132 research outputs found
The impact of the invasive comb jelly <i>Mnemiopsis leidyi</i> in the North Sea (a PhD study as part of the MEMO project)
Microplastics in the food chain? Occurrence of microplastics in brown shrimp (<i>Crangon crangon</i>) and blue mussel (<i>Mytilus edulis</i>)
Modelling survival and connectivity of Mnemiopsis leidyi in the south-western North Sea and Scheldt estuaries
Three different models were applied to study the reproduction, survival and dispersal of Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Scheldt estuaries and the southern North Sea: a high-resolution particle tracking model with passive particles, a low-resolution particle tracking model with a reproduction model coupled to a biogeochemical model, and a dynamic energy budget (DEB) model. The results of the models, each with its strengths and weaknesses, suggest the following conceptual situation: (i) the estuaries possess enough retention capability to keep an overwintering population, and enough exchange with coastal waters of the North Sea to seed offshore populations; (ii) M. leidyi can survive in the North Sea, and be transported over considerable distances, thus facilitating connectivity between coastal embayments; (iii) under current climatic conditions, M. leidyi may not be able to reproduce in large numbers in coastal and offshore waters of the North Sea, but this may change with global warming; however, this result is subject to substantial uncertainty. Further quantitative observational work is needed on the effects of temperature, salinity and food availability on reproduction and on mortality at different life stages to improve models such as used here
Influence of the storage method on the quality of Norway lobster (<i>Nephrops norvegicus</i>)
Risk assessment of non-indigenous marine invaders: a combined approach of morphological and molecular analysis allowed unambiguous identification of the comb jelly <i>Mnemiopsis leidyi</i> in the Belgian Part of the North Sea
Sensitive and specific detection of E. coli using biomimetic receptors in combination with a modified heat-transfer method
We report on a novel biomimetic sensor that allows sensitive and specific detection of Escherichia colt (E. coli) bacteria in a broad concentration range from 10(2) up to 10(6) CFU/mL in both buffer fluids and relevant food samples (i.e. apple juice). The receptors are surface-imprinted polyurethane layers deposited on stainless-steel chips. Regarding the transducer principle, the sensor measures the increase in thermal resistance between the chip and the liquid due to the presence of bacteria captured on the receptor surface. The low noise level that enables the low detection limit originates from a planar meander element that serves as both a heater and a temperature sensor. Furthermore, the experiments show that the presence of bacteria in a liquid enhances the thermal conductivity of the liquid itself. Reference tests with a set of other representative species of Enterobacteriaceae, closely related to E. coli, indicate a very low cross-sensitivity with a sensor response at or below the noise level
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