The Freshwater Habitats Team deals with biodiversity, ecological assessment, management and restoration of lentic and lotic habitats. Beyond general aquatic ecology, its know-how covers ecologically important but often somewhat more challenging biota, in particular macrophytes (including stoneworts and non-native species), diatoms and various invertebrates, e.g. dragon flies, water beetles and molluscs. Much of the team’s work concerns aquatic habitats, plants and invertebrate species enjoying European protection, e.g. the monitoring of their conservation status and environment throughout the region. The team also maintains the GIS layer that serves as the geographic reference for stagnant waters in Flanders  and collaborates with external partners in research projects when opportunities arise.