A team of ecologists and microbiologists that includes NIOO's Paul Bodelier has identified a unique organism in samples from a Romanian cave nicknamed 'Stinky Mountain'. The novel bacteria can grow on methane, an important greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

‘If no action is taken to better understand and reduce the impact of climate change on insects, we will drastically limit our chances of a sustainable future with healthy ecosystems.’ This warning in a very topical paper in Ecological Monographs comes from 70 scientists from 19 countries around the world. But, they also provide ways to help insects in a warming world complete with management strategies.

Let nature have its way and it will surprise you, NIOO-researcher Liesbeth Bakker said at her inauguration in Wageningen on 30 September as Europe's first professor of Rewilding Ecology.

Between 23 September and 5 October, we're asking you to go on a safari in your own garden, do the survey, and spread the word to as many people as possible.

If you're lucky enough to go out the back entrance of the NIOO building, you'll have noticed the big metal structure opposite the Food Forest. It's by artist Art van Triest and just like with our own research, there's more to it than meets the eye. Mark Zwart (Microbial Ecology) tells the story.

To understand and halt the decline of oystercatchers in the Netherlands, spatiotemporal variation and its causes must be taken into account. Magali Frauendorf defended her PhD thesis on the topic in Nijmegen on 14 September.

Only about 11 to 18 percent of ecological research reaches its full informative potential. Ignoring this problem is costly. The responsibility to solve it lies with funders, publishers, research institutions as well as with the researchers themselves.

Earlier this month, His Royal Highness King Willem-Alexander paid a working visit to the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW). The visit included a tour, an introduction to NIOO's three major research themes, and a number of hands-on ecological measurements and experiments in which the King took part.

Dedmer van de Waal has been named Professor by special appointment of Aquatic Functional Ecology at the University of Amsterdam (UvA).

You are now on our brand new website. With a new look and feel, and a spotlight on the three major ecological themes that our researchers are working on.

On 6 July, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander will pay a working visit to the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) in Wageningen.  

Fields and meadows provide a range of key services, as long as the soil is healthy. A group of researchers and companies will study how farmlands can be returned to multifunctionality.