RESEARCH INTEREST

Mechanisms underlying coastal eutrophication resulting in the development of algal blooms, more particularly those of undesirable haptophyte Phaeocystis globosa in the Southern Bight of the North Sea.
Impact of harmful algal blooms on the structure and functioning of the coastal marine ecosystem and mechanisms structuring trophic chains in general.
Bio-optics to support the development and validation of specific algorithms for satellite-derived chlorophyll estimate and detection of the main phytoplankton groups in the optically complex coastal waters of the Southern Bight of the North Sea.

 

PUBLICATIONS

Peer-reviewed publications:

Rousseau, V., De Becker, E. & G. Billen. 1988. Impact of human activity on surface and ground water nitrogen contamination in the Dyle watershed above Wavre. Water Supply. 6 : 287-294.

Rousseau, V., Mathot, S. & C. Lancelot. 1990. Calculating carbon biomass of Phaeocystis sp. from microscopic observations. Marine Biology. 107 : 305-314.
Rousseau, V., Vaulot, D., Casotti, R., Cariou, V., Lenz, J., Gunkel, J. & M. Baumann. 1994. The life-cycle of Phaeocystis (Prymnesiophyceae) : evidence and hypotheses. Journal of Marine Systems. 5(1): 23-39.

Lancelot, C. & V. Rousseau. 1994. Ecology of Phaeocystis-dominated ecosystems : The key role of colony forms. In : The Prymnesiophyte algae. Leadbeater, B. & J. Green, ed. Systematics Association, special volume. Publisher Oxford University Press. 12 : 229-245.

Lancelot, C., Rousseau, V., Billen, G. & D. Van Eeckhout. 1997. Coastal eutrophication of the Southern Bight of the North Sea : assessment and modelling. In : "Sensitivity of North Sea, Baltic Sea and Black Sea to anthropogenic and climatic changes". E. Ozsoy & A. Mikaelyan, ed., NATO-ASI series, 2. Environment 27: 439-454.

Becquevort, S., Rousseau, V. & C. Lancelot. 1998. Major and comparable roles for free-living and attached bacteria in the degradation of Phaeocystis-derived organic matter in Belgian coastal waters of the North Sea. Aquatic Microbial Ecology. 14 : 39-48.

Lancelot, C., Keller, M., Rousseau, V., Smith Jr W.O. & S. Mathot. 1998. Autoecology of the Marine Haptophyte Phaeocystis sp. In : NATO Advanced Workshop on the physiological ecology of Harmful Algal Blooms. NATO-ASI Series, D.A. Anderson, A.M. Cembella, G. Hallegraef, ed. Series G : Ecological Science 41 : 209-224.

Rousseau, V., S. Becquevort, J.Y. Parent, S. Gasparini, M.-H. Daro, M. Tackx & C. Lancelot. 2000. Trophic efficiency of the planktonic food web in a coastal ecosystem dominated by Phaeocystis colonies. Journal of Sea Research. 43 : 357-372.

Gasparini, S., Daro, M.-H., Antajan, E., Tackx, M., Rousseau, V., Parent J.-Y. & C. Lancelot. 2000. Mesozooplankton grazing during the Phaeocystis globosa bloom in the Southern Bight of the North Sea. Journal of Sea Research. 43: 345-356.

Olsen, Y., Reinertsen, H., Vadstein, O., Andersen, T., Gismervick, I., Duarte, C., Agusti, S., Stibor, H., Sommer, U., Lignell, R., Tamminen, T., Lancelot, C., Rousseau, V., Hoell, E. & Sanderud, K.A. 2001. Comparative analysis of food web based on flow networks: effects of nutrient supply on structure and function of coastal plankton communities. Continental Shelf Research. 21: 2043-2053.

Rousseau, V., Leynaert, A., Daoud, N & C. Lancelot. 2002. Diatom succession, silicification and silicic acid availability in Belgian coastal waters (Southern North Sea). Marine Ecology Progress Series. 236: 61-73.

