EXAMPLES OF METHODS WE USE
The department of Marine Ecology uses as wide range of methods: from observations and monitoring to experiments, from field to lab applications and from classical benthos core sampling to state-of the art technologies. Here we illustrate just a few of our methodological approaches with some videos.
Experimental Shorebird Facility
At NIOZ we have built the Experimental Shorebird Facility (ESF) which is one of a kind, worldwide. In the ESF we are able to simulate a tidal environment, which allows controlled experiments on the behavioural ecology of shorebirds.
Red knot foraging experiment
This movie shows the experimental setup for a foraging experiment on Red Knots (Calidris canutus islandica). The experiment was designed to study patch departure decisions for red knots foraging in a patchy food environment. Foragers should not stay in a patch too long and waste time searching for that last prey item while other food patches have more to offer. On the other hand, foragers should not depart a patch too soon and leave many prey items behind. Depending on the density and distribution of food, one can calculate the optimal departure decision that foragers should use that maximises intake rate. We want to find out how and if red knots make optimal foraging decisions.
For this experiment we built 25 potential food patches. In each food patch we buried between 0 and 15 prey items. We videoed the trials to measure at which intake rates red knots depart a patch in search for patches with more food.
For information on this project see the website of Allert Bijleveld.
Next door unknown: What lives in the open Wadden Sea
Research cruise with the RV Navicula on the Wadden Sea, to discover what lives in the open Wadden Sea. By day and by night.
For more info: Lodewijk van Walraven & Vania Freitas
Plankton sampling with RV Luctor
A short movie about a plankton sampling cruise with the NIOZ RV Luctor. Including some underwater footage of plankton nets! The cruise was aimed at monitoring the invasive American comb jellyfish Mnemiopsis leidyi. What did we do, where did we go, what gear did we use?
For more info: Lodewijk van Walraven
Feeding behaviour of sea gooseberries Pleurobrachia pileus
Laboratory observations on the feeding behaviour of sea gooseberries using a special plankton chamber.
For more info: Lodewijk van Walraven
3D-dredge
The 3D-dredge was developed by Magda Bergman and the NIOZ in-house technical support department. The dredge is designed to sample benthic macrofauna at low densities to be able to determine their population sizes.
For more info: Magda Bergman
Gull goes feeding in Amsterdam (in Dutch)
Example of the telemetry research done at NIOZ. A gull with a transmitter on her back flew 300 km from Texel to Amsterdam to gather food for her chicks. From a Dutch TV programme called 'Natuur' Nederland van Boven.
For more info: Kees Camphuysen
SIBES sampling campaign
An impression of the NIOZ fieldwork on the Wadden Sea, 2012 SIBES field season.