Projects - dr. JWP (Joop) Coolen

Hard substrate determines the distribution of specific species in the North Sea. In the past there was more submerged hard substrate in the North Sea than today. E.g. large oyster beds, peat banks and glacial boulders were found. Most of these hard substrates have disappeared.

However, humans also introduced new substrates, e.g. shipwrecks, platforms, wind farms and future multiple use platforms. These artificial hard substrates may play an important role for species that depend on hard substrates as places to settle.

In my projects we investigate the biodiversity on these man-made hard structures. We compare historic and present natural hard substrate communities to those on artificial hard substrates. We describe the biodiversity of macro fauna on and near these hard substrates using diving surveys and data and video footage from oil & gas and wind farm companies. We develop in situ measurement and sampling equipment and apply these to reefs in the North Sea.

Personal information

Availability	Mon Morning Available Afternoon Available Tue Morning Available Afternoon Available Wed Morning Factsheet unavailable Afternoon Factsheet unavailable Thu Morning Available Afternoon Available Fri Morning Available Afternoon Available Available not available
Address	Ankerpark 27 1781AG DEN HELDER
Post address	Postbus/POBox 57 1780AB DEN HELDER
Mobile	+31613005630
Building/room	Wageningen Marine Research, Zeevaartschool(27)/A1.01
Organisation	Wageningen University & Research
Subdivision	Aquatic Ecology and Water Quality Management
Expertise	Animal ecology, Animal taxonomy, Aquatic ecology, Biodiversity, Biology, Ecology, Offshore, Maritime, Wind energy, Maritime research, Benthos, Macrofauna, Macroinvertebrates, Marine ecology, Marine environment, Marine fishes, Marine structures, North sea, Windmills, Marine biology, Artificial reefs, Biogenic reefs, Reefs, Shellfish reefs, Offshore wind