Flanders supported research data infrastructures played key role in UN Ocean report

On 21 April 2021, the United Nations launched the Second World Ocean Assessment (WOA 2) on the state of the world’s ocean, covering environmental, economic and social aspects.

Aphia now compliant with the new Catalogue of Life Data Package (COLDP) format and exporting several WoRMS subregisters

From now onwards, the Aphia infrastructure is capable of exporting several of its sub-registers to the Catalogue of Life (COL) in their new Data Package format. This new format was developed to overcome some of the limitations in currently used formats.

VLIZ recruits: Researcher Marine Observation Centre

Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) is looking for a researcher to join its LifeWatch Marine Observation Centre immediately.

Satellites can detect mowing events in grasslands

Grasslands encompass vast and diverse ecosystems that provide food, wildlife habitat and carbon storage. Mowing dates and frequencies are major aspects of grassland use intensity, which have an impact on their ecological value as habitats.

New Belgian antenna station in the MOTUS Wildlife Tracking System

Did you know that bats live along our coast? Moreover, some bat populations travel long distances (sometimes up to 1500 km) and can even fly across the North Sea to the British Isles and vice versa.

World Kinorhyncha Database launched!

The Kinorhyncha are now accessible through their own portal, as part of the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). This World Database contains over 300 accepted names of extant species and is one of the most complete existing resources for Kinorhyncha taxa.

WoRMS press release: Ten remarkable new marine species from 2020

As for previous years, the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) has again released the annual list of the top-ten marine species described by researchers during the year 2020 to coincide with World Taxonomist Appreciation day - March 19th!

Baltic tellin most common bivalve at the fourth Belgian Big Seashell Survey

Oostende (2021.03.17) - The Big Seashell Survey 2021 - a unique citizen science initiative on Belgian beaches that took place last Sunday 14 March - was a top edition! The Baltic tellin accounted for almost 30% of all shells found, followed by the cut trough shell (23%) and the common cockle (19%). Two-thirds of all Baltic tellins was found as whole shells, composed of two hinged parts of valves, indicating a recent death, possibly due to the stormy conditions during the past weeks.

WoRMS Philanthropy grants 2020

During 2020, the VLIZ Philanthropy program was able to issue four grants to support WoRMS editors, in making WoRMS more complete. Together, these four grants resulted in about 10.000 edits and additions to WoRMS.

Naming animals in images – a new guide to the process

“The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their proper name” (Confucius) … but sometimes, giving a name to something is easier said than done...