N D - U S E R S

C O N T E X T

The research project frames into the strategicresearch on marine ecosystems and the sustainablemanagement of the North Sea with priority towardsthe theme ‘Evaluation of sedimentary systems andthe development of new evaluation technologieswithin the view of a sustainable management of theBelgian exclusive economic zone (EEZ)’. An evalua-tion of sedimentary systems calls for the develop-ment of appropriate tools and strategies that areefficient and flexible enough to meet future needsregarding the exploitation of the EEZ. Within theconcept of a ‘sustainable management’, the researchproposal is relevant towards different uses of the seasuch as marine aggregate extraction,dredging/dumping operations and the implantationof windmill farms, however, with the main emphasison the sediments themselves.


ObjectivesThe MAREBASSE project is essentially meant to set upan integrated assessment framework for marine sed-iments. This framework is regarded necessary to beable to answer management/policy questions onhow a sustainable exploitation of marine resourcesshould be viewed and what approaches should beenvisaged. This implies that essentially an increase ofknowledge is necessary on the level of the sedimentsthemselves and their distribution, but also on thedynamical environment. Ideally, this calls for a holis-tic approach, but it is clear that time and resourcesimpose constraints. Still, nowadays instrumentationand techniques in combination with the necessary‘know-how’ can largely overcome this discrepancy.

The project is structured around a three-tieredapproach encompassing three spatial scales: broad-based, regional and site-specific. Fieldwork pro-grammes will be the focal point of the regional andsite-specific research, however with a couplingtowards the broad-based approach.

An overview of the different project components isfurther schematically represented including theinteraction between the different partners.

Link with international programmesOn an international level, the project is complemen-tary to the Fifth Framework Research TrainingNetwork EUMARSAND (European Marine Sand andGravel Resources). The project is set-up to address, ona European level, the urgent need for integrated andcoherent approaches regarding marine aggregates.However, the main objective of the programme is totrain young European researchers, to a high level, inthe individual research approaches needed and toprovide them with an integrated and balanced viewof the diverse and difficult issues involved.Partnership: Fundacion AZTI, Spain; University ofSouthampton, United Kingdom; University of Gent,Belgium; National & Kapodistrian University ofAthens, Greece; University of the Aegean, Greece;Maritime Institute in Gdansk, Poland; Université duLittoral Côte d’Opale, France; Universiteit Twente,The Netherlands and Christian-Albrechts-Universitaetzu Kiel, Germany.

Expected results and/or productsAs the integration and the valorisation/exploitationof the research results are an inherent component ofthe MAREBASSE project, high-quality end productsand strategies are aimed at. The main deliverablescan be summarised as follows:■ Review of existing knowledge on marine sedimentstaking into account the marine aggregate needs,dredging issues and a European review on environ-mental (impact) assessments. ■ 2-D sediment transport model of the Belgian conti-nental shelf (BCS) as an evaluation tool for the sus-tainable management of the EEZ.■ Definition of optimised environmental assessments.■ Development of environmental assessment evalua-tion tools and strategies (the definition of unam-biguous acoustical seabed classes for the range ofsediment types found on the Belgian continentalshelf; the set-up of a reference manual of theacoustic facies on a BCS level including their eco-mor-phological interpretation; 3-D sediment transportmodel).■ Definition of optimised environmental impactassessments.■ Set-up of an integrated assessment framework formarine aggregates including a mapping of the distri-bution of the surficial sediments of the Belgian con-tinental shelf.■ Targeted resource mapping according to end-users’needs together with a multi-user GIS of Belgianmarine aggregates. ■ Development of targeted environmental assess-ments tools and strategies.■ Monitoring and research protocols and guidelines.

Duration of the project: 01/02/2002 – 30/04/2006Budget: € 970.000Keywords: Marine Aggregates, Environmental (Impact) Assessment, Sediment Transport Modelling, Geo-acoustical Techniques, Seafloor Classification

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Website of the network:http://allserv.rug.ac.be/˜vvlancke/Marebasse

Co-ordinator

Vera Van Lancker andGeert Moerkerke Universiteit Gent (RUG)Renard Centre of MarineGeology (RCMG)

Krijgslaan 281, S8B-9000 Gent

Tel: +32 (0)9 264 45 89Fax: +32 (0)9 264 49 67

[email protected] /[email protected]://allserv.rug.ac.be/~jphenrie

Partners

Georges Pichot, DriesVan den Eynde andMichael Fettweis Royal Belgian Institute ofNatural Sciences (RBINS)Management Unit of theNorth Sea MathematicalModels (MUMM)

Gulledelle 100B-1200 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 773 21 32Fax: +32 (0)2 770 69 72

[email protected]@[email protected] www.mumm.ac.be

Jaak Monbaliu Katholieke UniversiteitLeuven (KULeuven)Laboratorium voorHydraulica

Kasteelpark Arenberg 40B-3001 Heverlee

Tel: +32 (0)16 32 16 61Fax: +32 (0)16 32 19 89

[email protected]/bwk


PA R T N E R S

Activities

RUG-RCMGThe research team of the Renard Centre of MarineGeology is specialised in the use and validation ofgeo-acoustical techniques (a.o. for the prospecting ofmarine aggregates and habitat mapping). For MARE-BASSE, RCMG has subcontracted the consultancy firmMagelas and the section Marine Biology of theUniversity of Gent.

MUMMThe Management Unit of the North SeaMathematical Models of the Royal Belgian Institutefor Natural Sciences follows a Management-Monitoring-Modelling strategy. Managementbecause of the impact of human activities. Modellingfor operational forecasts and research. Monitoring asa basis of a good Management and for calibrationand validation of models

KULeuvenThe team of the Hydraulics Laboratory conductsresearch in the domain of hydrodynamics andmechanics of sediments. Applications related to waveand current modelling in coastal seas and estuaries,to erosion and sedimentation of (non-)cohesive sedi-ments, to urban hydrology and river modelling.

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Schematic representation of the MAREBASSE research project

review of existing knowledge on marine sediments

refinement of a 2D sediment transport model and its application

Field experiments- Selection locations (1,2)- Geo-acoustic measurements (1a,2)- Ground-truthing (1ab,2)- Hydrodynamical & sediment

transport measurements (2,1)

Individual assessment analysis- Physical assessment (2)- Geo-environmental assessment (1b)- Environmental assessment (1,2)

Set-up of environmental assessment tools- Acoustical tools (1)- Sampling tools (1,2)- Modelling tools (2)

GIS data management and mapping (1)Sediment mapping (1)Set-up Integrated Assessment Framework (1ab,2,3)

- Website (1) - Discussion meetings (1ab,2,3) - Targeted resource mapping (1a,2) - Multi-user GIS (1) -

Targeted EA tools (1a,2,3) - Data dissemination (2,1ab,3) -Protocols/guidelines (2,1ab,3) - Workshops (1ab,2,3)

Field experiments- Defining of the location (1, 2)- Geo-acoustic measurements (1a,2)- Ground-truthing (1a,2)- Hydrodynamical & sediment

transport measurements (2,1)

Environmental assessment of the area ofimpact

- Physical assessment (2,3)- Geo-environmental assessment (1)- Environmental assessment (2,1,3)

Environmental impact assessment- Modelling (hydrodynamical/

STM/wave) (2,3)- Temporal variability, budgetting (2,1)- Environmental Impact Assessment (2,1)

Ministry of Econom

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arine Sand Fund; Zeegra vzw; M

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redging Association; 3E; Flem

ish Marine Institute

Partners:1. Ghent University, Renard Centre of Marine Geologya-subcontract Magelasb-subcontract Ghent University, Section Marine Biology

2. Management Unit of the Mathematical Model of theNorth Sea3. Catholic University of Leuven, Hydraulics Laboratory

Marine aggregate issues (1)Dredging issues (2)E (I) review (2)

2D MU-STM (2)Model calculations (2)

WP1BCS - ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTERISATION

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WP4RESEARCH INTEGRATION

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WP2EA EVALUATION TOOLS AND STRATEGIES

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A M O R E - I IA D V A N C E D M O D E L L I N G A N D R E S E A R C H O NE U T R O P H I C A T I O N - L I N K I N G E U T R O P H I C A T I O N A N DB I O L O G I C A L R E S O U R C E S

C O N T E X T

As EU member and Contracting Party of the OSPARConvention for the Protection of the MarineEnvironment of the Northeast Atlantic, Belgium hasobligation of taking measures to protect its maritimearea against the adverse effects of eutrophication.Eutrophication in Belgian coastal waters results fromtransboundary (SW-Atlantic waters, Rhine) and local(IJzer, Scheldt) inputs of land-based nutrients (N, P, Si)and manifests as huge algal blooms (mainly theHaptophycea Phaeocystis) that impact the ecosystemfunction. Despite a nowadays 50% reduction of Ploads compared to 1990 no ecosystem improvementis discernible. Increased understanding of the linksbetween nutrient enrichment and ecosystemresponse is needed to guide the implementation ofEuropean regulations for the reduction of riverinenutrient loads to the North Sea.


