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Restoring and rewilding ecosystems
It is a topical issue and has long been a research interest of NIOO: how do you restore nature? For example, former farmland can be made more suitable for nature again, and areas connected to each other. This approach could also help to mitigate the consequences of climate change. Furthermore, a growing amount of knowledge about rewilding has become available in recent years. It has become clear that, in the long run, rewilding yields strong ecosystems with more biodiversity. -
Lejoly Group
In the Lejoly Group, we study how soil biota can influence soil functioning in natural and managed ecosystems. We are particularly interested in soil organic matter dynamics and the role that soil biota can play in enhancing soil carbon storage. -
Seasonal timing
Species can adapt over the course of time. As the lives of species are altered by climate change, a different seasonal timing could make them adapt to an early spring, for example. How does this work, and what are the limits to such adaptations? -
Adaptation of species
During recent centuries, human activities have dramatically changed the habitats of wild animals, plants and micro-organisms. Ecologists at NIOO are interested in how species can adapt to these rapid changes, for example through (micro)evolution. The ability of organisms to do this has a major impact on biodiversity and the functioning of ecosystems. -
Dealing with bluegreen algae
Worldwide, excessive nutrient loads in lakes and reservoirs have led to the rapid increase of harmful cyanobacteria. Blooms of these algae block the use of surface water for drinking, irrigation and recreation. Climate change is expected to further increase the frequency, duration, and magnitude of cyanobacterial blooms. Aquatic ecologists from NIOO are busy gaining more detailed insights into cyanobacterial blooms across scales, in future climates and in respect to toxicity. -
Impact of nutrients
Nutrient availability in natural ecosystems has increased due to anthropogenic activities like spill-over from agricultural ecosystems. In the Netherlands, this has led to the acidification of natural areas for example. At NIOO, we aim to understand the impact of nutrients on natural systems in more detail, to help to bring back the balance. -
Greenhouse gases
Climate change is amplified by greenhouse gas emissions. At NIOO, we work on the fundamental understanding of how gases such as methane, carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide influence ecosystems. Our knowledge of carbon and nitrogen cycles provides insight into the potential of greenhouse mitigation tools. In a Dutch freshwater lake or the soil of a tropical rain forest. -
Wubs Group: Soils as complex adaptive systems, supporting nature and society
Like a Swiss army knife, soils perform a range of functions; they support primary production, cycle nutrients, store carbon, purify water, support biodiversity – important functions on which society and nature both depend. However, also like a Swiss army knife, not all functions can be put to maximum use all of the time. We aim to understand how soil functions are regulated, the role of soil biodiversity in driving soil functioning, and we test how soils can be managed for optimal functioning and thus soil health. -
Enhancing Soil Biodiversity
At NIOO, we are on a mission to explore the strange world beneath our feet, to seek out new soil-borne life, uncover new miniature civilisations, and to boldly take humankind where it could not go before. -
Weerman Group
With a new research group helmed by Ellen Weerman, NIOO and HAS University of Applied Sciences are asking how alternative forms of agriculture can contribute to improving water quality and biodiversity, through smart land use.