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Macrobel: Long term trends in the macrobenthos of the Belgian Continental Shelf (EUROBIS)

Entry ID: eurobis_145

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Summary

Abstract: The global objective of this project is to deliver a substantial contribution to the knowledge of the long term variability in the biodiversity of the macrobenthos and the relationship with anthropogenic activities on the Belgian Continental Shelf.

The Belgian Continental Shelf (BCS) (surface : 2017 km²) is only 0.5 % of the North Sea surface, but it has a very ... high diversity in marine habitats and associated biological communities. Also, the socio-economic importance of the BCS is very high. As in most areas around the North Sea, a lot of anthropogenic activities, such as sea fisheries, maritime transport, military shootings, dredging activities and others occur on the BCS.

The combination of the ecological and the socio-economic value of the BCS causes conflicts between both interests. Therefore it is very important to develop a sustainable management plan for the natural resources of the BCS. To obtain this goal, information and knowledge is required about

- geographical distribution of the marine biological communities,
- the structure of these communities,
- their relationship with the physical and the chemical environment,
- the natural ecological and genetic variability, and
- the nature and the effect of the anthropogenic influences on these ecosystem components.

Macrobenthic organisms are good candidates for monitoring the short and long-term effects of natural and anthropogenic impacts on and within the marine environment because of their direct link with the sediment and with the processes that occur immediately above the sediments.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE

The specific aim of this website is to deliver an atlas with distribution maps of the macrobenthos of the Belgian Coastal Shelf (BCS) for the periods 1977-1983 and 1994-2000. Besides biogeographic and taxonomy information, which is given for each taxon, descriptive details on morphology, biology, ecology, habitat preferences and illustrations are given for a limited number a taxa (see list below). Eventually, by continuing monitoring programmes, our knowledge of different effects of antropogenic activities on the macrobenthos will aid in the development of a sustainable management plan for the Belgian Coastal Shelf.

Size reference: 338 species; 771 stations; 21,041 distribution records

[Source: The information provided in the summary was extracted from the MarBEF Data System at http://www.marbef.org/data/eurobis.php

Related URL

Link: GET DATA

Description: OBIS Advanced Search Data Extent Map and related functions

Geographic Coverage

(Click for Interactive Map)

Spatial coordinates

N: 51.75

S: 51.1

E: 3.31

W: 2.26

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: Degraer, S.

Dataset Title: Macrobel: Long term trends in the macrobenthos of the Belgian Continental Shelf

Dataset Series Name: EUROBIS

Dataset Release Date: 21 Mar 2005

Dataset Release Place: Oostende, Belgium

Dataset Publisher: Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)

Version: 1

Data Presentation Form: MS Access

Online Resource: http://www.vliz.be/vmdcdata/macrobel/

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 1976-06-01

Stop Date: 1986-12-31

Location Keywords

OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN

CONTINENT > EUROPE > WESTERN EUROPE > BELGIUM

Science Keywords

OCEANS > MARINE SEDIMENTS

BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > FISH > RAY-FINNED FISHES

ISO Topic Category

BIOTA

OCEANS

Project

OBIS > OCEAN BIOGEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM

COML > CENSUS OF MARINE LIFE

Access Constraints None.

Use Constraints Acknowledge the use of specific records from contributing databases in the form appearing in the 'Citation' field thereof (if any); and acknowledge the use of the OBIS facility.

For information purposes, email to obissupport@marine.rutgers.edu the full citation of any publication made (printed or electronic) that cites OBIS or any constituent part.

Recognize the limitations of data in OBIS.

Also see MarBEF data policy at http://www.marbef.org/data/datapolicy.php

Ancillary Keywords

Biomass of macrobenthos

Counts

Data Set Progress

COMPLETE

Originating Center

Data Center

Flanders Marine Institute, Belgium

Data Center URL: http://www.vliz.be/

Data Center Personnel
Name: WARD APPELTANS Phone: +32-(0)59-34 01 55 Fax: +32-(0)59-34 21 31 Email: ward.appeltans at vliz.be Contact Address: Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) Wandelaarkaai 7 City: Oostende Postal Code: 8400 Country: Belgium

Distribution

Distribution Media: HTTP

Distribution Format: OBIS Schema

Fees: None

Personnel

BART VANHOORNE

Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT

Phone: +32-(0)59-34 01 55

Fax: +32-(0)59-34 21 31

Email: bart.vanhoorne at vliz.be

Email: bartv at vliz.be

Contact Address:

Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ)

Wandelaarkaai 7

City: Oostende

Country: BELGIUM

STEVEN DEGRAER

Role: INVESTIGATOR

Phone: +32-(0)9-264 85 22

Fax: +32-(0)9-264 85 98

Email: steven.degraer at ugent.be

Contact Address:

Campus De Sterre, s8

Krijgslaan 281

City: Gent

Postal Code: 9000

Country: BELGIUM

Publications/References

Degraer, S. et al. (2006). The macrobenthos atlas of the Belgian part of the North Sea. Belgian Science Policy: Brussel, Belgium. ISBN 90-810081-6-1. 164, photographs, 1 cd-rom pp.

Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2005-11-25

Last DIF Revision Date: 2009-01-09

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