Ragueneau, O., Lancelot, C., Egorov, V., Vervlimmeren, J., Cociasu, A., Deliat, G., Krastev, A., Daoud, N., Rousseau V., Popovitchev, V., Brion, N., Popa, L. & G. Cauwet. 2002. Biogeochemical transformations of inorganic nutrients in the mixing zone between the Danube river and the North-western Black Sea. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 54: 321-336.

Tungaraza, C., Rousseau, V., Brion, N., Lancelot, C., Gichuki, J., Baeyens W. & L. Goeyens. 2003. Contrasting nitrogen uptake by diatom and Phaeocystis-dominated phytoplankton assemblages in the North Sea. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 292: 19-41.

Tungaraza, C., Brion, N., Rousseau, V., Baeyens W. & L. Goeyens. 2003. Influence of bacterial activities on nitrogen uptake rates determined by the application of antibiotics. Oceanologia. 45(3): 473-489.

Hamm, C. & V. Rousseau. 2003. The fate of Phaeocystis-derived fatty acids during a Phaeocystis globosa bloom in the Southern North Sea. Journal of Sea Research. 50 (4): 271-283.

Vanaverbeke, J., Steyaert, M., Soetaert, K., Rousseau, V., Van Gansbeke, D., Parent J.-Y. & M. Vincx. 2004. Changes in structural and functional diversity of nematode communities during a spring phytoplankton bloom in the Southern North Sea. Journal of Sea Research. 52: 281-292.

Schoemann, V., Becquevort, S., Stefels, J., Rousseau, V. & Lancelot, C. 2005. Phaeocystis blooms in the global ocean and their controlling mechanisms: a review. Journal of Sea Research. 53 (1-2): 43-66.

Billen, G., Garnier, J. & V. Rousseau. 2005. Nutrient fluxes and water quality in the drainage network of the Scheldt basin over the last 50 years. Hydrobiologia. 540 (1-3) : 47-67.

Lancelot, C., Spitz Y., Gypens, N., Ruddick, K., Becquevort S., Rousseau, V., Lacroix, G. & G. Billen. 2005. Modelling diatom and Phaeocystis blooms and nutrient cycles in the Southern Bight of the North Sea: the MIRO model. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 289 : 63-78.

Astoreca, R., Ruddick, K., Van Mol, B., Rousseau, V., Parent, J.-Y. & C. Lancelot. 2005. Variability of the inherent and apparent optical properties in a highly turbid coastal area: impact for the calibration of Remote Sensing algorithms. EARSel Proceedings. 5(1) : 1-17.

Breton, E., Rousseau, V., Parent J.-Y., Ozer, J. & C. Lancelot. 2006. Hydroclimatic modulation of diatom/Phaeocystis blooms in the nutrient-enriched Belgian coastal waters (North Sea). Limol. Oceanogr. 51(3): 1401-1409.

Rousseau, V., Chrétiennot-Dinet M.-J., Jacobsen A., Verity P. & S. Whipple. 2007. The life cycle of Phaeocystis: state of knowledge and presumptive role in ecology. Biogeochemistry. 83:29-47.

Vasas, V., Lancelot, C., Rousseau, V. & F. Jordan. 2007. Eutrophication and overfishing in temperate nearshore pelagic food webs : a network perspective. Mar. Ecol. Progr. Ser. 336: 1-14.

Ruddick, K., Lacroix, G., Park Y., Rousseau, V., De Cauwer, V. & S. Sterckx. 2007. Overview of Ocean Colour: theoretical background, sensors and applicability for the detection and monitoring of harmful algae blooms (capabilities and limitations). In : Real-time coastal observing systems for ecosystem dynamics and harmful algal blooms, M. Babin, C.S. Roesler and J.J. Cullen, eds. UNESCO Monographs on Oceanographic Methodology Series. UNESCO Publishing, Paris, France.

Roubeix V., Rousseau V. & C. Lancelot. 2008. Diatom succession and silicon removal from freshwater in estuarine mixing zones: From experiment to modelling. Estuarine Coastal Shelf Science. 78:14-26. doi: 10.1016/j. ecss. 2007.11.007.

