Evolution, Adaptation and Biodiversity

RISE-2021 - B. Hespeels, K. Van Doninck

Bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga: a new eukaryotic extremophile model organism to study the impact of radiation and micro-gravity on biological processes (2021)

ENORM: Evolution of bdelloid rotifer reproductive mode - K. Van Doninck

(2021-2023)

Bdelloids REplete Antioxidant SysTem - K. Van Doninck

Understanding the redox biology of manganese-based antioxidants in bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga (2021-2022)

The epigenetic origin of behavioural traits variability in a self-fertilizing fish: the mangrove rivulus - F. Silvestre

One of the greatest challenges in evolutionary biology is to determine how epigenetic mechanisms contribute to phenotypic variability, on which selection can act. The general objective of the present project is to explore the extent to which epigenetic polymorphism contributes to repeatable and predictable among-individual differences in behaviour (individuality) in the self-fertilizing fish mangrove rivulus, Kryptolebias marmoratus. It is intimately connected to Valentine Chapelle’s thesis. (2020-2021, 2021-2022)

The evolutionary enigma of a mixed-mating system in a self-fertilizing vertebrate, Kryptolebias marmoratus - F. Silvestre

PhD thesis of Ivan Blanco to study the mating system of the only self-fertilising vertebrate, the mangrove rivulus Kryptolebias marmoratus. In this species, hermaphrodites can either self-fertilise or outcross with a male. The thesis aims at identifying how and why different populations favour different rates of males and outcrossing. First, the mechanisms of temperature-dependant sex determination in this species will be investigated, followed by identification of the advantages that outcrossing populations might benefit from. (2019-2021)

Corbicula LAB: Lake Biwa (Japan): a Corbicula biodiversity and hybridization hotspot - K. Van Doninck

PINT-BILAT-M (2019-2021)

GETREAL - Incorporating spatial and seasonal variability in community sensitivity into chemical risk assessment - F. De Laender

GETREAL is an international project, funded by Cefic’s LRI, aimed at understanding how spatial variability of community composition influences resistance and resilience against global change effects on coexistence and ecosystem function. It will incorporate stressor effects on resource utilization traits in bioenergetic models to make theoretical predictions. In this project, Frederik De Laender (URBE, Biology) collaborates with the universities of Landau (Ralf Schäfer, Martin Schmidt-Entling) and Wageningen (Paul Van den Brink) to investigate how spatial variability in community composition, as inferred from decades' worth of biomonitoring data, map to spatial variability of community vulnerability. It will further include a small number of dedicated experiments with freshwater diatom communities to test some of the model’s assumptions. In collaboration with the university of Sheffield (Lorraine Maltby) the implications of the findings for the conservation of ecosystem services will be assessed. (2019-2021)

The RotiChip: a microfluidic platform for microinjection, single organism sorting, live imaging, and micromanipulation of the stress resistant bdelloid rotifers - K. Van Doninck

Equipment funding (2019-2020)

The epigenetic origin of behavioral traits variability in a self-fertilizing fish : the mangrove rivulus - F. Silvestre, V. Chapelle

PhD thesis (2018-2020)

BEST(Bdelloid Extreme Stress Tolerance): Bdelloid rotifers as a model organism to understand extreme stress tolerance - K. Van Doninck & R. Arora

PhD thesis (2018-2020)

DIVERCE - Does Intraspecific Variability modulate the impact of EnviRonmental Change on biodiversity and Ecosystem function? - F. De Laender

Ecosystems are increasingly exposed to multiple drivers of environmental change. If, how does intraspecific variability modulate the response of biodiversity (community composition) and ecosystem function to theses changes? (2018-2023) Read more

IMicroNet: Structure and functionality of the skin microbiota in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) under various immune status - P. Kestemont, B. Redivo

Study of the resident bacterial community in the mucus of skin in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and the relationship that exists between this microbiota and immune system at the skin under stressful conditions (cognitive stress vs non-cognitive stress). (2018-2019) link

FIRST Spin-Off "AMMIB" and Project POC "Aedes" - K. Van Doninck & J. Marescaux

The implementation of EU legislation concerning ecosystems and biodiversity most often necessitates biological inventories. Morphological identifications for such species’ lists need skilled expertise, considerable time and money and may be inaccurate in describing hybrid, cryptic or exotic species. We apply the innovative method of environmental DNA (eDNA): organisms interact with their environment and leave behind traces of DNA. A simple water sample allows then a rapid determination of the species present. eDNA is a powerful tool for biodiversity monitoring.
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Team: Karine Van Doninck, Jonathan Marescaux, Bruno Jacobs, Nicolas Debortoli, Thibaut Bournonville

Photo by P. Ryelandt

RHEA: Rotifers Highlight the Evolution of Asexuals: the mechanisms of genome evolution in the absence of meioisis - K. Van Doninck

How have bdelloid rotifers been able to persist despite the expected negative consequences of asexuality? What are the mechanisms that prevent genome deterioration and promote diversification in the absence of meiotic recombination? (2017-2022) link

GIRE-SAVA: Gestion Intégrée des Ressources en Eau de la région SAVA, Madagascar - F. De Laender

Sava, a region in NE Madagascar, suffers from floods, violent cyclones, landslides, erosion, tremendous loss of biodiversity but also droughts. The project proposes improved hydrologic management following different axes. (2017-2021) Read more

Myrmecophile metacommunities: integrating dispersal and food web interactions into spatial food-web networks - F. De Laender & T. Parmentier

The implications of space on the ecological network functioning has only recently been fully considered and virtually no studies have examined these in natural communities. Analyse a spatially distributed food web network by combining empirical studies with theoretical modelling. (2017-2020) link

Stress and behavioral traits in rivulus - F. Silvestre

Coexistence, Stress, and Aquatic ecosystem functioning - F. De Laender

Experiments with microcosms of phytoplankton will improve the understanding of how interactions between species determine the effects of environmental stress on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. It will be tested how chemical products can affect ecosystem functions without affecting biodiversity. (2016-2020) Read more

RISE - Rotifer In SpacE - K. Van Doninck, B. Hespeels

Bdelloid rotifer Adineta vaga: a new eukatyotic extremophile model organism to study the impact of radiation and micro-gravity on biological processes (2016-2018; 2019-2020) Read more

Breaking bad? Genomic evolution and protective mechanisms in asexual bdelloid rotifers exposed to charged particle beams - K. Van Doninck, B. Hespeels, V. Baumle

Partitioning effects of stress on ecosystem function - F. De Laender

Predicting the effects of climate change on C sequestration by heathlands : the role of multi-trophic interactions between soil organisms - F. De Laender & W. Reyns

Study the effect of drought stress on soil carbon sequestration in heathlands by modeling food web dynamics. (2015-2019) Read more

Developmental plasticity of behavioral traits in the self-fertilizing fish Kryptolebias marmoratus : an integrative approach - F. Silvestre & A. Carion

Explore the plasticity of behavioural traits in isogenic lines of the mangrove rivulus (Kryptolebias marmoratus) and determine the role of epigenetic mechanisms. Hermaphrodites are capable of auto-fecundation offering the opportunity to study such traits in populations with very low genetic diversity. (2015-2019) Read more

Bdelloid Rotifers: "another Gift from Nature" - K. Van Doninck

ARC project (2014-2019)

Phenotypic plasticity without genetic diversity - F. Silvestre

Biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and environmental stress - F. De Laender