Curriculum Vitae
- 1988-1993: MSc Chemical Engineering, K.U. Leuven (Belgium), specialization in waste water treatment technology
- 1993-1996: MSc Biology, Ghent University (Belgium), specialization in marine ecology
- 1996-2001: PhD-research at Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology (NIOO-KNAW , The Netherlands), Dalhousie University (Halifax, Canada) and the Marine Biology Lab (Ghent University, Belgium). Thesis : "Modelling the influence of ecological interactions on reactive transport processes in sediments".
- 2001-2002: Post-doc in the Challenger Division for Seafloor Processes, Southampton Oceanographic Centre (UK)
- 2002-2008: Post-doc at the Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology (NIOO-KNAW, The Netherlands)
- 2008-2010: Associate professor, Earth System Sciences research Unit, Dept. Analytical and Environmental Chemsitry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium)
- 2010-present: Senior Scientist at the Department of Ecosystem Studies, Centre for Estuarine and Marine Ecology (NIOO-KNAW, The Netherlands)
Teaching
- Guest Professor at Ghent University (Belgium) - Master in Marine & Lacustrine Sciences - course "Ecological Modelling"
- 10% Professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium) - Master in Chemistry - course "Modelling of the Environment"
Personal grants
- 2007: Recipient of Odysseus Grant (FWO Research Foundation - Flanders)
- 2008: Recipient of VIDI Grant (NWO Research Foundation - The Netherlands)
Expertise
Biogeochemical modelling of aquatic sediments
Aquatic sediments (of rivers, estuaries and oceans) cover 75 % of the earth surface. Strong interactions between geochemistry and biology take place within the sediment ecosystem. Intensive biogeochemical transformations occur within the first 25 cm of the sediment, driven by an input of fresh organic matter to the sediment surface. In order to quantify fluxes, rates and conscentrations, we develop coupled reactive transport models that simulate all the important physical, chemical and biological transformations within this ecosystem. These models are then employed to draw ecological conclusions and to analyse biogeochemical cycles in the sediment.
Carbon cycling in marine sediments
Marine sediments form the last chance for the recycling for the organic material that is produced in the photic zone of the overlying water. When not decomposed, the organic material is buried for thousands to millions of years, and thuis cannot particupate in teh carbon cycling of the fast reservoirs on earth (atmosphere, oceans, and biosphere). Accordingly it is crucial to assess the efficiency of oceanic sediments in terms of carbon recycling.
Darwin's last idea: Bioturbation and bio-irrigation
The dominant transport processes of both solutes and solids in aquatic sediments are caused by the activity of various organisms (crustaceans, worms, bivalves,...). Biogeochemical models of aquatic sediments require an accurate description of this biologically induced transport, which is called bioturbation for solids, and bio-irrigation for solutes. We are currently developing a toolbox of mathematical models to obtain a realistic representation of these important biological mixing processes.
Linking ecology and thermodynamics
Ecosystems nicely fit what thermodynamicists call “open non-equilibrium systems”, yet up to now, the marriage between ecology and thermodynamics has been a rather difficult one. Textbooks on ecology seldom incorporate thermodynamic considerations (let alone entropy production) when discussing ecosystems and foodwebs. We investigate to what extent we can understand ecosystem metabolism by the means of non-equilibrium thermodynamics considerations. As a test system for our analysis, we use the foodweb of marine sediments (a relatively simple heterotrophic ecosystem).
Projects
[1] The Cambrian explosion and the bioturbation revolution: an ecosystem engineering perspective (Darwin project NWO; 2006-2010)
Microbial mats dominated aquatic sediment ecosystems during the Precambrian. During the Cambrian explosion, a new burrowing life-style emerged, which significantly increased the biological reworking of the sediment. Burrowing induces transport of solid particles and pore-water constituents, and has a significant impact on sediment biogeochemistry. Microbial communities changed, and sediments became a multi-dimensional biogeochemical mosaic, where biological activity creates heterogeneity on various spatial and temporal scales. This dramatic change in the functioning of sediment ecosystem has been termed the “bioturbation revolution”. In this Darwin project we focus on the biogeochemical and ecological consequences of the “bioturbation revolution”, and in particular the impact of burrow ventilation.
PHD project: Johan van Frausum
Darwin Center http://www.darwincenter.nl/
[2] Ecosystems from the perspective of non-equilibrium thermodynamics: Foodwebs as dissipative systems
Focusing on the theoretical analysis of ecosystems, we explore suitable formulations from thermodynamics, to develop an accurate description of the trophic compoartments within foodwebs, and the entropy production that occurs in foodwebs. The overall aim is to develop an adequate strategy for the analysis of complex food web models in terms of non-equilibrium thermodynamics, and to further theoretical ecology in this respect.
PHD-project: Stijn Bruers (Theoretische Fysica, KULeuven)
Co-Operation
Selected Publications
See my research idea for teh latest publications. I'm listing only a limited selection here.
Meysman, F. J. R., Middelburg, J. J., and Heip C. H. R. 2006
Bioturbation: a fresh look at Darwin's last idea
Trends in Ecology and Evolution
Boudreau B. P. and Meysman F. J. R. 2006
Predicted Tortuosity of Muds
Geology 34:693-696
Meysman, F. J. R., Galaktionov, O. S., Gribsholt, B., Middelburg, J. J. 2006
Bio-irrigation in Permeable Sediments: Advective Pore Water Transport induced by Burrow Ventilation
Limnology & Oceanography 51, 142-156
Meysman, F. J. R., Boudreau, B. P., Middelburg, J. J. 2005
Modeling Reactive Transport in Sediments Subject to Bioturbation and Compaction
Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta 69: 3601-3617
Meysman, F.J.R., Middelburg, J.J., Herman, P.M.J., Heip, C.H.R. 2003
Reactive transport in surface sediments. II. Media: an object-oriented problem-solving environment for early diagenesis
Computers & Geosciences (journal) Vol. 29, Issue 3, p301-318
Reprint or PDF can be requested at library@nioo.knaw.nl
Staal, M., Meysman, F.J.R., Stal, L.J. 2003
Temperature excludes N-2-fixing heterocystous cyanobacteria in the tropical oceans
Nature (journal) Vol. 425, Issue 6957, p504-507
Reprint or PDF can be requested at library@nioo.knaw.nl
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