ObjectivesAMORE-II research focus on establishing quantitativeand qualitative links between nutrient enrichment,spreading of high-biomass algal blooms (Phaeocystisglobosa but also the co-occurrent diatom Guinardiadelicatula), presence of gelatinous zooplankton (thedinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans, the appendicu-larian Oïkoploira dioica) and impact on ecosystemfunction. In support to government policy, the overall objec-tive is to provide new ecological knowledge and anupgraded version of the existing ecological model (3-D-MIRO&CO) to:■ predict the magnitude and geographical extent ofundesirable Phaeocystis blooms in the SouthernBight of the North Sea in response to changing nutri-ent loads and climate conditions (North AtlanticOscillation);■ trace the origin and fate of anthropogenic nutri-ents in the Belgian coastal zone distinguishingbetween in-flowing Atlantic waters, Scheldt, IJzerand Rhine river inputs, local pelagic and benthic recy-cling and the export to adjacent areas.

Methodology AMORE-II research methodology involves and com-bines the collection of historical and new field data,process-level experiments and numerical tools. Laboratory and field experiments focus on mecha-nisms controlling the inception, magnitude andextent of blooms in the Southern Bight of the NorthSea with particular attention to further understand-ing the:■ life strategy of Phaeocystis blooms based on theidentification of overwintering forms and completelife cycle making use of high-resolution microscopictechniques and molecular probes;■ competitive strategy among algal blooming species(P. globosa, G. delicatula) and bacteria for P acquisi-tion during bloom events based on culture work withpure freshly-isolated species making use of radio-tracer and immunofluorescence techniques;■ trophic role of gelatinous zooplankton based onquantitative and qualitative determination of keyorganisms and their diet and feeding function.

Numerical experimentation will provide an improvedversion of the existing 3-D-MIRO&CO ecologicalmodel in order to increase its capability to predictbloom spreading in response to changes in land-based nutrients and short-term climatic variations. Itincludes the extension of the geographical domain,better resolution of forcing functions, upgrading ofthe biological MIRO code based on new experimen-tal results and data assimilation, addition of a mod-ule describing carbon speciation and air-sea CO2exchange. The validated model will be used to assessthe impact of nutrient reduction policy on algalbloom mitigation taking into account contrastedmeteorological conditions.

Interaction between the different partnersExperimental studies are under full responsibility ofULB-ESA and VUB-ECOL. Experiments in microbialecology (nutrient competition and Phaeocystis lifecycle) will be conducted by ULB-ESA with assistanceof Observatoire Océanologique de Banuyls for elec-tronic microscopy. Beside, ULB-ESA will have respon-sibility of maintenance of phytoplankton culturesand assist VUB-ECOL for experiments on gelatinouszooplankton. MUMM will be in charge of upgradingand managing the numerical code of the ecologicalmodel 3-D-MIRO&CO and will be responsible ofupgrading the hydrodynamical model. ULB-ESA andOregon State University will assist MUMM for theoptimised ecological parameterisation, interpreta-tion of model simulations and formulation of scenar-ios for model exploitation. NIOO-CEME due to itsrecognised international expertise will provide thevalidated benthic diagenetic module while VUB-ECOL will assist in parameterisation of gelatinouszooplankton dynamics. Frequent joint meetings of modellers and experi-

Duration of the project: 01/02/2002 – 30/04/2006Budget: € 1.116.000Keywords: Eutrophication, Biological Resources,Modelling

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Co-ordinator

Christiane LancelotUniversité Libre deBruxelles (ULB)Ecologie des SystèmesAquatiques (ESA)

CP221 Campus de la PlaineBoulevard du TriompheB-1050 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 650 59 88Fax: +32 (0)2 650 59 93


Partners

Kevin Ruddick Royal Belgian Institute ofNatural Sciences (RBINS)Management Unit of theNorth Sea MathematicalModels (MUMM)


Tel: +32 (0)2 773 21 31Fax: +32 (0)2 770 69 72

[email protected]

Marie-Hermande Daro Vrije Universiteit Brussel(VUB)Laboratorium voor Ecologieen Systematiek (ECOL)


Tel: +32 (0)2 629 34 06Fax: +32 (0)2 629 34 03

[email protected]

Karline Soetaert Nederlands Instituut voorEcologie – Centrum voorEstuariene en MarieneEcologie (NIOO-CEME)

Korringaweg, 7NL-4401 NT Yerseke

Tel: +31 (0)113 577 300Fax: +31 (0)113 573 616

[email protected]

Yvette Spitz Oregon State University College of Oceanic andAtmospheric Sciences

Corvallis OR 97331, USA

Tel: +1 541 737 35 04Fax: +1 541 737 20 64

[email protected]

Marie-JosèpheChrétiennot-Dinet Université P. & M. Curie,UMR-CNRS 7621 -ObservatoireOcéanologique de Banuyls

B.P. 44F-66651 Banyuls-sur-mer

Tel: +33 (0)4 688 873 07Fax: +33 (0)4 688 816 99

[email protected]


mentalists are planned to secure relevance of biolog-ical parameterisation and evaluate the capability ofthe model to simulate ecological trends in theBelgian coastal zone.

Links with international programmesAMORE contributes to objectives of IGPB-LOICZ(Land Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone) andGEOHAB/EUROHAB (Harmful Algal Blooms).

Expected results and/or products■ Improved knowledge of the origin and determinismof Phaeocystis blooms in the Belgian coastal zoneand their link with nutrient loads.■ First estimate of the trophic status of gelatinous inBelgian waters and their link with algal blooms.■ Optimised 3-D ecosystem model of Belgian andadjacent waters (Southern North Sea, Eastern EnglishChannel), suitable for application to eutrophicationmanagement (‘what-if?’ scenarios), scientific under-standing of the ecosystem and, thanks to addition ofcarbon cycle dynamics, future global change applica-tions.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

ULB-ESA: Co-ordination, phytoplankton and bacteri-oplankton ecophysiology, ecosystem modellingVUB-ECOL: Zooplankton ecologyMUMM: ModellingNIOO-CEME: Benthic diagenesis modellingOregon State University: Inverse modelling anddata assimilationObservatoire Océanologique de Banuyls:phytoplankton taxonomy

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C A N O P YB I O G E O C H E M I C A L C A R B O N , N I T R O G E N A N D P H O S P H O R U S F L U X E S I N T H E N O R T H S E A

C O N T E X T

The Southern Bight of the North Sea receives carbonand nutrients from wastewater discharges, riverinputs and atmospheric deposition. Sources of nutri-ents and carbon are mostly linked to anthropogenicactivities. The nutrient enrichment of aquatic sys-tems, also called eutrophication, results in anincreased productivity. The most recent QSR report(OSPARCOM, 2000) for the Greater North Sea high-lighted very high inputs of nitrogen and phosphorusto the North Sea. These nutrients and carbon are sub-ject to internal fluxes and processes within the NorthSea ecosystem, but recent average data for the NorthSea dealing with these internal N, P and C recyclingprocesses are rather scarce.


