How plants call for backup to help them stay healthy
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) has awarded 3 million euros to a major new project on micro-organisms and plant health. The consortium carrying out the project is led by NIOO-researcher and professor at Leiden University, Jos Raaijmakers. "Our aim is to disentangle how plants recruit micro-organisms inside their roots in order to help them stay healthy". The project's findings could be a...(read more)
12-03-2020
12-03-2020
Problems with cyanobacteria will get worse if CO2 concentrations keep rising
Problems caused by toxic cyanobacteria are likely to become worse in the future. In an article in the journal Science Advances , scientists from the University of Amsterdam, together with NIOO-researcher Dedmer van de Waal, demonstrate that one common cyanobacterium in particular adapts exceptionally well to rising CO 2 concentrations. Its CO 2 uptake rate can even reach record-breaking levels...(read more)
20-02-2020
20-02-2020
Hidden dots on our world map: protist distribution uncovered
The soil is full of protists: single-celled organisms that aren't animals, plants, bacteria or fungi. Scientists including NIOO's Stefan Geisen have for the first time identified the dominant types of protists in soils from around the world. Their study, published in Science Advances , highlights the importance of this ' hidden majority ' for the belowground ecosystem. Dazzling diversity: (a)...(read more)
19-02-2020
19-02-2020
Together for biodiversity: new award for your initiative
Do you live in a rural area in the Netherlands, and do you have an idea or project that brings together the residents and the farmers in your area with the aim of boosting biodiversity? The Samen voor Biodiversiteitsprijs ('Together for Biodiversity Award') is a new Dutch prize that could see your initiative rewarded with €25,000! "We're looking forward to receiving lots of inspiring ideas, and...(read more)
27-01-2020
27-01-2020
It takes more than two to tango: Microbial communities influence sex and reproduction in animals
It is an awkward idea, but a couple’s ability to have kids may partly depend on who else is present. The reproductive tracts of males and females contain whole communities of micro-organisms. These microbes can have considerable impact on (animal) fertility and reproduction, as shown by Melissah...(read more)
Published 17-01-2020
Researchers united on international road map to insect recovery
It’s no secret that many insects are struggling worldwide. But we could fix these insects’ problems, according to more than 70 scientists from 21 countries. Their road map to insect conservation and recovery is published in Nature Ecology & Evolution this week. From urgent ‘no-regret’ solutions...(read more)
Published 06-01-2020
Inspiration for nature's future
Nature's future was the theme of NIOO's Open Day on Saturday 5 October, an event that only takes place every three years. Around 1600 visitors immersed themselves in the science of nature: ecology! Their impressions - very positive, as it turns out - kick off a short series looking back at NIOO's 2019 and ahead at what's to come. How do we cope with extreme weather and climate change? How can we...(read more)
20-12-2019
20-12-2019
Box tree moth control unlikely to cause higher great tit mortality
It is unlikely that pesticides used against the caterpillars of the box tree moth have caused higher great tit mortality in Dutch cities, according to a study carried out by CLM Research & Advice and the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW). The researchers did find traces of 26 different pesticides in samples taken from dead great tit nestlings. Surprisingly, a number of these could...(read more)
18-12-2019
18-12-2019
Dedmer Van de Waal wins 2020 Yentsch-Schindler Early Career Award
NIOO-researcher Dedmer van de Waal is the winner of the 2020 Yentsch-Schindler Early Career Award, for his fundamental research on the impacts of global change on harmful algal bloom dynamics and toxicity in freshwater and marine systems, and for translating these complex scientific results into language understandable by the public. With the annual Yentsch-Schindler Early Career Award, the US-...(read more)
17-12-2019
17-12-2019
Gardens can be havens for soil animals in towns and cities
The fifth edition of the Dutch Soil Animal Days saw earthworms almost grab top spot thanks to the wet autumn weather. But at the end of the day, woodlice once again emerged as the most-observed soil animal in Dutch gardens. Nearly 1000 'citizen scientists' sent in their observations this year. And...(read more)
Published 12-12-2019
Researchers give input for COP25 climate change summit in Madrid
