Marine Observation Centre

The Marine Observation Centre (MOC) is dedicated to performing essential, long-term, and multidisciplinary observations of the marine environment, enhancing our understanding of the dynamics and functioning of marine and coastal ecosystems. MOC focuses on developing, operating, and optimizing innovative, integrated, and cost-effective observation systems to gather high-quality data crucial for marine research. 

By aligning with international initiatives such as the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) 2030, the European Ocean Observing System (EOOS), and the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, MOC advances Flanders’ participation in the global ocean observation agenda.

The MOC’s operational framework builds on the LifeWatch ESFRI project, developing a coastal observatory consisting of sensor networks and multidisciplinary measurement campaigns in the Belgian part of the North Sea. The priority is on generating data for essential ocean variables on fish occurrence, migration and behavior, marine mammal presence, plankton diversity, underwater sound and more. MOC works on development and application of smart measurement methods, data processing workflows, artificial intelligence and the connection to digital twins to advance digital transformation of marine biodiversity observatories.

Person of Contact: Klaas Deneudt (Klaas.Deneudt@vliz.be)

Iemand werkt aan een machine

Research themes linked to the Marine Observation Center

  1. Understanding and optimizing novel biodiversity observations: aims to study changes and dynamics of coastal ecosystems by applying and optimizing high throughput techniques such as marine genomics and plankton imaging and driving digital innovation to biodiversity observation and analysis.

  2. Animal movement and behavioural ecology: aims to improve protection and conservation of our aquatic animals through fundamental and applied science on movement, habitat use and behavior of the aquatic species in relation to their environment. This is done, by engaging in collaborative data acquisition, analysis and modelling on local and European scale.

  3. Underwater sound and bioacoustics:aims to study acoustic ecology and characterize underwater soundscapes and events, by collecting and processing underwater sound and echolocation data in the North Sea using machine learning and modelling techniques.

 

Tools and services:

 

UNDERSTANDING AND OPTIMIZING NOVEL BIODIVERSITY OBSERVATIONS

This research aims to study changes and dynamics of plankton biodiversity in coastal ecosystems by applying and optimizing high throughput techniques such as marine genomics and plankton imaging and driving digital innovation to biodiversity observation and analysis. To collect the long-term biodiversity data series needed for such studies, monthly and seasonal surveys and sampling campaigns are organized on the Belgian Part of the North Sea. The collected data are processed using semi-automated pipelines, including the application of deep learning and digital tools and services, for standardized exchange of data and rapid analysis and interpretation. 

Person of Contact: Carlota Muniz (Carlota.Muniz@vliz.be)

 

Recent publications
  • Mortelmans, J.; Semmouri, I.; Perneel, M.; Lagaisse, R.; Amadei Martínez, L.; Rommelaere, Z.; Hablützel, P.; Deneudt, K. (2024). Temperature-induced copepod depletion and the associated wax of Bellerochea in Belgian coastal waters: Implications and shifts in plankton dynamics. J. Sea Res. 201: 102523. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2024.102523
  • Ollevier, A.; Mortelmans, J.; Deneudt, K.; Hablützel, P.I.; De Troch, M. (2024). Diel vertical migration and tidal influences on plankton densities in dynamic coastal systems. Est., Coast. and Shelf Sci. 300: 108701. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2024.108701
  • Aubert, A.; Beauchard, O.; de Blok, R.; Artigas, F.L.; Sabbe, K.; Vyverman, W.; Amadei Martínez, L.; Deneudt, K.; Louchart, A.; Mortelmans, J.; Rijkeboer, M.; Debusschere, E. (2022). From bacteria to zooplankton: An integrative approach revealing regional spatial patterns during the spring phytoplankton bloom in the Southern Bight of the North Sea. Front. Mar. Sci. 9: 863996. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.863996
  • Ollevier, A.; Mortelmans, J.; Vandegehuchte, M.; Develter, R.; De Troch, M.; Deneudt, K. (2022). A Video Plankton Recorder user guide: Lessons learned from in situ plankton imaging in shallow and turbid coastal waters in the Belgian part of the North Sea. J. Sea Res. 188: 102257. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2022.102257

 

 

ANIMAL MOVEMENT AND BEHAVIOURAL ECOLOGY

This research aims to improve our understanding of aquatic animal movement, habitat use and behaviour in relation to their environment to support species conservation, protection, and sustainable management. To collect these data, an extensive network of acoustic tracking infrastructure is maintained and tracking techniques are optimized within the BPNS and the wider North Sea region. Based on the collected data large-scale migration routes, habitat use, and movement patterns are modeled for a number of key species in relation to both natural environments and human-made infrastructure such as renewable energy installations. The team is strongly committed to FAIR data principles and best practices in managing animal tracking data and plays a pivotal role in the European Tracking Network.

