Research topics

 Ecological and biogeochemical modelling of the response of marine ecosystems to climate changes and anthropogenic pressures, throughout the understanding of the interactions between planktonic organisms and marine biogeochemical cycles (C, N, P, Si), and the coupling of rivers and coastal models with particular emphasis on eutrophication and climatic gases.

Short CV

2014: Associate Professor, Ecole interfacultaire de Bioingénieurs, Université Libre de Bruxelles
2010 : Post-doctoral research, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), Paris, France
2006: Ph D. in Biological Sciences from the Université Libre de Bruxelles
2001: Master in Marine Ecosystems Modelling from the Université de Liege
2001: European Master in Marine Ecosystems Modelling from the Université de Liege
2000: Bachelor in Oceanology from the Université de Liege
1999: Bachelor in Biology (Zoology option) from the Université Catholique de Louvain-la-Neuve

Teaching

•  Structure, évolution et fonctionnement des écosystèmes aquatiques – BING-F-410
• Modélisation des écosystèmes aquatiques – BING-F-525
• Fonctionnement et gestion des environnements agricoles et aquatiques (in collaboration with Prof. P. Servais and Prof. B. Godden) – ENVI-F-4001 (5 ECTS)

Publications

Bauduin, T., Gypens, N., & Borges, A. A. (2025). Methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide emissions from two clear-water and two turbid-water urban ponds in Brussels (Belgium). Biogeosciences, 22(15), 3785-3805. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-3785-2025

Bauduin, T., Gypens, N.,  Borges, A. V. (2025). Sub-daily variability of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions from two urban ponds in Brussels (Belgium). Journal of Environmental Management,Volume 373, 2025,123627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123627

Bauduin T., Gypens N., Borges A.V. (2024), Seasonal and spatial variations of greenhouse gas (CO2, CH4 and N2O) emissions from urban ponds in Brussels, Water Research, Volume 253, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2024.121257

Lapeyra Martin, J., John, U., Royer, C., Gypens, N., Fantastic beasts: unfolding mixoplankton temporal variability in the belgian coastal zone through DNA-metabarcording. Frontiers in Marine Science, Sec. Aquatic Microbiology, vol. 9 – 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.786787

Royer, C., Gypens, N., Cardol, P., Borges, A. V., Roberty, S., Response of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) cell quotas to oxidative stress in three phytoplankton species. Journal of Plankton Research, vol. 43, issue 5, september/october 2021, pages 673-690. doi: 10.1093/plankt/fbab052 

Wittek, B., Carnat, G., Delille, B., Tison, J.-L., & Gypens, N. (2020). Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) cell quotas variations arising from sea ice shifts of salinity and temperature in the Prymnesiophyceae Phaeocystis antarctica. Environmental chemistry. doi: 10.1071/EN19302

Marescaux, A., Thieu, V., Gypens, N., Silvestre, M., & Garnier, J. (2020). Modeling inorganic carbon dynamics in the seine river continuum in France. Hydrology and earth system sciences, 24(5), 2379-2398. doi: 10.5194/hess-24-2379-2020

Wittek, B., Carnat, G., Tison, J.-L., & Gypens, N. (2020). Response of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) cell quotas to salinity and temperature shifts in the sea-ice diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus. Polar biology. doi:10.1007/s00300-020-02651-0

Dulière, V., Gypens, N., Lancelot, C., Luyten, P., & Lacroix, G. (2019). Origin of nitrogen in the English Channel and Southern Bight of the North Sea ecosystems. Hydrobiologia. doi:10.1007/s10750-017-3419-5

Flynn, K. K., Mitra, A., Anestis, K., Anschütz, A.-A., Calbet, A., Ferreira, G. D., Gypens, N., Hansen, P. J., John, U., Lapeyra Martin, J., Mansour, J., Maselli, M., Medic, N., Norlin, A., Not, F., Pitta, P., Ramano, F., Saiz, E., Schneider, L., Stolte, W., & Traboni, C. (2019). Mixotrophic protists and a new paradigm for marine ecology: where does plankton research go now? Journal of plankton research.

Borges, A. V., Royer, C., Lapeyra Martin, J., Champenois, W., & Gypens, N. (2019). Response of marine methane dissolved concentrations and emissions in the Southern North Sea to the European 2018 heatwave. Continental shelf research. doi: https://doi.org/pii/S0278434319303875

Speeckaert, G. Borges, A.V., Gypens, N. 2019. Salinity and growth effects on dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) cell quotas of Skeletonema costatum, Phaeocystis globosa and Heterocapsa triquetra. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf science. 226: 106275. doi: https://doi.org/pii/S0272771418308527

Borges, A.V., Speeckaert, G., Champenois, W., Scranton, M.I. Gypens, N. 2018. Productivity and temperature as drivers of seasonal and spatial variations of dissolved methane in the Southern bight of the North Sea. Ecosystems, 21 (4): 583-599.

Gypens, N., Borges, A.V. & Ghyoot, C. 2017. How phosphorus limitation can control climate-active gas sources and sinks. Journal of Marine Systems. 170; 42-49.

Borges, A.V., Champenois, W., Gypens, N., Delille, B. & Harlay, J. 2016. Massive marine methane emissions from near-shore shallow coastal areas. Scientific reports. 6: 27908.

