NIOO at Delfsail: news from the 'poop' deck
How did the Netherlands Institute of Ecology end up at Delfsail 2016, one of the biggest events for historic tall ships in the Netherlands?(read more)
08-07-2016
08-07-2016
Marcel Visser: long-term research is "essential"
In the July issue of Nature , NIOO's head of Animal Ecology, Marcel Visser, argues the case for long-term research. It's of "essential" importance if scientists are to ask new questions about complex subjects such as climate change. Marcel Visser (NIOO-KNAW) Visser's plea is in response to an article published in the same issue of Nature about the unequal rates at which recurring seasonal events...(read more)
01-07-2016
01-07-2016
Nocturnal light makes birds change their behaviour
Songbirds change their behaviour and timing when nestboxes are exposed to artificial light at night. "They become light sleepers, literally and metaphorically", says Maaike de Jong (NIOO-KNAW). She successfully defended her thesis on the effects of different colours of light at Wageningen...(read more)
Published 21-06-2016
The soil and its immune system: Jos Raaijmakers in Science
There are similarities between the body's immune system and the way in which healthy soils suppress diseases, writes NIOO's head of Microbial Ecology, Jos Raaijmakers, in Science . But does that mean we'll be able to 'vaccinate' the soil in the same way we do people ? Jos Raaijmakers, NIOO-KNAW In their 'Perspectives' piece for Science , Jos Raaijmakers and his co-author Mark Mazzola give an...(read more)
17-06-2016
17-06-2016
'Citizen scientists' needed for lakewater campaign
Is there a temperature difference between a Turkish lake and an Irish lake? Do leaves break down faster in a lake in Serbia or in Sweden? And are Italian lakes the cleanest in the whole of Europe? Laura Seelen (AKWA) preparing to carry out a tea bag test Aquatic Knowledge Centre Wageningen (AKWA) is launching a new campaign this summer, together with ten scientists and ten citizens from around...(read more)
10-06-2016
10-06-2016
Utrecht students expand tea bag challenge
Thirteen biology students from Utrecht University have been busy around the NIOO-building for the past two months, submerging and retrieving more than 1000 tea bags. The experiment was part of their course in Aquatic Ecology. Utrecht students at work in the NIOO 'Wadi' (photograph: Ed Wien ) Developed in 2013 by researchers from Utrecht University, NIOO and the University of Iceland, the Tea Bag...(read more)
06-06-2016
06-06-2016
Predicting the impact of climate change on population size
How can we tell if climate change affects the population dynamics of a species as well as its behaviour? An international team led by NIOO-researcher Martijn van de Pol presents a novel approach.(read more)
Published 02-06-2016
Redefining Nature: Koert van Mensvoort
It's time to redefine the relationship between nature and technology, said artist, philosopher and technologist Koert van Mensvoort in his seminar at NIOO.(read more)
31-05-2016
31-05-2016
First overview of global soil biodiversity published
The soil is teeming with life, much of it unknown or neglected. For the first time, information has been brought together in one place about how soils form, where different soil types are found and what organisms you'll find living in them. Wim van der Putten (NIOO) is one of the editors of the first-ever Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas. "There is very little dialogue between the soil science...(read more)
27-05-2016
27-05-2016
No shortage of developments in Dutch mammal atlas
Out now: a new Atlas of Dutch Mammals that charts the distribution, behaviour, ecology and population trends of more than one hundred species. There's been no shortage of developments in the twenty years since the last atlas, says one of the editors, NIOO-researcher Kamiel Spoelstra . De nieuwe Zoogdieratlas Kamiel Spoelstra mainly edited, organised and wrote material for the chapter in the atlas...(read more)
24-05-2016
24-05-2016
'Exposed': two faces of light pollution at NIOO
Throughout May, NIOO is hosting 'Exposed', an exhibition by Dutch photographer Tessa van Rijn. The exhibition focuses on light pollution.(read more)
23-05-2016
23-05-2016
Jasper Wubs awarded 'Zilveren Parnassia' prize
NIOO-researcher Jasper Wubs has won the Zilveren Parnassia ('silver grass-of-Parnassus') award. Prof. mr. Pieter van Vollenhoven presented him with the prize after delivering his Westhoff Lecture on 18 May at Radboud University Nijmegen. Wubs was awarded the Zilveren Parnassia for his research on soil transplantations in the sandy soils of the Veluwe. With this research, he has demonstrated that...(read more)
19-05-2016
19-05-2016
Lapwing in the limelight
It's National Bird Week in the Netherlands. There's special attention this year for one of our most iconic farmland birds: the lapwing.(read more)
17-05-2016
17-05-2016
Ecology & Epigenetics: a natural match?
Ten years ago few ecologists took epigenetics seriously. Now Molecular Ecology has dedicated a special issue to the topic, with Koen Verhoeven (NIOO) as guest editor.(read more)
10-05-2016
10-05-2016
Applying fertilizer? Don't forget about pollination!
In a new post on The Applied Ecologist's Blog, Stijn van Gils talks about a semi-field experiment that produced some surprising results.(read more)
22-04-2016
22-04-2016
Ecological models as a virtual reality
Why do certain types of algae dominate in a lake? What is the impact of climate change on this? Just a few questions that NIOO researchers hoped to answer with the models PCLake and PCDitch they developed. Virtual reality Researchers use the ecological models as a virtual reality, in which experiments are carried out that cannot easily be done in the real world. These models are important for the...(read more)
19-04-2016
19-04-2016
NIOO-KNAW signs 200th Green Deal 'Green roofs'
On behalf of NIOO, managing director Petra van den Berg has signed the 200th Green Deal: Green Roofs, Phase 2. On Thursday, 14 April, economics minister Henk Kamp signed Green Deal Green Roofs, Phase 2 at the Innovation Expo, with 27 representatives from municipalities, provinces, water boards, federations, businesses and knowledge institutions...including NIOO. This deal was special, because it...(read more)
19-04-2016
19-04-2016
'Excellent' evaluation for Metawad-project
The Wadden Academy has presented its evaluation of the Metawad-project, which collects data about migratory birds in the Dutch Wadden Sea. NIOO is a partner in the project.(read more)
15-04-2016
15-04-2016
'Beleef de Lente' project: great tit lays first egg!
Beleef de Lente ("experience spring"), the Netherlands Society for the Protection of Birds' annual webcam project, is in full swing.(read more)
11-04-2016
11-04-2016
American Naturalist highlights: Arie van Noordwijk
Counting down to the 150th anniversary of The American Naturalist , contributors choose articles from the journal's past that deserve a second look. The latest pick is a paper by NIOO's Arie van Noordwijk from 1986. Arie van Noordwijk "There are many reasons to treasure this paper", writes Jessica Metcalf, Princeton's Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Public Affairs ,...(read more)
11-04-2016
11-04-2016