Lancelot C., Rousseau, V. & N. Gypens. 2009. Ecologically-based reference for Phaeocystis colonies in eutrophied Belgian coastal waters (Southern North Sea) based on field observations and ecological modeling. Journal of Sea Research 61:44-49, doi:10.1016/jseares. 2008.05.010.

Astoreca R., Rousseau V., Ruddick K., Knechciak C., Van Mol B., Parent J.-Y. & C. Lancelot. Development and application of an algorithm for detecting Phaeocystis globosa blooms in the Case 2 waters of the Southern North Sea. Journal Plankton Research 31(3): 287-300.

Loebl M., Colijn F. van Beusekom J. Baretta-Bekker J. Lancelot C. Philippart C. Rousseau V. & K. Wiltshire. 2008. Recent patterns in potential phytoplankton limitation along the Northwest European continental coast. Journal Sea Research (in press) doi:10.1016/j.seares.2008.10.002.

Astoreca R., Rousseau, V. & C Lancelot. 2009. Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) in Southern North Sea waters: optical characterization and possible origin. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 85: 633-640.

Book edition and chapters:

Rousseau V., Lancelot C and D. Cox (Eds). 2006. Current Status of Eutrophication in the Belgian Coastal Zone. Presses Universitaires de Bruxelles, Bruxelles. Pp 121.

Rousseau V., Park Y., Ruddick K., Vyverman W., Jans S. and C. Lancelot. 2006. Phytoplankton blooms in response to nutrient enrichment. In: Current Status of Eutrophication in the Belgian Coastal Zone. Rousseau V., Lancelot C. and D. Cox (Eds). Presses Universitaires de Bruxelles, Bruxelles Pp 45-59.

Brion N., Jans S., Chou L. and V. Rousseau. 2006. Nutrient loads to the Belgian coastal zone. In: Current Status of Eutrophication in the Belgian Coastal Zone. Rousseau V., Lancelot C. and D. Cox (Eds). Presses Universitaires de Bruxelles, Bruxelles. Pp 17-43.

Daro N., Breton E., Antajan E., Gasparini S . and V. Rousseau. 2006. Do Phaeocystis colony blooms affect zooplankton in the Belgian coastal zone? In: Current Status of Eutrophication in the Belgian Coastal Zone. V. Rousseau, C. Lancelot and D. Cox (Eds). Presses Universitaires de Bruxelles, Bruxelles. Pp. 61-72.

Conference Proceedings:

Rousseau, V. & C. Lancelot. 1989. Phaeocystis spring bloom in the continental coastal zone of the North Sea. Proceedings of the North Sea symposium. In : Progress in Belgian Oceanographic Research. G. Pichot, (ed). Gent. February 14: 225-246.

Billen, G., Lancelot, C., Rousseau V., Becquevort S., Le Roy D., Davies, A., Gieskes, W., van Boeckel, W., Veldhuis, M. , Hansen, F., Lenz, J., Weisse, T., Sournia, A., Vaulot, D. & Grossel, H. 1991. The dynamics of Phaeocystis blooms in nutrient enriched coastal zones. Proceedings of the third workshop. Plymouth (UK), March 6-7 1990. Lancelot C., Billen G. and H. Barth (eds). Water Pollution Research Reports. 23 : 106 pp.

Rousseau, V. & C. Lancelot. 1996. Impact of nutrient input on the diatom-Phaeocystis spring succession in the eutrophicated continental coastal waters of the North Sea. Eos Transactions. American Geophysical Union. Vol. 76 (3).

Lancelot, C., Rousseau, V. & N. Daoud. 1996. Calculating and predicting daily primary production in the surface ocean: the 14C method revisited. Integrated Marine System Analysis. Baeyens, W., Dehairs, F. and L. Goeyens (eds). 126-141.