Carbon and other nutrients are subject to internalfluxes and processes within the North Sea ecosystem,like internal recycling of organic and inorganic com-pounds, uptake by phytoplankton, mineralisation,atmospheric efflux, sedimentation, etc. Recent datafor the North Sea, concerning this internal recyclingare very limited. In this project we will reveal the rel-ative importance of major processes involved in theseinternal carbon and nutrients cycles in the SouthernBight of the North Sea. These data will be integratedin box-models and compared to the input and outputfluxes of C-N-P, in order to be able to visualise theglobal functioning of the concerned ecosystem.Furthermore, the significance of the main C-N-P com-pounds will be studied.

ObjectivesThe general objective of this project is to reveal therelative importance of major processes involved inthe internal cycling of carbon and nutrients, in theSouthern Bight of the North Sea. These data will beintegrated in box-models and compared to the inputand output fluxes of C-N-P, in order to be able tovisualise the global functioning of the concernedecosystem. Furthermore, the significance of the mostimportant C-N-P compounds will be studied.Attention will be given to the improvement of ana-lytical techniques, the validation of experimentalprotocols and the calculation of important ecosystemparameters.

Methodology 1 Workpackage Uptake: The goal of this workpack-age is to quantify for the Southern Bight of theNorth Sea, on an annual basis, the importance of thetransfer flux between the inorganic C-N-P pools andthe living organic C-N-P pools (mainly phytoplank-ton). Experiments will be conducted in such a waythat exactly the same conditions are valid for the 3elements. This allows us to link the assimilation path-ways of C, N and P.

2 Workpackage Regeneration: The goal of this work-package is to quantify for the Southern Bight of theNorth Sea, on an annual basis, the importance of thetransfer flux between the organic C-N-P pools andthe inorganic C-N-P pools. For nitrogen, transforma-tion rates will be calculated using a detailed 15Nmass balance model (Elskens, 1999) allowing estimat-ing the related uncertainties.

3 Workpackage Pools and Speciation: The first goalof this workpackage is to quantify, for the SouthernBight of the North Sea, the importance of the differ-ent pools of particulate/dissolved and organic/inor-ganic C-N-P, including their seasonal variability. Thiswill be done by collecting data in existing databasesand by implementing these by original measure-ments. Quality Assurance and quality control of thenutrient analysis is an essential requirement andtherefore regular participation in the QUASIMEMEnutrient inter-comparison exercises is necessary.

Interaction between the different partnersThe 4 partners have each expertise in either thedetermination of N-fluxes (VUB), C-fluxes (ULB, VUBand ULg), P-fluxes (ULB) and in budgeting (RIKZ) sothat they are complementary in the described work-packages.

Link with international programmesThis project is linked to the Dutch-Flemish collabora-tion project “The Balance between Heterotrophicand Autotrophic Processes in the Scheldt Estuary:Consequence for the Nitrogen Cycle”.

Expected results and/or productsWe expect that the results of this project will be ableto answer some fundamental questions about thefunctioning of a highly men-influenced marineecosystem: (1) How does the productivity of theSouthern Bight of the North Sea reacts to the hugeinputs of nutrients (2) What is the faith of the syn-thesised biomass? (3) What is the net CO2 flux in thearea? (4) What would be the possible result of areduction of the nutrient supply?

Duration of the project: 01/02/2002 – 30/04/2006Budget: € 948.000Keywords: Southern Bight of the North Sea, Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Budgets

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Co-ordinator

Willy BaeyensVrije Universiteit Brussel(VUB)Analytische enMilieuchemie (ANCH)


Tel: +32 (0)2 629 32 63Fax: +32 (0)2 629 32 74

[email protected]://anchweb.vub.ac.be/

Partners

Lei ChouUniversité Libre deBruxelles (ULB)Laboratoired'Océanographie Chimique

CP 208Campus de la PlaineB-1050 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 650 52 37Fax: +32 (0)2 646 34 92

[email protected]/dste/ocean/

Michel FrankignoulleUniversité de Liège (ULg)Unité d’Océanographie -Institut de PhysiqueBat. B5

17, allée du 6 aoûtSart TilmanB-4000 Liège 1

Tel: +32 (0)4 366 33 26Fax: +32 (0)4 366 23 55

[email protected]/oceanbio/co2/

Remi LaaneMinisterie van Verkeer enWaterstaat - Directoraat-Generaal Rijkswaterstaat Rijksinstituut voor Kust enZee (RIKZ)

Kortenaerkade 1NL-2500 EX Den Haag

Tel: +31 (0)70 311 43 11Fax: +31 (0)70 311 43 21

[email protected]

Users CommiteeFor the complete and mostup-to-date composition ofthe Users Committee, please consult our FederalResearch Actions Database(FEDRA) by visitingwww.belspo.be

PA R T N E R S

Activities

VUBThe department of Analytical and EnvironmentalChemistry (ANCH) has expertise in the determinationof main fluxes concerning the nitrogen cycle in fresh-water and marine systems.

ULBThe Laboratory of Chemical Oceanography hasexpertise in the determination of main fluxes con-cerning the phosphorus cycle in marine systems.

ULgThe Unit of Chemical Oceanography has expertise inthe field of air-sea CO2 exchange and physico-chem-istry of marine inorganic carbon.

RIKZ Remi Laane has expertise in nutrient budgeting ofmarine systems and in data-bank management.

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B A L A N SB A L A N C I N G I M P A C T S O F H U M A N A C T I V I T I E S I N T H E B E L G I A N P A R T O F T H E N O R T H S E A

C O N T E X T

In the 5th North Sea Declaration (2002) Ministersstressed the need to establish an ecosystem basedmanagement of the North Sea in order to conservebiological diversity and ensure sustainable develop-ment. To reach the latter, integration of sciencebased, environmental and socio-economic factorsinfluencing the functioning of the North Sea ecosys-tem are essential. Various research activities in theBelgian part of the North Sea identified either eco-logical indicators without any link to socio-economi-cal indicators or socio-economical indicators that arenot linked to potential ecological indicators. At thisstage, the absence of accepted systems and tech-niques for integrating, weighing and balancingsocial, economic and ecological indicators is animportant lacuna.


Sustainable management of the North Sea is a com-plex theme due to interactions between the social,the economic and the ecological dimension. Fiveresearch disciplines (socioeconomics, ecology, ecotox-icology, modelling and fisheries) strive to develop aconceptual policy model, balancing ecological, eco-nomical and social indicators in an integratedapproach, to support arguments and directions forpolicy makers to reach a more sustainable manage-ment of the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPN).

ObjectivesThe purpose of this project is to gain experience in cor-relating and balancing relevant social, economic andecological data, through the elaboration of indicators,weighing these indicators and the development of aconceptual policy model “Sustainable Management ofthe North Sea”. Following items will i.a. be examined:the reliability of the model, the reduction of uncer-tainty and error, the relevance of policy models in theargumentation for sustainable management of thesea and the effects of changing parameters of differ-ent indicators (social, economic and ecological). As thistype of research is very complex and still in an embry-onic phase for the marine environment, the projectboundaries are limited to fisheries, sand and gravelextraction and related shipping.

Methodology & interaction between the differentpartnersIn general all partners support the calculation ofmanagement scenarios.

RUG-Laboratory Marine Biology ■ Selection and elaboration of relevant indicators forbenthic en epibenthic ecology which reflect theimpact of human offshore activities related to fish-eries and sand/gravel exploitation, based on avail-able literature. For fisheries special attention herewill be directed to ecological impacts of the use ofdifferent types of fishing gear. For sand and gravelextraction, special attention will be given to distur-bance and recolonisation of habitats.

CLO-Sea Fisheries Department■ Study of the ecological impact of sea fisheries basedon own project research collected during the last 10years and additional literature study. Special atten-tion will be paid to the fishing techniques applied byBelgian fishermen.■ Synthesis of the available data sets and analysis ofnon-mined data in the Sea Fisheries Department con-cerning discarding in the Belgian shrimp and flatfishfisheries industry.

RUG-Laboratory Ecotoxicology ■ Selection and elaboration of relevant ecotoxicolog-ical indicators, which reflect the impact of variousindustrial activities in the North Sea (fisheries, sandand gravel extraction and discharges of pollutants).■ Selection of indicators representative for the eco-logical quality status of the chemistry of the water-column and the seafloor, including ecological indica-tors of the toxicological quality and the effects ofpollutants at the ecosystem level.

