PhD Dissertations

At ECOSPHERE, we are dedicated to empowering young scientists in obtaining their PhD diplomas and pursuing careers in academia. Below, you'll find an extensive list of the 98 PhDs awarded throughout the history of our Research Group, encompassing those from the two precursor research groups from which ECOSPHERE emerged. Where available, links to open access are provided. Additionally, the accompanying images showcase the five most recent achievements.

FLIPKENS Gunter

​Coastal enhanced olivine weathering for climate change mitigation: investigating the CO2 sequestration potential and ecotoxicological risks​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust, Prof. Dr. Raewyn M. Town

VAN PUTTE Niels

​Improving groundwater dynamics: a key factor for successful tidal marsh restoration!​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Stijn Temmerman, Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Prof. Dr. Goedele Verreydt, Prof. Ir. Piet Seuntjens

TEUNEN Lies

​The relevance of environmental quality standards for biota in the evaluation of the ecological quality of aquatic ecosystems​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets, Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

SCHOUTENS Ken

​Wetlands for dry land: role of bio-physical interactions in tidal marshes for nature-based shoreline protection​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Stijn Temmerman

HOREMANS Dante

​Unraveling the coupled large-scale suspended sediment and phytoplankton dynamics in a turbid and tide-dominated estuary​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Dr. Ir. Tom J. S. Cox

CASTALDO Giovanni

​Mixed metal and temperature stress in aquatic environments: establishing functional links across different levels of organisation​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Gudrun De Boeck, Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

NKUBA Bossissi

​Metal pollution and intoxication from artisanal gold mining in Kamituga, Eastern Congo​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets, Prof. Dr. Landry Cizungu, Prof. Dr. Sara Geenen

REITSEMA Rosanne

​Effects of climate change on growth and development of Berula erecta as model species for freshwater macrophytes​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Jonas Schoelynck, Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire

WOLMARANS Nico

​Ecological risk assessment of amphibians in the Phongolo River floodplain​

Supervisors: ​Prof. Dr. Victor Wepener, Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets, Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire

PILEHVAR Ali

​Interactive effects of metal ions and other environmental stressors on Zebrafish (Danio rerio): evidence from toxicological and behavioural approaches ​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust, Prof. Dr. Raewyn M. Town

LOAIZA ALAMO Iván 

​Marine species associated to Peruvian scallop Argopecten purpuratus culture : trophic interactions and contaminant exposure​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Marleen De Troch, Prof. Dr. Gudrun De Boeck

GROFFEN Thimo

​Toxicity of Perfluoralkyl Substances (PFASs) to terrestrial invertebrates and songbirds​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets, Prof. Dr. Marcel Eens

SHRIVASTAVA Jyotsna 

​​Ammonia and acid-base regulation in fish: modulating effects of challenging environments​

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Gudrun De Boeck

VAN GINNEKEN Marjolein 

​The combined effects of metal mixtures and natural stressors on aquatic invertabrates: Relating changes in metal accumulation to altered behavior and ecological effects​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets, Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

MOYSON Sofie 

​Toxic effects of single and combined metals at the individual and population level of C. elegans​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust, Dr. Steven J. Husson, Prof. Dr. Geert Baggerman

WOLTERS Jan-Willem 

​Trophic and non-trophic interactions between macrophytes and macroinvertebrates in lowland streams​

Supervisors: Dr. Ralf C. M. Verdonschot, Dr. Jonas Schoelynck, Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire

VREBOS Dirk 

​Understanding flows for integrated catchment management: water, quality and ecosystem services​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Dr. Jan Staes

KRIVOSHIEV Boris

The use of in vitro assays in toxicological screening of flame retardants: towards comprehensive risk assessment

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust, Steven Husson​

VAN COPPENOLLE Rebecca 

​Potential for nature-based mitigation of coastal flood risks – From regional to global scale assessments​

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Stijn Temmerman

VAN DER BIEST Katrien

​Ecosystem-functioning approaches for assessing and managing ecosystem services​

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire

UNZUE-BELMONTE Dácil 

​Anthropogenic impacts on the properties and the distribution of the terrestrial biogenic silica pool​

