Open Marine Archive

Koninklijk besluit tot vaststelling van het marien ruimtelijk plan voor de periode van 2020 tot 2026 = Arrêté royal relatif à l’établissement du plan d’aménagement des espaces marins pour la période de 2020 à 2026

Martinez, J.G.T

Nematodes as bio-indicators of environmental impacts of mining activities in the Philippines: a study using field and laboratory approaches

Van Acker, E.

De Rijcke, M.

Huysman, S.

Vandegehuchte, M.

Vanhaecke, L.

De Schamphelaere, K.A.C.

Janssen, C.R.

 -  155  -  
Poster  General session 
Human exposure to algal toxins via sea spray aerosols 
Van Acker Emmanuel
1
, De Rijcke Maarten
2
, Huysman Steve
3
, Vandegehuchte Michiel
2
, Vanhaecke Lynn
3
, 
De Schamphelaere Karel A. C.
3
 and Janssen Colin R.
1 
1
  Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, 
Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium 
E-mail: emmanuel.vanacker@ugent.be  
2
  Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Wandelaarkaai 7, 8400 Oostende, Belgium 
3
  Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 
133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium 
 
Airborne exposure of man to marine natural substances via sea spray aerosols (SSAs) is recently receiving 
more and more attention. The inhalation of low concentrations of biogenics has been hypothesized as 
one of the human health promoting mechanisms
 [1]
 that causes the epidemiologically observed beneficial 
coastal health effect
 [2]
. Algal toxins or phycotoxins, such as okadaic acid (OA) and yessotoxin (YTX), are 
proposed as possible key effect chemicals within this so called biogenics hypothesis. However, no 
observations have ever confirmed the presence of these specific phycotoxins in SSAs, nor was 
aerosolisation ever suggested. The only phycotoxins which have been measured within an (natural) 
aerosol phase, are brevetoxin (PbTx) and ovatoxin (OVTX), and this under favorable sea spray 
aerosolisation conditions during severe blooms of Karenia brevis and Ostreopsis ovata, respectively. 
During these events, when high air concentrations of PbTx (≤ 180 ng m-3) [3] and OVTX (≤ 2 ng m-3)[4] are 
generated, exposed coastal populations may experience respiratory syndromes. These elevated air 
concentrations are the exception. Background concentrations are usually much lower, certainly for toxins 
(e.g. YTX) which are produced by non-severe blooming species. The quantification of these low 
concentrations is not that straightforward. Only in exceptional cases environmental samples contain 
quantities that exceed the analytical limits of detection and quantification. 
 
This study aimed at the development of new methods to simultaneously quantify multiple phycotoxins 
in SSAs, in both direct and indirect ways. SSA phycotoxin concentrations were analysed by combining 
two analytical techniques: ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution 
Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission 
spectrometry (ICP-OES). With these analytical techniques and the artificial production of SSAs using a 
marine aerosol reference tank
 [5]
, specific phycotoxins were not only detected and quantified for the first 
time in an (natural) aerosol phase, but also the aerosolisation process itself was studied. Using these 
newly developed methods in the field, the first data are being generated to assess the environmental air 
concentrations of phycotoxins which are suggested as potential health-promoting chemicals within the 
biogenics hypothesis. 
 
References 
[1]
   M. N. Moore, “Do airborne biogenic chemicals interact with the PI3K/Akt/mTOR cell signalling pathway 
to benefit human health and wellbeing in rural and coastal environments?” Environ. Res., vol. 140, 
pp. 65–75, 2015. 
[2]
   B. W. Wheeler, M. White, W. Stahl-Timmins, and M. H. Depledge, “Does living by the coast improve 
health and wellbeing,” Heal. Place, vol. 18, no. 5, pp. 1198–1201, 2012. 
[3]
   R. H. Pierce et al., “Brevetoxin Concentrations in Marine Aerosol: Human Exposure Levels During a 
Karenia brevis Harmful Algal Bloom,” Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol., vol. 70, no. 1, pp. 161–165, 
2003. 
[4]
   P. Ciminiello et al., “First finding of Ostreopsis cf. ovata toxins in marine aerosols,” Environ. Sci. 
Technol., vol. 48, no. 6, pp. 3532–3540, 2014. 
[5]
   M. D. Stokes et al., “A Marine Aerosol Reference Tank system as a breaking wave analogue for the 
production of foam and sea-spray aerosols,” Atmos. Meas. Tech., vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 1085–1094, 2013. 
 
Keywords: sea spray aerosols; biogenics hypothesis; phycotoxins; UHPLC-HRMS 
 
  


Human exposure to algal toxins via sea spray aerosols

Salas, R.

Deneudt, K.

Lens, L.