MUMM ■ Data management within the project.■ Study of the feasibility of visualisation of the dataand support in the visualisation of the dynamics of afirst conceptual balancing model.■ Support of the development and selection of dif-ferent types of ecological and ecotoxicological indi-cators.■ Support of the elaboration of ecotoxicological indi-cators by the use of modelling.

RUG-Maritime Institute & Ecolas ■ Selection and elaboration of social and economicindicators for fisheries, sand and gravel extractionand related shipping.■ Development of the impact of the basic manage-ment scenario. Impact on socio-economic indicatorsand the relation to ecological reference points willbe taken into account.■ Construction of a conceptual balancing model (BAL-ANS). This model will, as much as possible, be buildbased on dynamic relationships between the differ-

Duration of the project: 01/10 /2002 – 30/09/2006Budget: € 908.000Keywords: Anthropic Activity, Ecotoxicology, North Sea, Ecological Indicators

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ent indicators. Different methods and techniques ofintegration or balancing of social, economic, andecological indicators will be analysed and compared.■ On the basic of management optimisation sce-nario’s and making use of the conceptual balancingmodel in co-ordination with the administrations,new developments in international/national law andpolicy will be used to make short-term and long-termpredictions of their socio-economical and ecologicaleffects.

Expected results and/or products■ Detailed database of human activities and compileddatabase of the benthos of the BPN, evaluation ofcandidate indicators and selection of indicators relat-ed to this benthos.■ Development of ecotoxicological indicators of thewatercolumn as a result of the focused activities.■ Application and validation of the developed indica-tors in a number of management scenarios.■ Identification of social and economical indicatorsfor the focused activities.■ Relation between socio-economic indicators andecological indicators based on a selection of indicatorspecies derived from literature study and the data-base Macrodat.■ Relation between socio-economic indicators andecological indicators based on a selection of ecotoxi-cological substances derived from literature and thedatabases.■ Comparison of methods for integration and balanc-ing of social, economical and ecological indicators.■ A conceptual model balancing indicators for social,economical and ecological impacts of the focusedactivities.■ Relational database of the information relevant tothe project.■ Synthetic analysis and dynamic visualisation ofthese data.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

RUG-Maritime Institute (MI) The MI is a university based research institute advis-ing and carrying out studies for governmentaladministrations, non-governmental organisationsand private companies. The staff of the MI is i.a. spe-cialized in research topics concerning internationaland national environmental law and policy, natureconservation and integrated coastal zone manage-ment, law of the sea, maritime law and shipping.

Ecolas N.V., AXE GroupEcolas N.V. is a multidisciplinary environmental con-sultancy firm, active world-wide, which has gained itscredits in policy supporting environmental studies.Highly trained multifunctional economists, engi-neers, biologists and geologists form the core of thefirm. As such the company and its employees areused to solve problems where environmental, eco-nomical and social problems meet.

RUG-Marine Biology SectionThe Marine Biology Section has been involved in eco-logical and systematic research of marine ecosystemsfrom 1970 onwards, starting with the investigation

of North Sea benthic communities, with special focuson the macro- and meiobenthos. Later on researchwas expanded to include the hyperbenthic andepibenthic compartments. Since about ten years,other geographical areas have been included. Nextto the biological subjects geochemical characteristicsare determined and analysed. All chemical methodsare adapted for analysis within the sediments.Microbial aspects (radio-active labelling) and experi-mental microcosmos research (culture chambers andrespiration chambers) are available.

RUG-Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology andAquatic EcologyThe Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology andAquatic Ecology has performed fundamentalresearch on different aspects of aquatic toxicology(marine and freshwater environment), such as: devel-opment of toxicity tests with different marine andfreshwater aquatic organisms; quantification of thetoxicity of water sediments; development of Toxicity-Identification-Evaluation (T.I.E.) and Toxicity-Reduction-Evaluation (T.R.E.) techniques; develop-ment of biomarker techniques based on physiologi-cal and biochemical endpoints for a rapid evaluationof potential toxicity; research towards the endocrinedisrupting potential of chemicals in vertebrates andinvertebrates; development of (predictive) risk assess-ment models in freshwater and marine environment,….

MUMMResearch at MUMMM focuses on providing the nec-essary knowledge and tools for scientific manage-ment of the North Sea ecosystem based on i.a. math-ematical modelling. MUMM is the Belgian officialbody for the management of the marine environ-ment and represents Belgium in various internation-al organisations (e.g. OSPAR, …). MUMM, as co-ordi-nator and leader of the IDOD project (Belgian feder-al oceanographic data centre), has recently gained asignificant and professional experience in data man-agement activities.

CLODvZ (Sea fisheries Department) is a multidisciplinaryinstitute involved in research on: the rational and sus-tainable exploitation of living marine resources - theprotection of the marine environment as a habitatfor these resources - and the quality control of fish-ery products. The technical department of DvZ hasover ten years of experience with national and inter-national research projects. DvZ has good contactswith the fishing industry, fishermen’s organisationsand the fishery administration and worked closelytogether with fishermen in many project, such as:selectivity of existing fishing gears; development ofalternative fishing techniques; discard monitoringand study of the environmental impact of fisheries.

EV 21 23/06/03 9:39 Page 2


Co-ordinator

Frank MaesUniversiteit Gent (RUG)Maritiem Instituut (MI)

Universiteitstraat 6B-9000 Gent

Tel: +32 (0)9 264 68 95Fax: +32 (0)9 264 69 89

[email protected]

Partners

Magda Vincx andSteven DegraerUniversiteit Gent (RUG)Vakgroep Biologie - SectieMariene Biologie

Krijgslaan 281-S8B-9000 Gent

Tel: +32 (0)9 264 52 10Fax: +32 (0)9 264 53 44

[email protected]://allserv.rug.ac.be/~gdsmet/MarBiolwebsite

Colin JanssenUniversiteit Gent (RUG)Laboratorium voorMilieutoxicologie enAquatische Ecologie (LMAE)

Jozef Plateaustraat 22B-9000 Gent

Tel: +32 (0)9 264 37 75Fax: +32 (0)9 264 37 66

[email protected]://fltbwww.rug.ac.be/milieutoxicologie/

Georges Pichot andSerge ScoryRoyal Belgian Institute ofNatural Sciences (RBINS)Management Unit of theNorth Sea MathematicalModels (MUMM)


Tel: + 32 (0)2 773 21 11Fax : +32 (0)2 770 69 72

[email protected]

Hans PoletMinisterie van de VlaamseGemeenschapCentrum voorLandbouwkundigOnderzoek – Gent (CLO) -Departement Zeevisserij

Ankerstraat 1B-8400 Oostende

Tel: +32 (0)59 34 22 53Fax: +32 (0)59 33 06 29

[email protected]

Users CommitteeFor the complete and mostup-to-date composition ofthe Users Committee, plea-se consult our FederalResearch Actions Database(FEDRA) by visitingwww.belspo.be

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A publication of the PPS Science policyWetenschapstraat 8 Rue de la Science - B - 1000 BrusselsTEL.: + 32 2 238 34 11 - FAX: + 32 2 230 59 12 - http://www.belspo.beApril 2003

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E N D I S - R I S K SE N D O C R I N E D I S R U P T I O N I N T H E S C H E L D T E S T U A R Y :D I S T R I B U T I O N , E X P O S U R E A N D E F F E C T S

C O N T E X T

There is growing concern about the potential of var-ious chemicals to produce changes in the functioningof the endocrine system of humans and animals.Known natural hormones as well as relativelyunknown environmental pollutants seem to have theability to potentially disrupt the endocrine system ofman and animal in such a way that harmful effectson their development and reproduction can occur. The first indications of possible effects of endocrinedisrupting substances and the presence of these sub-stances in the Scheldt estuary have recently beenpublished. The industrial areas of Gent and Antwerpare to a large extent responsible for this pollution.Therefore, there is an obvious need to investigatethe occurrence of endocrine disruption in the Scheldtestuary. In addition, a detailed knowledge of the dis-tribution and long-term effects of these substances isneeded in the framework of future-oriented policymeasures at the national and European level.


