The objective of this PhD research is to investigate the employability of the Video Plankton Recorder (VPR) in the Belgian Part of the North Sea (BPNS) and to utilize the VPR as a means to address ecological inquiries.
In the initial phase of the project, the focus is on exploring the various applications of the VPR. This involves evaluating three different towing procedures and examining the impact of four magnification settings on its performance. Furthermore, the project aims to identify the specific limitations of the VPR in relation to turbidity, which will provide valuable insights into its technical feasibility.
The second phase of the study revolves around leveraging the VPR as a powerful tool for gaining a deeper understanding of the plankton community and addressing ecological questions on both small and large spatial scales. To achieve this, the study conducts a small-scale investigation within the BPNS, aiming to uncover the diel vertical migration patterns and small-scale geographic variations of plankton and benthos in the dynamic coastal waters of shallow regions. In addition, a large-scale study is carried out in West-Greenland, to study the zooplankton distribution within the water column and along a fjord-shelf gradient.
By pursuing these research avenues, we aspire to enhance our comprehension of the VPR's potential applications and contribute to the broader understanding of ecological dynamics in diverse marine environments.