Student research project: Assessing biodiversity on commercial mussel culture plots

Background to the research question.

Mussel culture in the Netherlands is the largest form of aquaculture and exclusively takes place in the Wadden Sea and Eastern Scheldt. These systems host both wild bivalve beds and together a total of 11.500 hectares of designated mussel bottom culture plots. The Netherlands ranks as the world’s third-largest mussel exporter, maintaining an annual production of 100 million kilograms to meet the demand. Furthermore, shellfish culture stands out as one of the least ecologically demanding sources of animal protein. Wild mussels are important marine ecosystems engineers because they form complex biogenic habitats. Although mussels on commercial mussel plots provide similar biogenic habitats, little is known about the effects of mussel aquaculture on biodiversity.

In 2021 new mussel plot locations were commissioned in the Wadden Sea, providing the unique opportunity to sample prior (T0) and following the commencement of utilization as a commercial mussel plot. In the period 2018-2024, approximately >100 sampling locations spread over newly commissioned mussel plots across the Western Wadden Sea are being monitored. This longitudinal study, encompassing the transition from seabed to commercial utilization, will yield insights on the effects of mussel culture on biodiversity.

Assignment: The student will be involved in further sample processing (lab analysis) including species identification, and will analyze (a subset of) existing data to determine the succession of biodiversity prior and post introduction of commercial mussel plots. Literature research is required to place the results in the boarder context of biodiversity enhancement by (bivalve) ecosystem engineers, and the interactions between aquaculture and (associated) species.

Activities: lab analysis (sample sorting and help with species identification -location: Yerseke). Data entering, data analysis. Statistical analyses & writing up.

Prerequisites: (advanced) statistics course (in R). The student will spend at least part of the time at the research facilities of Wageningen Marine Research in Yerseke.

Practical information

• The research project can be adapted to meet the requirements of either a research internship or a full Master’s thesis.
• Period: Four to six months, depending on your university requirements.
• Start: 15th of August 2024 at the earliest.
• You will receive a monthly internship renumeration.

Supervision & application

Lotte BouwmanHenrice Jansen

Other available projects

We are also looking for students for other ongoing topics for internships or thesis projects, that will commence in 2025 and will take place (at least partially) at the research facilities of Wageningen Marine Research Yerseke:

1. Biological trait analysis for benthos and fish communities in the Wadden Sea

See above for description. This topic is ideal for a MSc student as it involves more in-depth data analysis.

• Activities: biological trait analysis, data entering, cleaning, analysing, processing. Labwork. Statistical analyses & writing up.
• Prerequisite: advanced statistics course (R)

2. Deploying Baited Remote Underwater Videocameras (BRUVs) for species richness analysis in the Eastern Scheldt

• Activities: collecting data in the field, the Eastern Scheldt, analysing videos, labwork
• Prerequisite: fieldwork experience, preferably Safety at Sea Certificate

3. Setting up a preference chamber experiment for rocklings: what are their habitat preferences?

• Activities: designing, implementing, and conducting a preference chamber experiment. Labwork. Data collection and analysis. Writing.
• Prerequisite: advanced statistics course (R)

Questions on these topics? Contact Lotte Bouwman & Henrice Jansen. Send us your CV and short motivation if you want to apply for one of these topics.