ObjectivesThe major objectives within the project are:■ analyses of endocrine disrupters in water, suspend-ed solids, sediment and biota (mysids, gobies);■ in vitro evaluation of the estrogenic and andro-genic potency of samples of water, suspended solidsand sediment;■ ecotoxicological and in situ evaluation of theeffects on the resident mysid populations (short,intermediate and long-term);■ risk assessment of endocrine disrupters in theScheldt estuary.

MethodologyThe proposed project can be divided into four differ-ent research phases:

Phase I: Distribution of endocrine disrupting sub-stances in the Scheldt estuary (chemical analyses,analyses on biota, in vitro analyses)

The Scheldt estuary will be sampled three times ayear (spring, summer and winter) for the duration of

the project. On each sampling date, sediment, water,suspended solid and biota (mysid shrimp and gobies)will be collected. An extended list of natural hor-mones and endocrine disrupting chemicals will bemeasured in these samples.

The different water, sediment and suspended solidextracts will be tested in vitro to assess their poten-tial to bind with the (human) estrogen and androgenreceptor. The results of these analyses will allow anidentification of the estrogenic and androgenicpotency in different environmental matrices of theScheldt estuary.

Phase II: Evaluation of the exposure of biota fromthe Scheldt estuary to endocrine disrupting sub-stances

Based on the results of the first sampling campaignspriority substances will be selected. These priorityendocrine disrupting chemicals will be used in labo-ratory experiments with mysid shrimp to assess acuteand chronic effects (Phase III).

Phase III: Ecotoxicological evaluation of the effectsof endocrine disrupting substances occurring in theScheldt estuary on resident mysid shrimp populations(laboratory and field studies)

Acute and chronic laboratory tests with mysidshrimps.To evaluate the possible effects of the pollutants(retained in phase II) on mysid shrimp, acute andchronic test will be performed in the laboratory.Mysid shrimp will also be exposed in multi-genera-tion experiments during two generations (until thefirst generation of juveniles produces juvenilesagain) to assess the effects of endocrine disruptersduring prolonged exposure.

Population study of the native mysid shrimp in theScheldt estuary.The mysid shrimp population of the Scheldt estuarywill be sampled and studied during one year. In thisway, the present population dynamics can be com-pared with the available historical data and possiblechanges can be detected. In addition, a more in-depth field study on the possible endocrine disrup-tion effects will be conducted based on the results ofthe laboratory toxicity experiments. Sensitive end-points identified in the laboratory experiments willbe validated in situ on the resident mysid shrimppopulation in the Scheldt estuary.

Phase IV: Risk assessment

In the last phase, the results of the previous phaseswill be incorporated into an integrated risk assess-ment for the Scheldt estuary with reference toendocrine disrupting substances. Moreover, an over-

Duration of the project: 01/02/2002 – 30/04/2006Budget: € 1.314.000Keywords: Endocrine Disruption, Scheldt Estuary, Distribution, Biomarkers, Mysid

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website of the network:www.vliz.be/projects/endis

Co-ordinator

Colin JanssenUniversiteit Gent (RUG)Laboratorium vanMilieutoxicologie enAquatische Ecologie (LMAE)

Jozef Plateaustraat 22B-9000 Gent

Tel: +32 (0)9 264 37 75Fax: +32 (0)9 264 37 66

[email protected]://fltbwww.rug.ac.be/milieutoxicologie

Partners

Magda VincxUniversiteit Gent (RUG)Vakgroep Biologie – SectieMariene Biologie

Krijgslaan 28 1 - S 8B-9000 Gent

Tel: +32 (0)9 264 52 10Fax: +32 (0) 9 264 53 44

[email protected]://allserv.rug.ac.be/~gdsmet/MarBiolwebsite/

Hubert De BrabanderUniversiteit Gent (RUG)Laboratorium vanChemische Analyse

Salisburylaan 133B-920 Merelbeke

Tel: +32 (0)9 264 74 60Fax: +32 (0)9 264 74 92

[email protected]://allserv.rug.ac.be/~hdbraban/

Patrick RooseRoyal Belgian Institute ofNatural Sciences (RBINS)Management unit of theNorth Sea MathematicalModels (MUMM)

3de en 23steLinieregimentspleinB-8400 Oostende

Tel: +32 (0)59 24 20 54Fax: +32 (0)59 70 49 35

[email protected]/

Dick VethaakMinisterie van Verkeer enWaterstaat – Directoraat-Generaal RijswaterstaatRijksinstituut voor Kust enZee (RIKZ)

Veldstation JacobahavenJacobaweg 2NL-4493 MX Kamperland

Tel: +31 (0)118 371 651Fax: +31 (0)118 372 855

[email protected]


all risk assessment for the Scheldt estuary will be con-ducted with these data in correlation with environ-mental concentrations of the tested endocrine dis-rupters. Recommendations for sustainable manage-ment and priority substances will be developed.

Expected results and/or productsThe results of this study on ”endocrine disruption inthe Scheldt estuary: distribution, exposure andeffects” will be used at different levels and in differ-ent ways.

In order to ensure (rapid) dissemination and valorisa-tion of the obtained results, the following actionswill be undertaken:■ all results will be published in peer-reviewed jour-nals;■ transfer (and discussion) of the obtained knowl-edge and insights to national and international rep-resentatives of policy making and policy supportinggovernmental services. This discussion will offer anessential contribution to the international contractu-al engagements of Belgium;■ diffusion of data and results through scientific data-bases;■ interactive communication forum during the proj-ect (project website);■ the results of the project will be brought togetherin a book, which will include the datasets on CD-romand the main research results.The diffusion and valorisation of the information asdescribed above will be developed and maintainedby the Flemish Institute for the Sea (VLIZ) (subcon-tracted) under supervision of the co-ordinator.

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Activities

RUG-LMAEThe Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology andAquatic Ecology belongs to the inter-faculty researchgroup Endocrine Modulator Research Gent(EMRGent). This group investigates different aspects(environment and human) of endocrine disruptingsubstances. The recognised experience of the LMAE isin the field of ecotoxicology and risk assessment ofendocrine disrupting substances and metals.

Overview of the interactions and different researchphases in the ENDIS-RISKS project

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Phase I I(evaluation results Phase I)

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RUG-Marine Biology Section This section is specialised in biological and ecologicalresearch in marine/estuarine ecosystems. This grouphas a long-standing and recognised expertise in thevarious research aspects of mysid shrimps inEuropean estuaries, in particular the Scheldt estuary.

RUG-Laboratory of Chemical Analysis This laboratory has an internationally recognisedexpertise, experience and technology for the identifi-cation, quantification and purification of endocrinedisrupting chemicals (especially hormones).

MUMMThe Management Unit of the North SeaMathematical Models has a crucial role in the prepa-ration, performance and visualisation of the govern-mental policy concerning the marine environment. Inaddition, their laboratory is a recognised expertisecentre for the analysis of micro-pollutants.

RIKZRIKZ has, in the Netherlands and in Europe, a centralrole in the research of endocrine disrupting sub-stances in the marine environment. This instituterecently performed (together with RIZA) the LOES-project (Research to the presence of estrogen-activesubstances in aquatic systems and wastewater in theNetherlands) and performs important policy support-ing research on the Scheldt estuary.

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E C O T O X 2E F F E C T S O F P O L L U T A N T S O N B E N T H I C P O P U L A T I O N S A N D C O M M U N I T I E S O F N O R T H S E A O R G A N I S M S

C O N T E X T

Several classes of potentially toxic contaminantsoccur at high levels in the North Sea. These worryingcontaminants include coplanar polychlorobiphenyls(cPCBs), polybrominated diphenyls ethers (PBDEs),dioxins, furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) and some metals (Cd, Pb, Hg, Zn). Tools forassessing the effects of these substances have beendeveloped, the so-called biomarkers (biologicalresponses indicating the exposure to or the effects ofa contaminant in an organism). Most current bio-markers (as well as those in development) consist inresponses at biochemical to individual levels of bio-logical organisation. Actually, there are very fewdata to interpret the significance of the biomarkerresponses at the population or community level,which should be considered for the preservation ofspecies and biodiversity.


