Research team
Nutrient cycling in wetlands along a climatological gradient: effects of fertilization, drainage and climate.
Abstract
One of the most important ecosystem processes is decomposition. Decomposition plays a key role in the nutrient cycle, and is one of the main factors limiting plant growth. In addition it can substantially influence species composition. Goose numbers have increased dramatically over the past 50 years mainly due to land use changes and a reduced hunting pressure in their wintering grounds. To understand fully the consequences of these changes, studies on ecosystems processes on both the wintering grounds in temperate regions and the breeding grounds in the high arctic are indispensable. In this project we will investigate how geese influence decomposition processes and related processes: besides decomposition the nitrogen and carbon cycle, the microbial communities and the availability of nutrients for plants will be studied .Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Meire Patrick
- Co-promoter: Beyens Louis
- Co-promoter: Janssens Ivan
- Fellow: Fivez Lise
Funding
- FWO
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Impact of fast and slow climate change on biodiversity and landscape stability: study of the Late-Glacial and Early-Holocene as a reference for the present-day climate change.
Abstract
Recent research predicts that the present-day climate change threatens the biodiversity and landscape stability on earth. These predictions are, however, difficult to test. As a reference for the present-day climate change, we study in this project the impact of fast and slow climate changes, which happened during the past, on biodiversity and landscape stability. We study this, using alluvial deposits in Flanders and pollen preserved in these sediments. Special attention is paid to the interactions between vegetation and landscape changes in response to climate change.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Temmerman Stijn
- Co-promoter: Beyens Louis
- Co-promoter: Nijs Ivan
Funding
- BOF
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Nutrient cycling in wetlands along a climatological gradient: effects of fertilization, drainage and climate.
Abstract
Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Meire Patrick
- Co-promoter: Beyens Louis
- Co-promoter: Janssens Ivan
- Fellow: Fivez Lise
Funding
- BOF
- FWO
Project type(s)
- Research Project
The analysis of patterns in species distribution and composition of species assemblages of bryophytes and protists in the sub-Antarctic biome.
Abstract
The objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between patterns in distribution of bryophytes and protists, species composition of species assemblages comprising these groups in the sub-Antarctic biome, and the environmental variables, especially climate, that regulate these patterns. Using a combination of latitudinal and altitudinal gradients, the different aspects of this scientific problem will be investigated.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Beyens Louis
- Fellow: Gremmen Niek
Funding
- BOF
Project type(s)
- Research Project
¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ of the actual, past and future biodiversity of protists and higher plants on a subantarctic island : role of dispersion, colonisation and resistance to climatic warming (DIVCRO).
Abstract
The proposed project studies the fundamental biological factors that determine the biodiversity and the evolution in this diversity in protistological and vegetal communities. The project aims to place the biodiversity in a temporal fi-amework: {I) do the dispersion and colonisation ofprotists influence the diversity in the communities, {II) how do the communities respond to changes in their physical environment {manipulation of temperature) and {III) what evolution is present in the subfossil material? {I) The unicellular organisms are easily transported by wind and animals. Therefor, their -dispersion determines the diversity of the present communities. What is the density, the quality and diversity of protists in the air on the subantarctic islands? Moreover, the colonisation is linked with the dispersion. What is the colonisation speed of protists on the new substrates? What is the colonisation sequence? {II) If we manipulate the microclimatic parameters on the vegetational stratum, how will the communities be affected? By heating small areas with infi-ared radiation systems, a future temperature increase is simulated in order to evaluate the responses of the protists and plants. {III) Even in the past, the climatic events had their influence. Using peat cores {already collected on previous summer campaigns), we will reveal the climatic history of lIe de la Possession and we will discuss the evolution in the diversity of protist communities during the Holocene.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Beyens Louis
- Co-promoter: Nijs Ivan
Funding
- PRIVE - non profit
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Communications and popularization platform of the Belgian Polar research.
Abstract
Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Beyens Louis
- Co-promoter: Van de Vijver Bart
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Belgian Polar research cluster. (BE-POLES)
Abstract
Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Beyens Louis
- Co-promoter: Van de Vijver Bart
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Abstract
Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Beyens Louis
- Fellow: Van de Vijver Bart
Funding
- FWO
- BOF
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Biodiversit in an arctic ecosystel: role of dispersal, colonization and resistance to climatic extremes.
The response of protists in a microcosm to climatic extremes.
Abstract
The aim of this project is to investigate the evolution in biodiversity and community structures of unicellular organisms (testate amoebae and diatoms) in microcosms exposed to extreme environmental conditions.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Beyens Louis
Funding
- BOF
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Abstract
Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Beyens Louis
- Fellow: Van de Vijver Bart
Funding
- FWO
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Global change effects in high arctic ecosystems: experimental physical-ecological and paleo-ecological approach of tendencies in biodiversity and community structures.
Abstract
The main question around which this program pivots is: how will communities of organisms deal with the expected warming in the Arctic? Several approaches are used: what is the present ecological situation (recent ecology ), what can we learn of the past communities (palaeo-ecology), and what is their response to a warmer microclimate (radiation-experiment). The studied organisms are higher plants, diatoms and testate amoebae.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Beyens Louis
- Co-promoter: Impens Ivan I P
Funding
- FWO
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Abstract
Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Beyens Louis
- Co-promoter: De Smet Willem
Funding
- VL.WET.BEL
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Abstract
Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Beyens Louis
- Fellow: Van de Vijver Bart
Funding
- FWO
Project type(s)
- Research Project
¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ of the influence of the palaeogeographic position of the Antarctic Convergence on the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems in sub-antarctic islands.
Abstract
¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ of postglacial peatlayers and lake sediments in different subantarctic islands. A multidisciplinairy approach will be realised by the analysis of the fossils of pollen, diatoms, testate amoebae. The objective is to reconstruct the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems, with emphasis on some critical periods.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Beyens Louis
Funding
- FWO
Project type(s)
- Research Project
The chronostratigraphy of palaeoecological representative cores from South-Georgia (sub-antarctic)
Abstract
A series of radiocarbon datings on sediments will allow the reconstruction and interpretation of postglacial successions in the subfossil flora and fauna.Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Beyens Louis
Funding
- FWO
Project type(s)
- Research Project
Abstract
Researcher(s)
- Promoter: Beyens Louis
- Fellow: Van de Vijver Bart
Funding
- FWO
Project type(s)
- Research Project