Supervisors: Dr. Eric Struyf, Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire

ERFANI AGAH Ali 

Influence of wastewater on the transport and transformation in irrigated soils

Supervisors: Prof. Dr Patrick Meire, Dr. Eric De Deckere

SCHEPERS Lennert

Spatial patterns and bio-geomorphological effects of vegetation loss in a submerging coastal marsh

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Stijn Temmerman

​REBELO Alanna Jane 

​Ecosystem Services of Palmiete Wetlands: The Role of Ecosystem Composition and function​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Prof. Dr. Karen Esler

LALIKA C.S. Makarius

Potential for payments for Watershed services and climate change adaption in Pangani River Basin, Tanzania

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Prof. Dr. Yonika Mathew Ngaga

VERSCHOREN Veerle 

​Spatial pattern formation of macrophytes: an integrated model for the management of lowland rivers​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Stijn Temmerman, Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire

STARK Jeroen 

​Effects of intertidal ecosystems on estuarine hydrodynamics and flood wave attenuation: a multi-scale study​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Stijn Temmerman, Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire

BOEREMA Annelies 

Ecosystem services: study of human influences on nature and the efforts for society

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Prof. Dr. Ir. Steven Van Passel

​CHAMBORD Sophie 

​Rôle du méso-zooplancton dans un estuaire restauré : l’Escaut​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Michèle Tackx, Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Prof. Dr. Sami Souissi

ROGGEMAN Saskia​

Exposure, accumulation, detoxification and effects of metals on large grazers: cattle (Bos taurus) and horses (Equus caballus)

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets

SILINSKI Alexandra​

​Bio-physical interactions in the pioneer zone of expanding tidal marshes​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Stijn Temmerman, Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Prof. Dr. Peter Troch

VANDEVENNE Floor​

Tracing human imprints on the terrestrial cycle

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Dr. Eric Struyf

BARAO Lucia​

Biogenic and non-biogenic Si pools in terrestrials ecosystems: results from a novel analysis method

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Dr. Eric Struyf

BOSHOFF Magdalena​

Accumulation and effects of trace metals in terrestrial food webs from polluted ecosystems in Flanders

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets

VAN PRAET Nander​

Effects of environmental contaminants on aquatic macro-invertebrates using sublethal bio-indicators

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets, Prof. Dr. Robby Stoks

ADAM Nathalie ​

The bioavailability and toxicity of ZnO, CuO and SiO2 nanoparticles to aquatic organisms

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust, Prof. Dr. Dries Knapen

VAN AEL Evy​

Persistent organic pollutants and metals in aquatic ecosystems: distribution, bioaccumulation and effects on communities

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets, Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

PEREIRA-FERNANDES Anna​

Development of an in vitro screening system for detection of obesogenic substances in the environment

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

D'HOLLANDER Wendy ​

Perfluoroalkyl acids in Belgium: Distribution in the environment and human exposure

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets, Prof. Dr. Pim de Voogt

WANG Chen​

Biogeomorphic regime shifts between vegetated and bare states in tidal wetlands

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Stijn Temmerman

FIVEZ Lise​

​Biochemical cycling in wetlands : Goose influences​

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire

STAES Jan​

Application of ecosystems services for integrated land, soil and water management

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire

DINH Khuong Van​

Joint effects of Global warming and pollutants on damselflies

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Robby Stoks, Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets

LIEW Hon Jung ​

Metabolic strategies in freshwater teleost under stress – Consequences of feeding and swimming

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Gudrun De Boeck

HECTORS Tine​

A role for environmental pollutants in diabetes? State of the science and evaluation of in vitro models for identification of diabetogenic metabolic disruptors

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust, Dr. Caroline Vanparys

SINHA Amit Kumar ​

Ammonia handling in freshwater teleosts: a comparative study

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Gudrun De Boeck

WEIJS Liesbeth ​

Development of physiologically based pharmacokinetic models for the bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in marine mammals

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust, Prof. Dr. Adrian Covaci, Prof. Dr. Krishna Das