ObjectivesTo determine whether the effects of contaminants ofhigh concern in the North Sea (cPCBs, dioxins, furans,PAHS, PBDE, and metals -Cd, Pb, Hg, Zn- with possi-ble synergic effects due to increased levels of organ-ic matter) monitored at the gene to individual levelsresult in significant impairments of populations orcommunities of benthic organisms and if the earlysignals provided by biomarkers can effectively pre-dict these ecological effects.

MethodologyConsidered organisms are marine benthic biota ofgreat ecological and/or strategic importance, namelythe starfish Asterias rubens, the mussel Mytilusedulis, and sediment-associated microbial communi-ties (SAMC). The two first species are recognised bio-indicators of contamination and provide validatedbiomarkers or biomarkers in development. They arestudied at the population level. SAMC are key com-ponents of soft sediments but are poorly knownfrom an ecotoxicological point of view. They arestudied at the community level.

The strategy is to determine the effects of contami-nants on population or community parameters of the

selected organisms in mesocosms and/or in the fieldtogether with biomarker responses, environmentaland contamination conditions being either imposed(mesocosm experiments) or determined simultane-ously (field studies).

Analysed contaminants are cPCBs, dioxins, furans,PAH, PBDEs, and metals (Cd, Pb, Hg, Zn).Environmental conditions taken into account aresalinity, temperature, organic load of the sediment,and food availability for starfishes and mussels.Considered biomarkers are, in starfishes and mussels,metallothionein induction, cytochrome P450-1Aactivity, immune activity, embryotoxic assays, differ-ential gene expression analysis. In addition, a bacter-ial cell stress gene-profiling assay is used to detectand characterise the nature of the pollution inmarine sediments and suspended matter. This is anewly developed assay whereby the status of geneexpression is measured through specific reporter con-structs.

In field experiments, the strategy is to determine in alimited number of well-contrasted sites (1) generalenvironmental conditions (temperature, salinity,available food), (2) contaminant levels (in sediments,suspended organic matter, and the selected biota),(3) population/or community parameters of theselected organisms, and (4) responses of the selectedbiomarkers. Then, through multivariate data analy-sis, differences in ecological parameters will belinked with environmental conditions and/or con-taminant levels. Finally, correlations between bio-marker responses and impairment of populations orcommunities will be established. Selected sitesinclude contaminated and background sites in theSouthern Bight of the North Sea (from Pas-de-Calaisto Grevelingenmeer with stations along the Belgiancoast and in the Scheldt estuary) and a hot spot (andassociated gradient of contamination) in aNorwegian fjord. The parameters of starfish andmussel populations that are characterised are popu-lation dynamics (cohort analysis of size class distribu-tions, to determine growth, survival, and deathrates), organ indices (to characterise resource alloca-tion), gametogenetic cycle, and reproductive capaci-ty. Parameters of SAMC are biodiversity and abun-dance of dominant species (determined by molecularbiology techniques).

Mesocosms experiments will allow to separate effectsof specific factors (environment and contaminants)on the population and community parameters incontrolled conditions. For that purpose, selectedenvironmental parameters and levels of contami-nants are manipulated with other parameters main-tained at background condition. Studied variablesare growth of recruits (i.e. newly settled juveniles),growth and metamorphosis of larvae, and biodiversi-ty and abundance of dominant species of SAMC.

Duration of the project: 01/02/2002 – 30/04/2006Budget: € 754.000Keywords: Benthic Population, Benthos, North Sea, Pollution, Ocean Organisms

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Co-ordinator

Philippe Dubois Université Libre deBruxelles (ULB)Laboratoire de Biologiemarine, CP160/15 (Biomar)

50, avenue F.D. RooseveltB-1050 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 650 28 39Fax: +32 (0)2 650 27 96

[email protected]/scien-ces/biomar/index.html

Partners

Christiane Lancelot Université Libre deBruxelles (ULB)Ecologie des SystèmesAquatiques

CP221 (ESA)Campus de la PlaineBoulevard du TriompheB-1050 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 650 59 88Fax +32 (02 650 59 93

[email protected] www.ulb.ac.be/rech/inventaire/unites/ULB115.html

Michel JangouxUniversité de Mons-Hainaut(UMH)Laboratoire de Biologiemarine (Biomar)

6, avenue du Champs deMarsB-7000 Mons

Tel: +32 (0)65 37 34 70Fax: +32 (0)65 37 34 34

[email protected] www.umh.ac.be/~bio-mar/

Robert FlammangUniversité de Mons-Hainaut(UMH)Laboratoire de ChimieOrganique (ChOrg)

19, avenue MaistriauB-7000 Mons

Tel: +32 (0)65 37 33 42Fax: +32 (0)65 37 35 15

robert.flammangumh.ac.bewww.umh.ac.be/~orgafs/

Ronny BlustUniversitet Antwerpen(RUCA)Departement Biologie -Ecofysiologie en Biochemie

Groenenborgerlaan 171B-2020 Antwerpen

Tel: +32 (0)3 218 03 47Fax: +32 (0)3 218 04 97

[email protected]

Edwin De PauwUniversité de Liège (ULg)Laboratoire deSpectrométrie de Masse

Sart-Tilman B6cB-4000 Liège

Tel: +32 (0)4 366 34 15Fax: +32 (0)4 366 34 13

[email protected]/mslab/

Users Committee For the complete and mostup-to-date composition ofthe Users Committee, please consult our FederalResearch Actions Database(FEDRA), by visitingwww.belspo.be

Interaction between the different partnersFour biologist teams (UMH-Biomar, ULB-Biomar -withits subcontractant ULB-ESA-, and RUCA) are in chargeof field and mesocosm experiments, and biomarkermeasures. Two chemist groups (UMH-ChOrg andULg) will analyse, respectively, PAHs and cPCBs,PBDEs, dioxin and furans. Metals will be analysed byRUCA and ULB-Biomar.

Expected results and/or productsThe main results expected are (1) an assessment ofthe impact of contaminants of high concern on pop-ulations of major invertebrates and communities ofsediment-associated bacteria in the North Sea and (2)an evaluation of the ability of selected biomarkers topredict these effects. This will provide a case study inthe field of ecotoxicology sensu stricto (i.e. at thelevel of population and community), a fundamentalbut rarely seeked objective in the marine environ-ment.The output of the project will provide both environ-mental agencies and industries with an assessment ofthe health status of coastal benthic communities ofthe Southern Bight of the North Sea and a determi-nation of the factors of concern (these data can con-stitute the basis to decide if remedial actions are nec-essary or not - e.g. in recreational or shellfishingareas).Results will also be used to raise the concern of thepublic and NGO for the protection of marine benthicecosystems in general and of invertebrates in partic-ular.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

ULB The research activities of the Marine BiologyLaboratory (Biomar) deal with the biology, ecology,ecotoxicology, and aquaculture of marine inverte-brates, with a particular interest for echinoderms.The Laboratory of Ecology of Aquatic Systems (ESA) isspecialised in the functioning of aquatic ecosystemsand their responses to natural and man-inducedchanges.

UMHThe Marine Biology Laboratory (Biomar) focuses onthe biology of marine benthic invertebrates, notablyechinoderms. Main topics are adhesive properties,symbiosis, and larval development including meta-morphosis. The Organic Chemistry Laboratory(ChOrg) is specialised in mass spectrometry applied tonew reactive molecules, atmospheric and marine pol-lutants, and amino acid sequences in peptides.

RUCAThe research of the Ecophysiology, Biochemistry andToxicology group is focused on biological availabilityand accumulation of contaminants in aquatic organ-isms and ecosystems, and on the effects of environ-mental conditions and pollution exposure on physio-logical condition and toxicological effects.

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ULgThe Mass Spectrometry Laboratory research isfocused on the development of analytical methodsfor micropollutants and on the study of molecularrecognition between bio-molecules (proteins andDNA and complexes with xenobiotics).

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B I A N Z OB I O D I V E R S I T Y O F T H R E E R E P R E S E N T A T I V E G R O U P S O F T H E A N T A R C T I C Z O O B E N T H O S

C O N T E X T

The Convention on Biological Diversity has criticallyincreased the awareness of the general lack ofknowledge about the world biodiversity, especiallythe marine biodiversity. On the other hand, theimplementation of the Madrid Protocol onEnvironmental Protection of the Antarctic requires amore comprehensive knowledge of Antarctic marinebiodiversity and a better accessibility to the widelyscattered biodiversity information.

