Department II. INVERTEBRATES
The department has two sections.
Head of departement: Thierry Backeljau
- Study of invertebrate animals (marine, of brackish waters, terrestrial). This research is focused on systematics, morphology, phylogenesis, populations' genetics, ecology, faunistics and zoogeography.
- Beside the Belgian, and more generally European, faunas, the faunas of Papua New Guinea, of the Indo-Pacific Region and of the Antarctic are also intensively studied.
- Creation of two exhibition rooms devoted to invertebrates. The conception and setting up of a permanent exhibition devoted to invertebrates requires a great amount of research, not only in the field of invertebrate biology, but also in the fields of didactics and esthetics, as well as in the application of new techniques.
- Use of data processing in the general management and everyday use of the huge invertebrate collections; the number of specimens exceeds the 10 000 000.
- Use of the scanning electronic microscope for biological preparations. Application of techniques of molecular biochemistry (protein electrophoresis, DNA and RNA sequencing,...) in the fields of systematics and phylogeny.
Section 3. Malacology
> Section head: Thierry Backeljau- This section is engaged principally in the study of molluscs. During the last few years, important investigations have been carried out on molluscs living in close relationship with coral reefs. Many diving activities are necessary for this kind of research (under-water observations, sampling, photography,...).
Section 4. Recent invertebrates
> Section head: N.N.- In this section, emphasis is laid on the study of crustaceans. Benthic fauna from the Gulf of Mexico is investigated in the frame of a scientific project on pollution by hydrocarbons. The section is also active in the Antarctic, particularly in the study of the role of amphipods at different trophic levels.
=> Link to Amphipoda site (this website will be opened in a new window)