Lancelot, C. & V. Rousseau. 1997. Phaeocystis blooms in the North Sea : Are they getting worse? Abstract of the Sixth International Phycological congress, Leiden, August 9-16, 1997. Phycologia : 36(4) : p 57.

Ruddick, K., Ovidio, F., Vasilkov, A., Lancelot, C., Rousseau, V. & M. Rijkeboer. 1999. Optical remote sensing in support of eutrophication monitoring in Belgian waters. 18th EARSeL symposium on : Operational remote sensing for Sustainable Development. Enschede, The Netherlands. May 11-14, 1998. Nieuwenhuis, Vaughan and Molenaar (eds). Balkema, Rotterdam : 445-452.

Lancelot, C., Vanderborght, J.-P., Rousseau, V. & R. Wollast. 2000. Gestion durable de la qualité de l'eau et des ressources aquatiques face à la contamination par l'azote : le rôle des chercheurs. Actes du symposium Développement Durable : A la recherche d'un dialogue durable entre science et politique. Brussels, November 24-25, 1999. Belgian Science Policy publication 90-98. 14 pp.

Rousseau, V. 2002. The life cycle of HAB forming haptophytes. EC workshop LIFEHAB: Life histories of microalgal species causing harmful blooms. Calvia, Majorca, Spain, October 2001. Research in Enclosed Seas series. 12 : 22-26.

Lancelot, C., Rousseau, V., Schoemann, V. & S. Becquevort. 2002. On the ecological role of the different life forms of Phaeocystis. EC workshop LIFEHAB: Life histories of microalgal species causing harmful blooms. Calvia, Majorca, Spain, October 2001. Research in Enclosed Seas series. 12 : 71-75.

Astoreca, R., Rousseau, V., Ruddick, K., Van Mol, B., Parent, J.-Y. & C. Lancelot. 2005. Optical properties of algal blooms in an eutrophicated coastal area and its relevance to remote sensing. SPIE International Conference on " Remote sensing of the coastal oceanic environment ". San Diego, U.S.A. 31July-1st August 2005.

Astoreca, R., Rousseau, V. & C. Lancelot. 2006. Specific phytoplankton absorption variability and implication for chlorophyll a retrieval in Belgian waters (Southern North Sea). Proceedings of the meeting "MERIS and AATSR Calibration and Geophysical Validation". ESRIN, Frascati, Italy. March 20-24, 2006.
Astoreca, R., Rousseau, V., Ruddick, K ., Parent, J.-Y., Van Mol, B. & C. Lancelot. 2006. Discriminating Phytoplankton Groups From Space: Is It Feasible In Case 2 Belgian Coastal Waters? 18th Ocean Optics Conference, Montréal, Québec. October 9-13, 2006.

Astoreca, R., Rousseau, V., Ruddick, K & C. Lancelot. 2008. Development and application of an algorithm for detecting undesirable Phaeocystis globosa blooms from space. Vol. 10, Geophysical Research Abstracts of EGU General Assembly, April 13-18, 2008, Vienna, Austria.

Borges, A., Suykens, K., Commarieux, M.-V., Schiettecatte, L.-S., Delille, B., Astoreca, R., Rousseau, V. & C. Lancelot. 2008. Estimating pCO2 from remote sensing in the Case-II waters of the Belgian Coastal Zone - First results from the Belcolour-II project. Vol. 10, Geophysical Research Abstracts of EGU General Assembly, April 13-18, 2008, Vienna, Austria.

Astoreca, R., Rousseau, V. & C. Lancelot. 2008. Influence of Phytoplankton Blooms on the Spectral Slope of CDOM in Belgian and Adjacent Waters (Southern North Sea). Proceedings of the 19th Ocean Optics Conference, Pise, Italie. October 6-10, 2008.

Ruddick, K., Park, Y., Astoreca, R., Borges, A., Lacroix, G., Lancelot, C. & V. Rousseau. 2008. Applications of the MERIS algal 2 product in Belgian waters. Proceedings of the MERIS Users conference, ESA ESRIN, Frascati Rome, Lazio Italy, September 22-26, 2008.