Ghyoot, C., Gypens, N., Flynn, K.J., Lancelot, C. 2015. Modelling alkaline phosphatase activity in microalgae under orthophosphate limitation: the case of Phaeocystis globosa. Journal of Plankton Research. DOI: 10.1093/plankt/fbv062

Terseleer N., J. Bruggeman, C. Lancelot, N. Gypens (2014). Trait-based representation of diatom functional diversity in a plankton functional type model of the eutrophied southern North Sea. Limnology and Oceanography. Limnol. Oceanogr., 59(6), 2014, 1958–1972

Lancelot C., P. Passy, N. Gypens (2014). Model assessment of present-day Phaeocystis colony blooms in the Southern North Sea (SNS) by comparison with a reconstructed pristine situation. Harmful algae 37:172-182

Gypens N., A.V. Borges (2014). Increase in dimethylsulfide (DMS) emissions due to eutrophication of coastal waters offsets their reduction due to ocean acidification, Frontiers in Marine Science – Marine Ecosystem Ecology, 1:4, doi: 10.3389/fmars.2014.00004

Gypens N., A.V. Borges, G. Speeckaert, C. Lancelot (2014). The dimethylsulfide cycle in the eutrophied Southern North Sea: A model study integrating phytoplankton and bacterial processes. PLoS ONE 9(1): e85862. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0085862

Terseleer N., N. Gypens, C. Lancelot (2012). Factors controlling the production of domoic acid by Pseudo-nitzschia (Bacillariophyceae): a model study. Harmful Algae, 24: 45-53

Passy P., N. Gypens, G. Billen, J. Garnier, V. Thieu, V. Rousseau, J. Callens, J-Y. Parent, C. Lancelot (2012). A model reconstruction of riverine nutrient fluxes and eutrophication in the Belgian Coastal Zone since 1984. Journal of Marine Systems, 128: 106-122

Gypens N., A. Vanhoutte-Brunier, S. Burton, Y. Liu, V. Rousseau, G. Billen, P. Passy, J. Callens, E. Delhez, C. Lancelot (2013). Modelling phytoplankton succession and nutrient transfer along the Scheldt estuary (Belgium, The Netherlands). Journal of Marine Systems, 128: 89-105

Lancelot C., N. Gypens (2013). Tracing and integrated modelling of natural and anthropogenic effects on hydrosystems: The Scheldt River Basin and adjacent coastal North as a case study. Journal of Marine Systems, 128: 1-2

Gypens N., G. Lacroix, C., Lancelot, A.V. Borges (2011). Seasonal and inter-annual variability of air-sea CO2 fluxes and seawater carbonate chemistry in the Southern North Sea, Progress in Oceanography, 88, 59–77

Lancelot C.,V. Thieu, A. Polard, J. Garnier, G. Billen, W. Hecq, N. Gypens (2011). Cost assessment and ecological effectiveness of nutrient reduction options for mitigating Phaeocystis colony blooms in the Southern North Sea: An integrated modeling approach. Science of the Total Environment 409, 2179–2191

Arndt S., G. Lacroix, N. Gypens, P. Regnier, C. Lancelot (2011). Nutrient dynamics and phytoplankton development along an estuary-coastal zone continuum: A model study. Journal of Marine Systems, 84 (3-4), 49-66

Borges A.V., N. Gypens (2010). Carbonate chemistry responds more strongly to eutrophication than ocean acidification in the coastal zone. Limnology and Oceanography, 55, 346-353

Gypens N., A. V. Borges, C. Lancelot (2009). Effect of eutrophication on air-sea CO2 fluxes in the coastal Southern North Sea: a model study of the past 50 years. Global Change Biology, 15, 1040-1056

Lancelot C., V. Rousseau, N. Gypens (2009). Ecologically based indicators for Phaeocystis disturbance in eutrophied Belgian coastal waters (Southern North Sea) based on field observations and ecological modelling.Journal of Sea Research, 61, 44-49

Gypens, N., C., Lancelot, K., Soetaert (2008). Simple parameterisations for describing N and P diagenetic processes: Application in the North Sea. Progress in Oceanography, 76, 89-110

Lacroix G., K. Ruddick, N. Gypens, C. Lancelot (2007). Modelling the relative impact of Rivers (Scheldt/Rhine/Seine) and Western Channel waters on the nutrient and diatoms/Phaeocystis distributions in Belgian waters (Southern North Sea).Continental Shelf Research, 27(10-11): 1422-1446

Lacroix G., K. Ruddick, Y. Park, N. Gypens, C. Lancelot (2007). Validation of the 3D biogeochemical model MIRO&CO with field nutrient and phytoplankton data and MERIS-derived surface chlorophyll a images. Journal of Marine Systems, 64, 66-88

Lancelot C., N. Gypens, G. Billen, J. Garnier, V. Roubeix (2007). Testing an integrated river-ocean mathematical tool for linking marine eutrophication to land use: The Phaeocystis-dominated Belgian coatsal zone (Southern North Sea) over the past 50 years.Journal of Marine Systems, 64, 216-228

Gypens N., G. Lacroix, C. Lancelot (2007). Causes of variability in diatom and Phaeocystis blooms in Belgian coastal waters between 1989 and 2003: A model study. Journal of Sea Research, 57, 19-35

Lancelot C., Y. Spitz, N. Gypens, K. Ruddick, S. Becquevort, V. Rousseau, G. Lacroix, 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

Gypens N., C. Lancelot, A.V. Borges (2004). Carbon dynamics and CO2 air-sea exchanges in the eutrophied coastal waters of the Southern Bight of the North Sea: a modelling study. Biogeosciences, 1(2), 147-157

Lancelot, C., Staneva, J., Gypens, N. 2002. Modelling the response of coastal ecosystem to nutrient change. Oceanis, 28-3/4:531-556