Research Vessel RV Dreissena

The facility

The ship RV Dreissena enhances the understanding of the ecology of lake Markermeer and helps researchers design more effective strategies to preserve the habitat. The well-equipped research ship enables researchers to take samples and conduct measurements at ecologically relevant locations in Markermeer all year round. The research vessel provides a unique opportunity for both bachelor and master students to perform aquatic field work during both courses as individual research projects.

Research topics

Water, lake, Markermeer, sediment, plankton, macrofauna, macrophyte

References

Tack, L. F. J., Vonk, J. A., Riel, C. van, Leeuw, J. J. de, Koopman, J., Maathuis, M. A. M., Schilder, K., Hall, R. L. van, Huisman, J., & Van, H. G. (2024). Science of the Total Environment Food webs in isolation : The food-web structure of a freshwater reservoir with armoured shores in a former coastal bay area. 925(July 2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171780

Brinkmann, B. W., Vonk, J. A., van Beusekom, S. A. M., Ibanez, M., de Lucas Pardo, M. A., Noordhuis, R., Manders, E. M. M. M., Verspagen, J. M. H. H., van der Geest, H. G., Beusekom, S. A. M., Ibanez, M., Lucas Pardo, M. A., Noordhuis, R., Manders, E. M. M. M., Verspagen, J. M. H. H., & Geest, H. G. (2019). Benthic hotspots in the pelagic zone: Light and phosphate availability alter aggregates of microalgae and suspended particles in a shallow turbid lake. Limnology and Oceanography, 64(2), 585–596. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.11062

Theirlynck, T., Vonk, A., Muyzer, G., van der Geest Geest, H., & Geest, van der. (2019). Where two worlds meet: marine sediments in a dammed freshwater lake. SEFS 2019, Zagreb Croatia

van der Geest, H., Rombouts, T., Noordhuis, R., & Vonk, A. (2019). What drives algal growth in a large and turbid delta lake (lake Markermeer) after oligotrophication? SEFS 2019, Zagreb Croatia.

Noordhuis, R. (2019). Survey draadvormige zwavelbacteriën Markermeer 2019. DELTARES report

Running period

2017-undertermined

Equipment

Sediment samplers 

• Uwitec Gravity corer with hammer action
• Ekman grab sampler
• SeaBed 2L van Veen grab

Water samplers 

• Hydrobios Niskin bottle
• Aqua Jet Pump 19 L/min continuous flow

Plankton samplers

• Phytoplankton net (53 μm)/ zooplankton net (250 μm)

Macrofauna samplers

• NHBS macrofauna net
• Endecotts sieves (1, 3, 5,6 mm)
• On board sieving installation

Macrophyte sampler

• Double rake with line (design from hydrobiological handbook)

Multi-parameter sensors

• Hydrolab minisonde pH, EC, turbidity, [O2]
• Automated mapping software for acquisition of Hydrolab data
• Light profiler

Mapping

• Hummingbird 360 imaging sonar
• Humminbird side imaging sonar
• Humminbird Autocharts Live
• 5 x underwater quadrants
• GoPro underwater camera

On board computer 

• Windows     

Scuba

• 2 x 12 L scuba tank
• 2 x underwater flashlight
• 5 x writing slate

Visual

• 2 x Bynolyt searanger III (7x50) with compass

Cooler

• Igloo marine Glide 104 L

Lifting

• 2 x Davits arm with 6 hooks and electric winch

Storage

• 6 x aluminium transport boxes (40x60x30 cm)

Field Guides

• Birds, Fish, Macrofauna and Macrophytes

Data management

Data management is according to data management plans of individual projects

Available datasets

Not applicable

Conditions for access

The research vessel is available for all projects in collaboration with researchers from the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics at the University of Amsterdam (UvA-IBED). In addition, the ship is available for projects of students of the UvA MSc track Freshwater and Marine Biology and the UvA BSc programs Biology and Future Planet Studies.