The UN climate change summit COP25 is underway in Madrid. With a special collection of articles in the journal Science Advances, ecologists aim to update the delegates on the impact of climate change on ecosystems. And in particular on lesser known aspects, such as plant-soil feedbacks. How does climate change influence the interactions between plants and soil organisms such as bacteria, fungi...(read more)
04-12-2019
04-12-2019
Jos Raaijmakers and Wim van der Putten on 2019 list of most influential researchers
The Web of Science Group has published its 2019 list of the world's most influential researchers. Included are two NIOO researchers: Jos Raaijmakers and Wim van der Putten. Only a small fraction of the researcher population makes it on to the highly anticipated list. These are the ones with multiple papers ranking in the top 1% by citations for their field and year of publication. This "...(read more)
20-11-2019
20-11-2019
Paolina Garbeva delivers inaugural lecture at University of Copenhagen
On Tuesday, NIOO researcher Paolina Garbeva delivered her inaugural lecture as Affiliated Professor of Plant-Microbe Interactions at the University of Copenhagen. Paolina Garbeva in Copenhagen, with NIOO colleagues Wietse de Boer (left) and Jos Raaijmakers (right) Paolina Garbeva is Affiliated Professor in the university's Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences (PLEN), section for...(read more)
13-11-2019
13-11-2019
NIOO Research Day 2019: diversity flavours the day
On 7 November, more than 150 NIOO researchers met up in Driebergen for the institute's two-yearly idea-sharing event, the NIOO Research Day. "Many of our favourite dishes owe their taste to a rich blend of herbs and spices", says organiser Mark Zwart. "Likewise, diversity flavoured this day." The Research Days provide a welcome opportunity for members of NIOO's scientific departments - Animal,...(read more)
13-11-2019
13-11-2019
Live-in bacteria protect plants against infections
Micro-organisms living inside plant roots team up to boost the plant’s growth and tolerance to stress. An international research team led by the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) and Wageningen UR reports its discovery in today’s issue of the renowned scientific journal Science . Certain...(read more)
Published 31-10-2019
Welcome to nature's future on NIOO's grand Open Day
NIOO only opens its doors to visitors once every three years. On Saturday 5 October, everyone was welcome to look around our unique building and grounds, talk to our researchers and take part in some forty activities focusing on how nature works and how it is changing. Some 1600 people joined us, to find out more about nature's future! Nature in the 21st century is under constant pressure, and so...(read more)
05-10-2019
05-10-2019
Biology Hall of Fame: vote for the top ten
The Netherlands Insititute of Biology (NIBI) has compiled a list of highlights from 100 years of biology. From this Biology Hall of Fame, voters can choose their top ten inventions, discoveries, publications and/or pioneers. Included in the list are a number of familiar NIOO themes and faces. Voting ends on 30 September. To mark the centenary of its publication Bionieuws - previously Vakblad voor...(read more)
16-09-2019
16-09-2019
BES equality & diversity award for NIOO researcher Kelly Ramirez
One of the winners of this year's British Ecological Society (BES) awards is NIOO soil researcher Kelly Ramirez. She's a founder of 500 Women Scientists, an international grassroots organisation pledging to build an inclusive, diverse scientific community. Each year, the British Ecological Society recognises a small number of distinguished ecologists whose work has benefited the scientific...(read more)
11-09-2019
11-09-2019
Twenty million euros for the next generation of sustainable crops
Six consortia of top researchers are being awarded a total of 113.8 million euros to conduct groundbreaking scientific research programmes in the coming years, the Dutch Research Council (NWO) has announced. One of the principal members of the MiCRop consortium is NIOO researcher Jos Raaijmaker. He and his team will delve into the beneficial effects of the microbial community around crop plants,...(read more)
30-08-2019
30-08-2019
Majority of the world's most abundant creatures live in the far north
The first worldwide analysis of soil nematodes reveals that they are most abundant in arctic areas rather than in the tropics. The study was started by researchers from the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), and uses data from a global network of soil ecologists. They explain in the...(read more)
Published 24-07-2019
