Fresh watercourses are highly diverse ecosystems and the composition of the macroinvertebrate communities present in these different surface waters depends on the prevailing biotic and abiotic conditions that characterize the given location. Studies investigating the true biodiversity of freshwater invertebrates and their relationship with environmental factors though are scarce.
Environmental Physiology and Biochemistry
A systems biology approach to the importance of the exposure route on stress susceptibility in zebrafish
In this ecotoxicological study, the biological effects of a major class of environmental pollutants are studied using a systems biology approach, assessing these effects across different levels of bio
Health effects, bioaccumulation and detoxification of metals in large herbivores.
Health effects, bioaccumulation and detoxification of metals in large herbivores.
Main goals:
- study the effects of metals in horses and cattle by measuring different biomarkers and parameters.
- study bioaccumulation and detoxication capacity of horses and cattle
Development of a biodiversity chip for the biomonitoring of benthic macro invertebrate communities.
The Biological water quality in Flanders is assessed aplying the Belgian Biotic Index (BBI). The aim of this proposal is the development of a biodiversity chip (DNA-array) for the identification of benthic macro invertebrate communities.
Mechanism-based risk evaluation of perfluoro alkylated substances for aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
The project will deal with both exposure and effects assessment of perfluoro alkylated substances (PAS) molecules for a variety of organisms. Firstly the project will consist of field assessment studies focusing on perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and PAS exposure of feral fishes, birds and mammals and the investigation of the relation between exposure and biological and biochemical endpoints.
