Luc Denys

Summary

Taxonomy and morphology of new and interesting diatom taxa from lentic freshwater habitats in Belgium and neighbouring regions.

Research themes

Besides palaeoenvironmental studies of Quaternary coastal, estuarine and freshwater deposits, using diatoms and other indicators, my research mainly concerned the assessment, conservation and management of aquatic biodiversity in Flanders, addressing topics such as the conservation status of protected habitats and plant species, the typology, reference conditions, ecological quality and ecological potential of water bodies, the monitoring, restoration and mapping of standing waters, impacts of acidification, eutrophication and land use, as well as the ecology and management of aquatic invasive species. Currently, my work aims to resolve the taxonomic status of a number of unidentified diatom taxa observed in the course of previous projects. Freshwater macrophytes, particularly charophytes, also remain among my research interests.

Qualifications
Degrees

• Licenciate (botany), University of Antwerp (UIA), 1981
• Dr. sc (botany), University of Antwerp (UIA), 1993

Employment history

• 1981-1984 research scholarship, University of Antwerp (RUCA)
• 1988-1990 scientific collaborator, Ghent University (RUG)
• 1992 scientific collaborator, Free University of Brussels (VUB)
• 1993-1994 scientific collaborator, University of Antwerp (UCA)
• 1995 scientific collaborator, University of Antwerp (UIA)
• 1995-1997 scientific collaborator, University of Antwerp (UCA)
• 1997 scientific collaborator, Institute for Nature Conservation (IN)
• 1998-1998 scientific collaborator, University of Antwerp (UCA)
• 1999-2006 researcher, Institute for Nature Conservation (IN)
• 2006-2023 researcher & senior researcher, Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)
• 9/2023 retired

Research projects (selection)

• Late Quaternary sea-level changes: measurement, correlation, and future applications, IGCP 200, 1983-1987.
• Past climatic changes in Europe and the palaeoclimatology of the last glacial/interglacial cycle. EEC Environment R&D Programme Environmental protection, climatology and natural hazards, 1988-1991.
• North Atlantic Seaboard Project (NASP), IGCP 253 Termination of the Pleistocene, 1991-1994.
• Coastal evolution in the Quaternary; case studies, models and regional patterns, IGCP 274, 1988-1993. 
• Paleolimnologisch onderzoek van de Blankaartvijver (Woumen) ter vervollediging van het historisch referentiebeeld in het kader van ecologische herstelmaatregelen (Paleolimnological investigation of the Blankaart Pond to assess historical reference conditions in the framework of ecological restoration), projects K93.005 & IN/DP/94, Instituut voor Natuurbehoud, 1993-1995.
• Ecologische typologie en onderzoek naar een geïntegreerde evaluatiemethode voor stilstaande wateren op regionale schaal: hoekstenen voor ontwikkeling, herstel en opvolging van natuurwaarden (TESTWAT) (Ecological typology and evaluation of standing waters on a regional scale: corner stones for the development, restoration and monitoring of natural values), project 97/02 Vlaams Impulsprogramma Natuurontwikkeling (VLINA), 1998-2000.
• Ontwikkelen van een monitoringsysteem en een beoordelingsmethode voor macrofyten in oppervlaktewateren in Vlaanderen overeenkomstig de Europese Kaderrichtlijn Water (Development of a monitoring framework and an assessment method for macrophytes in surface waters in Flanders complying with the European Water Framework Directive), VMM.AMO.KRW.ECO2.2002, Flemish Environment Agency (VMM), 2002-2003.
• Toepassing van verschillende biologische beoordelingssystemen op Vlaamse potentiële interkalibratielocaties overeenkomstig de Europese Kaderrichtlijn Water – Partim “Fytobenthos” (Application of biological assessment methods on eventual intercalibration sites in accordance with the European Water Framework Directive – Partim “Phytobenthos”, VMM.AMO.SCALDIT.FYTOBII), Flemish Environment Agency (VMM), 2004-2005.
• Toepassing van verschillende biologische beoordelingssystemen op Vlaamse potentiële interkalibratielocaties overeenkomstig de Europese Kaderrichtlijn Water – Partim “Macrofyten” (Application of biological assessment methods on eventual intercalibration sites in accordance with the European Water Framework Directive – Partim “Macrophytes”, VMM.AMO.SCALDIT.FYTOBII, Flemish Environment Agency (VMM), 2004-2005.
• Integrated management tools for water bodies in agricultural landscapes (MANSCAPE), BELSPO project Scientific Support Plan for a Sustainable Development Policy II, 2002-2006.
• Bepalen van het maximaal en het goed ecologisch potentieel, alsook de huidige toestand, voor een aantal Vlaamse (gewestelijke) waterlichamen die vergelijkbaar zijn met de categorie meren. Deel 1, & Deel 2 (Assessment of maximum and good ecological potential, as well as current status, for a number of Flemish (regional) water bodies comparable with the category lakes. Parts I & II), Flemish Environment Agency (VMM), 2006-2008, 2014.
• Towards a sustainable management of pond diversity at the landscape level (PONDSCAPE), BELSPO project SD/BD/02A, 2006-2011.
• Permanente inventarisatie van de natuurreservaten aan de kust, PINK I & II (Permanent inventory of nature reserves along the coast, PINK I & II), Agency for Nature and Forest (ANB), 2007-2010, 2012-2014.
• Reducing the impacts of non-native species in Europe (RINSE) & Safeguarding the environment from invasive non-native species (SEFINS), Two Seas Programme - Interreg IV A, 2007-2013.
• Programmatorische aanpak stikstof: gebiedsanalyses m.b.t. het PAS-herstelbeheer (Programmatic approach to nitrogen: analysis of special protection zones for restoration management). Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO), 2017-2018.
• A comparative analysis of organic and conventional agriculture’s impact on aquatic biodiversity (ORCA), BELSPO project BRAIN BR/175/A1/ORCA, 2017-2021. 
• Reaching integrated and prompt action in response to invasive alien species (LIFE RIPARIAS),  LIFE19 NAT/BE/000953, 2021-2026.

Activities (selection)

• Geographical Intercalibration Group Lakes Central/Baltic region, Implementation Water Framework Directive. Representative & expert phytobenthos and macrophytes for Flanders, 2004-2014.
• Geographical Intercalibration Group Rivers Central/Baltic region, Implementation Water Framework Directive. Expert phytobenthos and macrophytes for Flanders, 2005-2011.
• Steering group on alien species, Working group Ecological Status, Common Implementation Strategy Water Framework Directive, member, 2007-2008.
• Cross-regional Natura 2000 freshwater specialist network, 2017-2020.
• IUCN Expert Group Aquatic Plants, member, 2013-2024.

Editorial tasks

• Associate Editor, Phycologia, 2014 - ongoing
• Associate Editor, European Journal of Taxonomy, 2017- ongoing

Publications
FRIS Research Portal