Stienen, E.W.M.

Baert, J.

Kavelaars, M.M.

Shamoun-Baranes, J.

Müller, W.

-  88  -  
Poster Science in a modern era 
Time investment and territorial behaviour of lesser black-backed gulls 
(Larus fuscus) during the pre-laying period 
Salas Reyes
1,2
, Deneudt Klaas
2
, Lens Luc
3
, Stienen Eric W. M.
4
, Baert Jan
1,3
, Kavelaars Marwa M.
1,3
,  
Shamoun-Baranes Judy
5
 and Müller Wendt
1
 
1
  Behavioral Ecology and Ecophysiology Research group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein1, 
2610 Antwerp, Belgium 
E-mail: Reyes.SalasFernandez@uantwerpen.be 
2
  Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Wandelaarkaai 7, 8400 Oostende, Belgium 
3
  Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC), Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium 
4
  Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), Havenlaan 88 box 73, 1000 Brussels, Belgium 
5
  Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94248, 
1090GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands 
 
Like many seabird species, lesser black-backed gulls arrive in their breeding colonies long before the 
onset of breeding (del Hoyo et al., 1996). This early arrival is likely related to the necessity of an early 
territory establishment in the colonies. Intriguingly, within a colony, there is a large variation in breeding 
densities. Typically, central parts with high concentrations of nests are surrounded by more scattered or 
isolated nesting territories. The highest concentrations of nests often reflect the most productive 
positions within a colony, characterized by a higher breeding success (Savoca et al., 2011). Such 
increased breeding success of central breeders likely result from lower predation rates on eggs or chicks. 
This suggests a high level of competition to get and maintain these high-quality territories - if territory 
quality or the social environment contributes to the enhanced reproductive success. If so, individuals of 
higher quality are predicted to relegate lower quality individuals to peripheral sites within a colony. 
 
Using lesser black-backed gulls as a model species, the present work investigates arrival dates, time-
budgets and territorial behaviour during the pre-laying period in function of breeding density and sex, 
given potential differences in competitiveness due to the sexual size dimorphism (Olsen & Larson, 2003). 
While accurate assessment of territorial behaviour in free-ranging gulls has long been hampered by their 
highly unpredictable nest presence, latest advances in miniaturized remote-sensing devices now allow 
to monitor individuals at unprecedented spatio-temporal resolution (for a review see Kays et al., 2015). 
 
Since 2013, per year about 20 lesser black-backed gulls breeding in Zeebrugge (Belgium) and Vlissingen 
(The Netherlands) have been tagged with UvA-BiTS solar-powered GPS-ACC loggers as part of the 
LifeWatch GPS bird tracking network. In this project, we will combine information on time-budgets as 
derived from the GPS data, and the number of aggressive interactions as derived from the three-axial 
accelerometer, and relate these to extrinsic (breeding density, weather conditions, social context) and 
intrinsic (sex, body condition) factors. Next, we will relate these factors to individual reproductive 
success. We will present the first results of these currently ongoing analyses. 
 
References 
- Del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, G. (1996). Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 3: Hoatzin to 
Auks. 
- Kays, R., Crofoot, M. C., Jetz, W., & Wikelski, M. (2015). Terrestrial animal tracking as an eye on life 
and planet. Science, 348(6240), aaa2478. 
- Olsen K.M. & Larsson, H. (2003). Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America 
- Savoca, M. S., Bonter, D. N., Zuckerberg, B., Dickinson, J. L., & Ellis, J. C. (2011). Nesting density is an 
important factor affecting chick growth and survival in the Herring Gull. The Condor, 113(3), 565-
571. 
 
Keywords: satellite-tracking; movement ecology; territorial behaviour; time-budgets; pre-laying period; 
lesser black-backed gulls 
  


Time investment and territorial behaviour of lesser black-backed gulls (Larus fuscus) during the pre-laying period

Dekeyzer, S.

Goossens, J.

Claus, S.

Vandepitte, L.

Hernandez, F.

-  77  -  
Oral presentation Science in a modern era 
LifeWatch marine data services supporting marine biodiversity and 
ecosystem research 
Deneudt Klaas, Dekeyzer Stefanie, Goossens Jolien, Claus Simon, Vandepitte Leen and Hernandez 
Francisco 
Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Wandelaarkaai 7, 8400 Oostende, Belgium 
E-mail: klaas.deneudt@vliz.be  
 
LifeWatch, a landmark research infrastructure on the ESFRI roadmap, is a cross-domain e-science 
infrastructure supporting biodiversity and ecosystem research. In the marine domain LifeWatch provides 
data services for a large and broad user community dealing with a variety of data types. Activities include 
provision of data tools and services for taxonomic, ecological, omics, biogeographic, environmental and 
various types of biological observation data. Specific data systems have been developed to serve the 
European and international marine research communities, in this context acting both as data providers 
and data users. 
 