NOBELS Ingrid​

Exploring the application domains of a human and bacterial multiple endpoint reporter assay in environmental risk assessment

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

KOPALOVÁ Kateřina ​

​Taxonomy, ecology and biogeography of aquatic and limno-terrestrial diatoms (Bacillariophyta) in the Maritime Antarctic Region​

Supervisors: Dr. Linda Nedbalová, Prof. Dr. Bart Van de Vijver

OOMS Marijke ​

Potentials and limitations of testate amoebae from tidal marshes as bio-indicators of environmental change in the Scheldt estuary

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Stijn Temmerman, Prof. Dr. Louis Beyens

GOMBEER Sophie​

Development of a biodiversity-chip for the biomonitoring of benthic macroinvertebrates in Flanders: a case-study of caddisflies (Trichoptera; Insecta)

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets, Prof. Dr. Dries Knapen

LARDON Isabelle​

H-NMR based metabolomics to explore the anoxia/hypoxia tolerance strategies in fresh water and marine fish

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Gudrun De Boeck, Prof. Dr. Roger Dommisse

MEHTA Jaytry ​

Potential biorecognition elements for food and environmental sensors: selection and characterization of aptamers

Supervisors: Dr. Johan Robbens, Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

VERGAUWEN Lucia

Effect of temperature on cadmium toxicity in zebrafish: from transcriptome to physiology

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Dries Knapen, Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

DE JONGE Maarten​

Influences of sediment geochemistry on metal bioavailability and effects on macroinvertebrate communities

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets, Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

EYCKMANS Marleen​

Defense mechanisms of fish with different sensitivities to copper: in depth analysis of gill physiology

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Gudrun De Boeck

DOM Nathalie​

Alternative testing methods in environmental risk assessment: standard bioassays and prediction tools versus biology-based mechanistic approaches

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust, Prof. Dr. Dries Knapen

TEUCHIES Johannes ​

The biogeochemical cycle of metals in natural freshwater tidal marshes and in flood control areas

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets

OPDEKAMP Wout​

Community composition and functional diversity in riparian wetlands: interactions between hydrology and competition​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Dr. Ruurd van Diggelen

N. TSYGANOV Andrey​

​Climatic controls on testate amoeba assemblages in arctic and subarctic terrestrial ecosystems​

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Louis Beyens

BEAUCHARD Olivier​

Tidal Freshwater habitat restoration through controlled reduced tide system: a multi-level assessment

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Dr. Sander Jacobs

VAN DORST Bieke​

The use of phage display as an innovative approach in environmental research

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust, Dr. Johan Robbens

DE SCHEPPER Wim​

Advanced oxidation processes as a way to treat concentrate: Ecotoxicological testing aided optimization of a (waste)water treatment process

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust, Prof. Dr. Luc Geuens

SCHOELYNCK Jonas​

​Macrophte patches as biogeochemical hotspots: what is the impact on river water quality?​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Prof. Dr. Stijn Temmerman

​VANDENBRUWAENE Wouter​

​Tidal channel development and the role of vegetation. Fundamental insights and application for tidal marsh restoration​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Stijn Temmerman, Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire

VAN DAMME Stefan

​Water quality and the Estuarine Environment: Spatio temporal patterns and opportunities for restoration with emphasis on nitrogen removal​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Prof. Dr. ir. Oswald Van Cleemput

SCHMITT Claudia

Effect directed analysis and ecological relevance – Potamopyrgus antipodarum as a bridge between the lab and the field

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Eric De Deckere, Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets, Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire

VANPARYS Caroline

Development of in vitro screening systems for classification of endocrine disrupting compounds: an ‘omics’ approach

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Wim De Coen, Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

​JAMERS An​

Effects of oxidative stress on the chlorophyt Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: an integrative approach

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Wim De Coen, Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

VERMEULEN Frouke 

Spatially explicit exposure assessment of persistent pollutants through the food chain of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Wim De Coen, Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets

KOMJAROVA Irina  

​Uptake of Trace Metals in Aquatic Organisms: A Stable Isotope Experiment​

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

JACOBS Sander  

​Silica cycling and vegetation development in a restored freshwater tidal marsh​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Dr. Eric Struyf

