Katholieke Universiteit Leuven; Departement Biologie; Afdeling Dierenecologie en -systematiek; Diversiteit en Systematiek van Dieren, more, co-ordinator
The spatial and temporal distribution patterns of fish larvae on the Belgian Continental Shelf will be investigated. Data on the ichthyoplankton abundance and length composition (2004-2006) will be analyzed in relation to the present abiotic and biotic conditions. Secondly, larvae of the common sole (Solea solea) will be analyzed genetically using high-resolution markers. Results will be used to couple biological and genetic information to a physical hydrodynamic transport model (developed by MUMM-Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models) that predicts the effective and observed dispersion of sole larvae.