My research
I study the impact of global change on harmful phytoplankton blooms. Specifically, I am interested in how physiological responses at the cellular level can explain ecological processes at a population and community level. In my work, I follow the relative abundances of basic inorganic elements like carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) into the cells where these are converted into functional compounds such as carbohydrates, amino acids and secondary metabolites, including toxins (i.e. biological stoichiometry). Furthermore, I investigate how changes in the relative abundances of these biomolecules may have consequence for the virulence of parasites. Understanding mechanisms underlying phytoplankton responses towards climate-driven changes in the relative abundances of elements will help to predict the winners in our future waters.
My research involves the following topics:
2018 - present: Senior scientist at the Department of Aquatic Ecology, NIOO-KNAW
2019 - 2021: Acting head of the Department of Aquatic Ecology, NIOO-KNAW
2013 - 2018: Tenure track at the Department of Aquatic Ecology, NIOO-KNAW
2010 - 2012: Postdoc at the department of Marine Biogeosciences, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven,Germany
2005 - 2010: Ph.D. Aquatic Microbiology; University of Amsterdam & NIOO-KNAW
2003 - 2005: M.Sc. Hydrology and Water Quality Management/Aquatic Ecology, Wageningen University
1999 - 2003: B.Hons. Environmental Sciences/Water Management, Van Hall Institute Leeuwarden
Awards
ASLO 2020 Yentsch-Schindler Early Career Award
ISSHA 2016 Patrick Gentien Young Scientist Award
2020 - present: Journal of Ecology
2019 - present: Harmful Algae
2018 - present: Aquatic Sciences
2015 - 2020: Ecology Letters
2019 - 2020: Toxins (Guest Editor 'Environmental Drivers of Algal and Cyanobacterial Toxin Dynamics')
2014 - 2018: Frontiers in Aquatic Microbiolog (Guest Editor 'Progress in Ecological Stoichiometry')
Committees
2018 - Present: Chair of the National Cyanobacteria Platform (funded by STOWA - the Foundation for Applied Water Research )
2018 - Present: Vice President (Council Member 2018-2021) International Society for the Study of Harmful Algae (ISSHA);
2017 - Present: Organizing Committee Netherlands Annual Ecology Meeting (NAEM; chair since 2020)
2017-2019: Member of Steering Committee STW (Technology Foundation) Future Perspectives on Economy (in Dutch)
Citation overview
- Development of microfluidic platforms to study algae on single-cell level (Douwe de Bruijn, Twente University)
- Improving trophic transfer in the ecosystem restoration project Marker Wadden (Hui Jin, NIOO-KNAW)
- Role of fungal parasites in aquatic food webs (Dr. Alena Gsell, NIOO-KNAW)
- Harfmul cyanobacteiral bloom dynamics (Dr. Thijs Frenken, NIOO-KNAW)
- Carbon fractionation in marine dinoflagellates (Dr. Karen Brandenburg, Utrecht University/NIOO-KNAW)
- When nature strikes - Species extinction or adaptation? (Dr. Aleksandra Cvetkoska, NIOO-KNAW)
PhD students
- Impacts of climate change and eutrophication on the stoichiometry of colony formation in harmful cyanobacteria (Zhipeng Duan, Hohai University)
- Global change impacts on the eco-physiology of harmful algal blooms (Karen Brandenburg, NIOO-KNAW - Defended thesis on 5 June 2019)
- The role of parasites in shaping phytoplankton communities (Thijs Frenken, NIOO-KNAW - Defended thesis on 18 April 2018)
- Carbon retention by phytoplankton and macrophytes in freshwater lakes (Mandy Velthuis, NIOO-KNAW - Defended thesis on 19 March 2018)
- Trade-offs in phytoplankton communities under global change (Marika Schulhof, UCSD)
- Good tidings for red-tides? (Tim Eberlein, AWI - Defended thesis on 4 May 2017)
- The N:P stoichiometry of algal biomolecular composition (Baoyan Gao, Guangzhou University)
- δ13C of dinoflagellates: a future proxy for past CO2 levels? (Mirja Hoins, Utrecht University/AWI - Defended thesis on 29 February 2016)
- Impacts of climate change on N2 fixing cyanobacteria (Thomas Jephcott, PhD student, The University of Sydney)
Post-docs
- Elevated pCO2 and the stoichiometry and toxicity of freshwater cyanobacteria (Dr. Jing Liu, Guest at NIOO-KNAW)
- Stoichiometry of decomposition (Dr. Joost Keuskamp, NIOO-KNAW)
- Stoichiometric regulation of cyanobacterial volatile organic compoiunds (Dr. Ted Harris, Kansas University)
- The adaptive potential of heterogenic dinoflagellate populations of the toxigenic Alexandrium ostenfeldii (Dr. Sylke Wohlrab, AWI)
- Combined effects of Ocean Acidification and nutrient limitation on coccolithophores (Dr. Sebastian Rokitta, post-doc, AWI)
Visiting professors
- Eutrophication and harmful cyanobacterial blooms (Prof. dr. Hans Paerl, UNC Insitute of Marine Sciences)
- Impacts of climate change on the ecological stoichiometry of viral infections (Dr. Kai Cheng, Hubei University)