BAL Kris  

Interactions between macrophyte ecology and hydraulic functioning of lowland

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire

DARDENNE Freddy  

Relevance and validation of bacterial stress gene assays in environmental toxicology

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

TUDORACHE Christian  

Aspects of swimming physiology and behaviour consequences for migrating fish

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Gudrun De Boeck, Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

COX Tom  

Oxygen and primary production in the freshwater reaches of the Schelde estuary

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Prof. Dr. Karline Soetaert

HASHEMI Shodja  

Interactions between food quantity and waterborne copper toxicity in carp, Cyprinus carpio

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Gudrun De Boeck, Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

REYNDERS Hans   

Characterization and dynamics of cadmium toxicity in carp

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust, Prof. Dr. Wim De Coen

K. MUBIANA Valentine  

Delineating factors influencing uptake and accumulation of heavy metals by the common mussel Mytilus edulis

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

ROGIVAL Damien  

An integrated study of the relation between exposure and accumulation of metal in the woodmouse (Apodemus sylvaticus)

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust, Dr. Jan Scheirs

VOETS Judith 

Accumulation and effects of trace metals in zebra mussels (Dreissena polymporpha)

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets, Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

KNAPEN Dries  

Genetic adaptation to heavy metals in natural populations of the gudgeon (Gobio gobio)

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust, Prof. Dr. Erik Verheyen

VAN DER VEN Karlijn  

Toxicity identification and evaluation of neuro-active chemicals in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Wim De Coen, Prof. Dr. Gudrun De Boeck

VAN LOOY Kris  

​River Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation. A disorder approach​

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Prof. Dr. Eckhart Kuijken

STEEN REDEKER Erik 

Metal accumulation kinetics in an aquatic oligochaete: Relations with availability and toxicity

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

STRUYF Eric 

​The role of freshwater marshes in estuarine silica cycling (Scheldt Estuary)​

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire, Prof. Dr. Jack Middelburg

VAN CAMPENHOUT Karen 

Relationship between metal accumulation, speciation and toxicity in freshwater fish

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust, Dr. Lieven Bervoets

EL KAHLOUN Mohssine 

​Vegetation dynamics in P-limited rich fens​

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire

ZAKHARTSEV Maxim 

Mechanisms of adaptation to seasonal temperature variation in marine fish (Gadus morhua and Zoarces viviparus)

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust

SMOLDERS Roel 

The influence of industrial effluent on the aquatic ecosystem. An ecological, physicochemical and ecotoxicological analysis

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Ronny Blust, Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets

JANNSEN Ellen

Onderzoek naar de bruikbaarheid van veren van mezen als bio-indicatoren voor zware metalenverontreiniging, en naar de effecten van deze verontreiniging op de reproductie en gezondheidstoestand

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Marcel Eens, Prof. Dr. Lieven Bervoets

CHOWDURY Mohammed Jasim 

Bioavailability of strontium to the common carp, Cyprinus carpio

Supervisor: Dr. Ronny Blust

YSEBAERT Tom 

​Macrozoobenthos and waterbirds in the estuarine environment: spatio-temporal patterns at different scales​

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Patrick Meire

DE SMET Hans 

Biochemical aspects of the uptake and accumulation of cadmium by the common carp Cyprinus carpio

Supervisor: Dr. Ronny Blust

VAN GINNEKEN Luc 

Analytical and biological aspects of cadmium and zinc availability for the common carp, Cyprinus carpio, in complexing environments

Supervisor: Dr. Ronny Blust

BAILLIEUL Marc 

Response of the waterflea, Daphnia magna Straus to environmental stress: scope for growth, reproduction and swimming activity

Supervisor: Dr. Ronny Blust

DE BOECK Gudrun 

Physiological effects of sublethal copper exposure on the energy metabolism of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio

Supervisor: Dr. Ronny Blust

BERVOETS Lieven 

Effects of environmental factors on the uptake of some trace metals by larvae of the midge Chironomus riparius

Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Rudolf F. Verheyen, Dr. Ronny Blust