Beechnuts, the seeds of European beech (Fagus sylvatica), are an essential food resource for a variety of species in the forest, such as wild boar (Sus scrofa), small rodents, and several bird species. Interactions between species and seeds, being it seed predation or seed removal, are well recorded in the literature, but this information comes from different locations and time periods. While this allows to build a theoretical species interaction network (i.e., meta web) of those interactions that could occur between species if they co-occur, realised interactions in an area of interest need to be verified by field observations.

NIOO has recently set the ambition to harmonise data collection and strengthen data management across the institute. This will support NIOO's Open Science ambitions as the national hub for ecology and forms part of the broader NIOO Open Data for Ecology (NODE) project.

Within NIOO, there is a vast number of small, fragmented datasets collected by numerous individual researchers in small projects. These data are often low-volume and heterogeneous in format and methodology, which is typical in the ecology and evolution domain (the so-called long tail of science).

The interoperability and interpretation of these data could be improved by harmonising the data formats used and ensuring that future data collection can be set up to adhere to community accepted data standards.

To achieve this, we first need to understand which data practices are currently in use, how they relate to one another, and which overarching standards should be applied across the institute.

How do young birds decide when to leave home, where to go, and where to breed? Understanding natal dispersal is important because it impacts spatial distribution, gene flow and population dynamics, with implications for conservation and management.

Do you have experience in database engineering, and would you enjoy working in a vibrant, internationally-oriented ecological research institute? Then we're looking for you!