An international research team led by the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), the University of San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) and the Galápagos Science Centre (GSC) is to search for invisible life on the Galápagos Islands. The diversity of bacteria and other microscopic organisms may not be evident to the naked eye, but it is essential to nature. The research team will uncover the yet unknown microbial world that Darwin could not see. Specific focus is given to microorganisms associated with the islands' giant daisies (Scalesia): unique endemic plants that are currently threatened by extinction.

An international research team led by the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) has been searching for invisible life in the iconic Galápagos Islands. Part three.

An international research team led by the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) is searching for invisible life in the iconic Galápagos Islands. Part two.

An international research team led by the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) is searching for invisible life in the iconic Galápagos Islands.

Grazing by geese can cause a lot of damage to agricultural crops. Goose management aims to reduce such damages, for example by actively reducing population sizes.

Yesterday I digged out the teabags that have been buried in the ground (under the snow as well!) for 3 months to measure decomposition rates in a standardised way.

This summer I grew potato plants in my experimental containers. Potato plants are famous for producing potatoes and at the end of the summer I was left with kilos of them.

I set-up the main mesocosm experiment in the containers using sterile soil as background and 4 donor soils with varying levels and traits of fungi.

In this post I will look back on our past project on using plant-soil feedbacks to improve the growth of Chrysanthemum, an important cut flower crop in The Netherlands.

Research is always team work and thus, I am looking for more members to join our team!

Just realized I have not posted in a while and that I will be away this week as well. Things have not been standing still here and in past few weeks a lot has happened.

I described my ideal soil and launched the search for the best soils in the Netherlands. I’ve got quite some good nominations so far.