Current research programmes in Antarctic biologyfocussed in particular on the structure and dynamicsof coastal and shelf ecosystems in the perspective ofglobal changes (SCAR-EASIZ), and on the biodiversityof the totally unknown deep-sea habitats (ANDEEP).Finally, several worldwide initiatives (like GBIF) havestressed the need for developing efficiently the bio-diversity information management and promotedthe development of comprehensive biodiversitydatabases.


ObjectivesThe main goal of this study is to investigate the bio-diversity of the Antarctic benthos through three rep-resentative faunal groups of different size cate-gories: the nematodes (meiobenthos), the amphipodcrustaceans (macrobenthos) and the echinids(megabenthos).

The meiofaunal Nematodes are in terms of abun-dance the most important metazoan group in marinesediments. As their communities contain a largenumber of species, usually an order of magnitudegreater than any other meiobenthic taxon, they areparticularly suitable for tackling biodiversity and bio-geography issues. Amphipods appear to be the mostspeciose animal group in Antarctic seas, and one ofthe most diverse in terms of modes of life, habitats,trophic types, and size spectra. Finally Echinoids con-stitute an often abundant and widely distributedcomponent of the Antarctic communities, and offerimportant opportunities for symbiotic diversity.

Relying on the exploration of new or poorly knownAntarctic regions, this study will first concentrate onthe understanding of the nature and distribution ofbiodiversity, i.e. to take an inventory of the faunalcomponents and to analyse their distribution withrespect to several gradients (depth, latitude or dif-ferences between basin).

The second objective aims at better understandingthe ecofunctional role of biodiversity by analysingdifferent dynamic aspects such as niche diversity,trophic types and role in food webs, reproductionpatterns or biomass turnover.

The third objective concerns the development of aBiodiversity Information System for the Antarcticbenthos, to make more effectively available to thescientific community and other users, the biodiversi-ty knowledge acquired during previous studies ornewly gained from the proposed research. This infor-mation system will include mapping applications andwill rely on the extant or development databases ofthe three benthic taxa.

MethodologyField sampling of new material will benefit from dif-ferent international Antarctic campaigns onboard RVPolarstern such as the ANDEEP or LAMPOS cruises inthe Weddell Sea and along the Scotia Arc. Sampledmaterial will be preserved for morphological and tax-onomic purposes, for molecular approach, and forstable isotope analyses by mass spectrometry. It willalso be compared to existing museum collections.

Living material will also be collected and kept in coldrooms, in order to analyse different ecologicalparameters such as food preferences, feeding orgrowth rates.

Interaction between the different partnersIRSNB-RUG-ULB will collaborate in field sampling andin the analysis and integration of data of commonsignificance, each partner focussing on a differentgroup of zoobenthos representative for a size class.

ULg will work together with the other three ones inanalysing stable isotopes on collected material, inorder to delineate carbon and nitrogen fluxes withinAntarctic benthic ecosystems.The four partners will collaborate in the creation of aweb portal which will connect the databases devel-oped by each partner, and eventually other existingdatabases about Antarctic biodiversity.

Link with international programmes■ SCAR-EASIZ, Ecology of the Antarctic Sea-Ice Zone;■ ANDEEP, ANtarctic benthic DEEP-sea biodiversity;■ LAMPOS, Latin-AMerica POlarstern Study;

Duration of the project: 01/02/2002 – 30/04/2006Budget: € 1.140.000 Keywords: Biodiversity, Antarctica, Amphipoda, Nematoda, Echinoidea

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Co-ordinator

Claude De BroyerInstitut Royal des SciencesNaturelles de Belgique(IRSNB)


Tel: +32 (0)2 627 41 27Fax: +32 (0)2 627 42 77

[email protected]/amphi/

Partners

Ann VanreuselUniversiteit Gent (RUG)Vakgroep Biologie – Sectie Mariene Biologie

Krijgslaan 281- S 8B-9000 Gent

Tel: +32 (0)9 264 52 15Fax: +32 (0)9 264 53 44

[email protected]://allserv.rug.ac.be/~gdsmet/MarBiolwebsite/

Chantal De RidderUniversité Libre deBruxelles (ULB)Laboratoire BiologieMarine

CP 160/1550, avenue F.D. RooseveltB-1050 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 650 29 66Fax: +32 (0)2 650 27 96


Jean-MarieBouquegneauUniversity of Liège (ULg)Laboratoire d’Océanologie

Sart Tilman B6B-4000 Liège

Tel: +32 (0)4 366 33 21Fax: +32 (0)4 366 33 25

[email protected]/oceanbio/


■ SCAR-EVOLANTA, EVOLution in ANTArctica;■ DIVERSITAS;■ CoML-OBIS, Census of Marine Life - OceanBiogeographic Information System;■ GBIF, Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Expected results■ An improved knowledge of the composition andbiogeography of the three target benthic groups insome poorly known parts of the Southern Oceanshelf.■ A detection of potential cryptic species (throughmolecular analyses) which could conduct to reviseour current estimations of Antarctic species richnessand our concept of generalised circumpolar distribu-tion.■ A discovery of the totally unknown deep-sea faunafrom the continental slope and abyssal basins of theScotia and Weddell seas.■ An improved knowledge of some ecological aspectsuseful to understand the role of biodiversity inecosystem functioning, such as niche diversity, troph-ic roles.■ An improved knowledge of some biological aspectssignificant for the understanding of Antarctic biodi-versity patterns: life styles such as symbiosis, size spec-tra in the deep sea, reproduction and development.■ New syntheses on taxonomy, faunistics, distributionand biogeography of selected groups of theAntarctic benthos through the development andconcerted exploitation of comprehensive databasesand mapping applications.■ An implementation of extant databases on the bio-diversity of the 3 target groups.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

IRSNBWill focus on different aspects of the biodiversity ofAntarctic amphipods (morphological and moleculartaxonomy, biogeography, ecofunctional diversity),and will implement the ANT'PHIPODA database(Biodiversity Reference Centre for AntarcticAmphipoda). It will also co-ordinate the project.

RUGWill concentrate on biodiversity features of Antarcticnematodes (diversity of communities, depth gradi-ents, density and turnover). It will implement theNEMASLAN database (Biodiversity of AntarcticNematodes).

ULBWill focus on the biodiversity of Antarctic echinoids,with a special interest for symbioses as a source ofniches. It will also update its ANTARCTIC ECHINOIDdatabase.

ULgWill perform isotope ratio mass spectrometry analy-ses on field collected material to delineate the foodwebs wherein the 3 groups of target organisms areinvolved.

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T R O P H O SH I G H E R T R O P H I C L E V E L S I N T H E S O U T H E R N N O R T H S E A

C O N T E X T

TROPHOS is a co-operation between five Belgianinstitutes (RUG–Marine Biology, KULeuven–AquaticEcology, Institute of Nature Conservation (IN),Management Unit of the North Sea MathematicalModels (MUMM) and Flanders Marine Institute(VLIZ)) and one Dutch institute (NIOO-CEME) andaims at a better understanding of processes structur-ing the higher trophic levels in the North Sea. As wewill not ignore the link between ecosystem function-ing and aquatic biodiversity, our results will alsoserve in aspects of sustainable management for thoseareas on the Belgian Continental Shelf (BCS) of theNorth Sea, which fulfil the criteria for protection sta-tus in marine reserves.


ObjectivesResearch within TROPHOS will focus on processesstructuring the higher trophic levels in the North Seaecosystem. Special attention will be given to:■ The food web interactions that shape the benthiccommunities. This will make it possible to unravelhow food cascades into animal biomass. Detailedresearch on C-cycling within the benthic food webwill be performed.■ The dispersal mechanisms on the BCS. This is main-ly of importance for those species that have a pelag-ic life-style or have pelagic larvae. The impact of cer-tain behavioural aspects (swimming, sinking,…) onthe dispersal will be investigated as well.■ The importance of the benthic communities in thefunctioning of the total BCS ecosystem. It will beexamined whether or not Phaeocystis can be used asa food source by the infauna of the benthos. In addi-tion, sediment community oxygen consumption ratesthat will be performed in BCS sediments will shedlight on total benthic metabolism.■ The Belgian coastal waters are internationally veryimportant areas for a number of sea and coastalbirds. Studying the distribution patterns of the possi-ble food sources (i.c. pelagic fish) of these birds willlead to a better understanding of their spatial distri-bution patterns. Population dynamics of gulls andterns in the outer harbour of Zeebrugge will be stud-ied as well.

