IMIS - Marine Research Groups | Compendium Coast and Sea

IMIS - Marine Research Groups

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Laboratory of Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics (Umons-BOMB)
portail.umons.ac.be/FR/universite/facultes/fs/services/institut_bio/biologie_marine/Pages/Equipe.aspx
www.bio-mar.com
The research carried out within the laboratory of Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics, which is part of the Interuniversity Center for Marine Biology (CIBIM), -focuses on four main axes:
  • socio-ecological aquaculture;

  • symbiosis and diseases;
  • biological materials and biomimetics;
  • photobiology.


The 'socio-ecologic aquaculture' research addresses issues on aquaculture - particularly sea cucumber, algae and coral aquacultures - of which certain stages can be managed by poor coastal communities. Historically, the group experienced great success with the development of sea cucumber aquaculture and most of their aquaculture-related publications deal with this subject. Particular interest has been paid to the development of a method to allow cultivation of sea cucumbers in locally managed farms all year round. This method is patented since 2002, which led to the development of Madagascar Holothurie SA in 2008, the first trade company based on sea cucumber aquaculture in Madagascar. In 2013, the group opened the Polyaquaculture Research Unit (PRU) in Madagascar in collaboration with the Halieutic Institute and Marine Science of the University of Toliara. PRU became the Marine Station of Belaza co-directed by UMons, ULg and UTuléar. The laboratory is also involved in seaweeds (algoculture) and corals (coraliculture).

The 'symbiosis and diseases' axis performs research on parasitic, commensal or mutualist relations of marine organisms. The life cycle, etiology and phylogeny of symbiotic prokaryonts and various symbiotic eukaryonts (e.g. ctenarians, flatworms, polychaetes, myzostomids, molluscs, echinoderms, fish) are studied in order to better understand the factors affecting or regulating the symbiotic interactions including those in diseases. A variety of analytic methodes are used and include electronic microscopy (TEM and SEM), DNA phylogeny and mass spectrometry.

The 'biomimetics' approach focuses on the different protein-based adhesion mechanisms developed by marine invertebrates. The aim of this research is to gain a detailed knowledge of biological adhesives in order to develop synthetic counterparts. The adhesive systems of marine organisms differ by their mode of operation, their structure and the characteristics of their adhesive proteins. They are therefore complementary biological models for the study of bioadhesion in the marine environment.

Finally, the 'marine photobiology' axis aims at a better understanding of how marine organisms are able to perceive light using opsin-based photoreceptation. In parallel, the functional interaction potentially occurring between extraocular photoreception and bioluminescence in limunious animals are investigated.

Standard name: Laboratoire de Biologie des Organismes Marins et Biomimétisme
Parent institute: Université de Mons; Faculté des Sciences; Department of Biology (Umons), more

Address:
Laboratoire de Biologie des Organismes Marins et Biomimétisme
6 Avenue du champ de Mars
Bâtiment Pentagone
7000 Mons
Belgium
 
Type: Scientific