Person of Contact: Jan Reubens (Jan.Reubens@vliz.be)

 

Recent publications
  • Berges, B.; van der Knaap, I.; Van Keeken, O.A.; Reubens, J.; Winter, H.V. (2024). Strong site fidelity, residency and local behaviour of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) at two types of artificial reefs in an offshore wind farm. Royal Society Open Science 11(7): 240339. https://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.240339
  • van der Knaap, I.; Slabbekoorn, H.; Moens, T.; Van den Eynde, D.; Reubens, J. (2022). Effects of pile driving sound on local movement of free-ranging Atlantic cod in the Belgian North Sea. Environ. Pollut. 300: 118913. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118913
  • Goossens, J.; Woillez, M.; Wright, S.; Edwards, J.E.; De Putter, G.; Torreele, E.; Verhelst, P.; Sheehan, E.; Moens, T.; Reubens, J. (2024). Elucidating the migrations of European seabass from the southern North Sea using mark-recapture data, acoustic telemetry and data storage tags. NPG Scientific Reports 14(1): 13180. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-63347-7
  • Lennox, R.J.; Afonso, P.; Birnie-Gauvin, K.; Dahlmo, L.S.; Nilsen, C.I.; Arlinghaus, R.; Cooke, S.J.; Souza, A.T.; Jaric, I.; Prchalová, M.; Ríhak, M.; Westrelin, S.; Twardek, W.M.; Aspillaga, E.; Kraft, S.; Šmejkal, M.; Baktoft, H.; Brodin, T.; Hellström, G.; Villegas-Rios, D.; Vollset, K.W.; Adam, T.; Sortland, L.K.; Bertram, M.G.; Crossa, M.; Vogel, E.F.; Gillies, N.; Reubens, J. (2024). Electronic tagging and tracking aquatic animals to understand a world increasingly shaped by a changing climate and extreme weather events. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 81(3): 326-339. https://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2023-0145
  • Verhelst, P.; Brys, R.; Cooke, S.J.; Pauwels, I.; Rohtla, M.; Reubens, J. (2023). Enhancing our understanding of fish movement ecology through interdisciplinary and cross-boundary research. Rev. Fish Biol. Fish. 33: 111-135. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11160-022-09741-8

 

 

UNDERWATER SOUND AND BIOACOUSTICS

This research aims to study acoustic ecology and characterize underwater soundscapes and its components in the marine environment. A sensor network is maintained in the Belgian Part of the North Sea to collect underwater sound and echolocation data for marine mammals such as porpoises and dolphins. Beyond analyzing general underwater sound patterns, sound event detection of various sound sources is tackled to deepen understanding of acoustic habitats. The sound events are described and stored in a Marine Sound Library to advance knowledge of biological, non-biological and unknown sound sources in the North Sea. Handling large datasets necessitates advanced machine learning techniques, which are developed, refined, and applied to various research questions, ultimately improving our understanding of underwater noise pollution and offshore security.

Person of Contact: Elisabeth Debusschere (Elisabeth.Debusschere@vliz.be)

 

Recent publications
  • Parcerisas, C.; Schall, E.; te Velde, K.; Botteldooren, D.; Devos, P.; Debusschere, E. (2024). Machine learning for efficient segregation and labeling of potential biological sounds in long-term underwater recordings. Front. Remote Sens. 5: 1390687. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/frsen.2024.1390687
  • Calonge, A.; Goossens, J.; Muñiz, C.; Reubens, J.; Debusschere, E. (2024). Importance of multi-sensor observations to advance species co-occurrence knowledge: A demonstration of two acoustic technologies. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 727: 49-65. https://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps14496
  • Calonge, A.; Parcerisas, C.; Schall, E.; Debusschere, E. (2024). Revised clusters of annotated unknown sounds in the Belgian part of the North sea. Front. Remote Sens. 5: 1384562. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/frsen.2024.1384562
  • Schall, E.; Kaya, I.I.; Debusschere, E.; Devos, P.; Parcerisas, C. (2024). Deep learning in marine bioacoustics: a benchmark for baleen whale detection. Remote Sensing in Ecology and Conservation Early view. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/rse2.392
  • Parcerisas, C.; Roca, I.T.; Botteldooren, D.; Devos, P.; Debusschere, E. (2023). Categorizing shallow marine soundscapes using explained clusters. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 11(3): 550. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jmse11030550