The tools for data archiving, access, quality control, standardization and harmonization, analysis and 
publication are integrated in a Marine Virtual Research Environment (Marine VRE). The Marine VRE 
provides a framework for service provision towards and co-development with the user community both 
within and outside the LifeWatch network (EMODNet, EMBRC, OTN, DISSCO, LTER, WoRMS (Eur)OBIS, IODE, 
iMarine, SeaDataNet, etc.). 
 
Scientific use cases of the LifeWatch marine services that can be demonstrated include marine species 
distribution modelling, visualization of introduction of non-indigenous species and species migration, 
species traits based ecosystem indicators, etc.  Various associated user stories evidence the crucial 
importance of e-science infrastructure like the LifeWatch taxonomic backbone and related reference data 
systems in the framework of contemporary large scale European marine biological research. 
 
Keywords: -science; marine biodiversity; virtual research environment; data systems; species distribution 
modelling; non-indigenous species; species traits 
  


LifeWatch marine data services supporting marine biodiversity and ecosystem research

Verleye, T.J.

De Raedemaecker, F.

De Pooter, D.

Pirlet, H.

-  64  -  
Poster Science in the North Sea 
Alien species in Belgian marine waters: An information platform and 
checklist for science and policy support 
Verleye Thomas, De Raedemaecker Fien, Vandepitte Leen, De Pooter Daphnis and Pirlet Hans 
Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Wandelaarkaai 7, 8400 Oostende, Belgium  
E-mail: thomas.verleye@vliz.be  
 
Since 2006, data and information on alien species in the Belgian marine and brackish habitats were 
collected. The work is a collaborative effort of the ‘VLIZ Alien Species Consortium’, consisting of a 
network of experts, supported by a secretariat hosted by the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ). So far (April 
2018), 81 alien species from different taxonomic groups, mainly arthropods, seaweed and molluscs, 
have been reported to have established populations in the area of interest. Scientific information on the 
species’ origin, pathways of introduction, factors influencing spreading, potential socioeconomic or 
ecological effects, eradication measures, species’ morphology, etc. have been gathered from distributed 
scientific publications and are collected in species factsheets. A first collection of factsheets has been 
published in a Dutch book in 2012 (Vandepitte et al. 2012) and an updated version is planned to be out 
early 2019. The update includes a revision of the existing fact sheets, the writing of new species fact 
sheets and an English translation. A two-way information exchange with the World Register for Marine 
Species (WRIMS) has been put in place and acts as an important data source for the marine component 
of the TrIAS project (Tracking Invasive Alien Species – BELSPO). Furthermore, the effort aims to tackle the 
general lack of accessible local/regional alien species data. The alien species list and the factsheets are 
also online available via the VLIZ Coastal Wiki portal (www.vliz.be/wiki), including full-text references. 
 
Reference 
Vandepitte, L.; De Pooter, D.; Lescrauwaet, A.-K.; Fockedey, N.; Mees, J. (Ed.) (2012). Niet-inheemse 
soorten van het Belgisch deel van de Noordzee en aanpalende estuaria. VLIZ Special Publication, 59. 
Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee (VLIZ): Oostende. ISBN 978-90-817451-9-2. 371 pp. 
 
Keywords: alien species; species factsheets; information platform; Belgium 
  


Alien Species in Belgian marine waters: an information platform and checklist for science and policy support

Atlantische horsmakreel - Trachurus trachurus

Atlantische zeewolf - Anarhichas lupus

Grote pieterman - Trachinus draco

Hondshaai - Scyliorhinus canicula

Flanders Marine Institute

Not a member yet

Koninklijk besluit tot vaststelling van het marien ruimtelijk plan voor de periode van 2020 tot 2026 = Arrêté royal relatif à l’établissement du plan d’aménagement des espaces marins pour la période de 2020 à 2026

Nematodes as bio-indicators of environmental impacts of mining activities in the Philippines: a study using field and laboratory approaches

Human exposure to algal toxins via sea spray aerosols

Time investment and territorial behaviour of lesser black-backed gulls (<i>Larus fuscus</i>) during the pre-laying period

LifeWatch marine data services supporting marine biodiversity and ecosystem research

Alien Species in Belgian marine waters: an information platform and checklist for science and policy support

Atlantische horsmakreel - <i>Trachurus trachurus</i>

Atlantische zeewolf - <i>Anarhichas lupus</i>

Grote pieterman - <i>Trachinus draco</i>

Hondshaai - <i>Scyliorhinus canicula</i>

21,275

32,181