Study of the dispersion and dispersal mechanisms of pelagic key species on the Belgian Continental Shelf (BCS). The focus of the dataset is on those species that have a pelagic life-style or have pelagic larvae, mainly clupeidae. The Belgian coastal waters are internationally very important areas for a number of sea and coastal birds. Studying the distribution patterns of the possible food sources (i.c. Pelagic fish) of these birds will lead to a better understanding of their spatial distribution patterns. Sampling is done with the Zeeleeuw R.V. Underway data is registrated in MIDAS.

Data was gathered during BEWREMABI project (part of SPSD-II federal science policy programme) sampling campaigns. Macrofauna was sampled in the vicinity of shipwrecks using macrofauna core + scuba.

The hyperbenthic community of subtidal sandbanks is described (density, species composition) and related to abiotic variables in order to get an idea about the habitats and the biota of the sandbanks.

This is the first study on the epi- and hyperbenthic fauna of the surf zone of sandy beaches of the Belgian coast. Therefore, as a first objective of this thesis, a lot of attention has been paid to the inventarisation (species composition), and to the investigation of the temporal and spatial distribution patterns of both communities. A temporal and a spatial campaign were performed during which the hyper- and epibenthos was sampled.

The meiobenthos of a dumping site in the Southern Bight of the North Sea was examined as part of a PhD thesis. Next to the faunistic research, it also examined the link between abiotic parameters and the characteristics of presen nematode communities.

Density, biomass, population structure and brood size were determined for Mysid shrimp populations in the Scheldt-estuary.

Meiobenthos of subtidal sandbanks on the Belgian Continental Shelf (counts, nematode species information, nematode biomass information)

Free-living nematode fauna of lake Grevelingen, the Eastern and Western Scheldt was examined over a period of one year in the framework of a PhD thesis.

Data on the ecology of the hyperbenthos community of the Scheldt estuary were derived from research projects on this matter (1988-2001).

Data were collected as part of the international project "Community structure and processes in the deep-sea benthos" (EU MAST II).