Methodology■ Food web interactions: This task will be executed byRUG-Marine Biology Section and NIOO-CEME and isfocussed on meiobenthos. Monthly sampling of twostations, showing a clearly different food web struc-ture, will allow describing changes in the composi-tion and densities of the meiobenthos when changesin the primary production in the water column willoccur. The primary production will sink to the seafloor and acts as an important food source for thebenthos. Possible consumption of phytoplankton canbe studied by comparing the natural occurring stableisotopes of the meiobenthos with those present inthe phytoplankton. Changes in bacterial diversity willbe assessed by means of DGGE. The benthic responseto the sedimentation of the spring phytoplanktonbloom will be evaluated trough experiments withenriched and labelled (stable isotopes 13C and 15N)phytoplankton. Benthic food web flows and the ben-thic contribution to the metabolism of the ecosystemwill be inferred from inverse modelling.■ Dispersal mechanisms of key species: This part ofTROPHOS will be performed by KULeuven, RUG andMUMM. Larvae and post larvae of fish andMesopodopsis, sole and gobies will be sampled usingthe appropriate sampling gear. Population-specificlife history characteristics (e.g. fertility, survival,growth…) will be collected. Genotyping will be donewith at least 8 DNA microsatellites per fish(KULeuven) or with SSCP combined with sequencingof variable nuclear and mitochondrial loci(Mesopodopsis (RUG) and Gyrodactylus (KULeuven)).The behaviour of the planktonic stages of the fishesand Mesopodopsis will be modelled with a combined3-D hydrodynamic and particle tracking model byMUMM.■ Coastal and sea birds: This part of TROPHOS will bea combined effort of RUG and IN. Pelagic fish will becollected monthly at 7 locations on the BCS by meansof a MIC-net at the surface and near the bottom.Frequency of sampling will be diminished towardsthe end of the project. Species composition, lengthdistribution, abundance, zooplankton density and anumber of environmental variables will be meas-ured. Distribution patterns of Common Tern,Sandwich Tern, Auk, Common Guillemot and GreatCrested Grebe will be compared with the horizontaldistribution of their prey fish. An analysis of the con-tent of the stomach will be performed on freshcorpses of Guillemot, Auk and Great Crested Grebesfound during beach bird surveys along the coast andbirds accidentally caught in fishing nets. Populationsize of seabirds nesting in Zeebrugge will be deter-mined. Laying date, clutch size, predation rate,hatching success, chick growth and survival will bemeasured. Nest attendance and prey specific forag-ing time will be established. Food intake and dietcomposition of Sandwich and Common Tern chickswill be measured from a hide. Food composition ofadult terns will be identified by means of otholits

Duration of the project: 01/02/2002 – 30/04/2006Budget: € 1.048.000 Keywords: North Sea Ecosystem, Benthos, Population Dynamics, Sampling, Food Web

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website of the network:www.vliz.be/projects/trophos

Co-ordinator

Magda VincxUniversiteit Gent (RUG)Vakgroep BiologieSectie Mariene Biologie

Krijgslaan 281- S 8B-9000 Gent

Tel: +32 (0)9 264 52 10Fax: +32 (0)9 264 53 44

[email protected]://allserv.rug.ac.be/~gdsmet/MarBiolwebsite

Partners

Carlo HeipNederlands Instituut voorEcologieCentrum voor Estuariene enMariene Ecolologie (NIOO-CEME)

Korringaweg 7NL-4401 NT Yerseke

Tel: +31 (0)113 577 300Fax: +31 (0)113 573 616

[email protected]

Filip VolckaertKatholieke UniversiteitLeuven (KULeuven)Laboratorium AquatischeEcologie

Ch. De Bériotstraat 32B-3000 Leuven

Tel: +32 (0)16 32 39 66Fax: +32 (0)16 32 45 75

[email protected]/bio/eco/index.php

Georges PichotRoyal Belgian Institute ofNatural Sciences (RBINS)Management Unit of theNorth Sea MathematicalModels (MUMM)


Tel: +32 (0)2 773 21 11Fax: +32 (0)2 770 69 72

[email protected]

Eckhart KuijkenInstituut voorNatuurbehoud (IN)

Kliniekstraat 25B-1070 Brussels

Tel: +32 (0)2 558 18 11Fax: +32 (0)2 558 18 05

[email protected]

Jan MeesVlaams Instituut voor deZee (VLIZ)

Vismijn, Pakhuizen 45-52B-8400 Oostende

Tel: +32 (0)59 34 21 33Fax: +32 (0)59 34 21 31

[email protected]


and other food remains found in faeces and pellets.Variation in food composition will be compared tofluctuations in food availability. Reading of ringedSandwich Tern, Common Tern, Herring Gull andLesser Black-backed Gull will be analysed and migra-tion between colonies will be assessed.

Interaction between the different partnersStrong interactions between the various partners inthis project are foreseen. The bentho-pelagic cou-pling theme will be a result of a strong co-operationbetween RUG and NIOO-CEME, while VLIZ offers shiptime on their research vessel Zeeleeuw. Samplingcampaigns will be a joint effort and researchersbelonging to both institutes will conduct the experi-ments. KULeuven and RUG will work together on thetheme covering the dispersal mechanisms of specieshaving pelagic life stages. These mechanisms will bemodelled as a result of collaboration between theKULeuven and RUG teams and the modellers atMUMM. IN and RUG will be the partners tackling theproblems relating to the causal aspects of the distri-bution of seabirds: RUG will work on the pelagic fishdata, while bird data will be analysed at IN.Data management and dissemination of results: VLIZwill be responsible for the data management, valori-sation and exploitation. By developing databases andwebsites, data gathered in the framework ofTROPHOS will be made available to the public. VLIZwill also develop and implement modalities and tech-nical solutions for data-exchange between the part-ners within TROPHOS.

Link with international programmes■ DIVERSITAS (ICSU, SCOPE, IUBS, IUMS, UNESCO-MAB).■ IGBP (International Geosphere – BiosphereProgramme).■ LOICZ (Land Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone,IGBP, ICSU).

Expected results and/or products■ Scientific results will be published in peer-reviewedjournals.■ Data of the benthos and seabirds on the BCS will bemade public through the website. An atlas with dis-tribution maps will be provided as well.■ Monitoring designs for the follow-up of nature con-servation will be developed (potential MarineProtected Areas).■ Bio-indicator species and bio-indicator communitiesfor anthropogenic threats will be identified and test-ed.■ Detailed food web interactions will be identifiedfor the first time in the higher trophic levels of theNorth Sea.■ Coupling between hydrodynamic models and dis-persal mechanisms of selected species will beexplained.■ Population dynamics of gulls and terns will help insetting the criteria for protected areas, habitats andspecies.■ Results will be made available to the public, end-users, governmental bodies.

PA R T N E R S

Activities

RUGThe Marine Biology Section is responsible for the

overall co-ordination, diversity, density and biomassof meiobenthos, diversity of bacterial communities,stable isotope work.

NIOO-CEMEThe Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology of theNetherlands Institute for Ecology focuses on experi-mental work using stable isotopes, modelling offood-web flows.

KULeuvenThe Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology works on the lifehistory and dispersal of organisms with pelagic lifestages.

MUMMThe Management Unit of the North SeaMathematical Models will be in charge of the devel-opment of a dispersion model for organisms with apelagic life stage.

INThe Institute of Nature Conservation focuses oncausal aspects of seabird distribution.

VLIZThe Flanders Marine Institute is responsible for thedata management, valorisation and exploitation ofresults.

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LAQUAN - Belgian Federal Science Policy Office · 01 part 2 global change, ecosystems and biodiversity spsd ii scientific support plan for a sustainable development policy laquan