Dr. ir. Dedmer van de Waal
Head of Department ad interimAquatic Ecology |
Research expertiseAquatic ecology Biological stoichiometry Cyanobacteria Phytoplankton ecology Phytoplankton parasites Phytoplankton toxins
Page last updated: 24-02-2020
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:
- Biological stoichiometry of phytoplankton toxins
- Climate change impacts on harmful algal blooms
- Intra-specific diversity and trade-offs in harmful algal populations
- Ecological stoichiometry of phytoplankton parasites
Employment
2019 - present: Acting head of the Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, the Netherlands
2018 - present: Senior scientist at the Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, the Netherlands
2013 - 2018: Tenure track at the Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, the Netherlands
2010 - 2012: Postdoc at the department of Marine Biogeosciences, Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Bremerhaven,Germany
Education
2005 - 2010: Ph.D. Aquatic Microbiology, University of Amsterdam (UvA) & Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (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
Editorial boards
2019 - present: Harmful Algae
2018 - present: Aquatic Sciences
2015 - present: Ecology Letters
2019 - present: Toxins (Guest Editor 'Environmental Drivers of Algal and Cyanobacterial Toxin Dynamics')
2014 - 2018: Frontiers in Aquatic Microbiolog (Guest Editor 'Progress in Ecological Stoichiometry')
Citation overview
Current post-docs
- Role of fungal parasites in aquatic food webs (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)
Past group members/guests
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)
- Van de Waal, D., & Litchman, E. (2020). Multiple global change stressor effects on phytoplankton nutrient acquisition in a future ocean. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 375. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0706
- Wohlrab, S., John, U., Klemm, K., Eberlein, T., Forsberg Grivogiannis, A. M., Krock, B.,... Van de Waal, D. (2020). Ocean acidification increases domoic acid contents during a spring to summer succession of coastal phytoplankton. Harmful Algae, 92, [101697]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2019.101697
- Ji, X., Verspagen, J., Van de Waal, D., Rost, B., & Huisman, J. (2020). Phenotypic plasticity of carbon fixation stimulates cyanobacterial blooms at elevated CO2. Science advances, 6(8), [eaax2926]. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aax2926
- Frenken, T., Miki, T., Kagami, M., Van de Waal, D. B., Van Donk, E., Rohrlack, T., & Gsell, A. S. (2020). The potential of zooplankton in constraining chytrid epidemics in phytoplankton hosts. Ecology, 101(1), [e02900]. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2900
- Cheng, K., Frenken, T., Brussaard, C. P. D., & Van de Waal, D. B. (2019). Cyanophage Propagation in the Freshwater Cyanobacterium Phormidium Is Constrained by Phosphorus Limitation and Enhanced by Elevated pCO2. Frontiers in Microbiology, 10, [617]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2019.00617
- Sui, Y., Muys, M., Van de Waal, D. B., D'Adamo, S., Vermeir, P., Fernandes, T. V., & Vlaeminck, S. E. (2019). Enhancement of co-production of nutritional protein and carotenoids in Dunaliella salina using a two-phase cultivation assisted by nitrogen level and light intensity. Bioresource Technology, 287(September 2019), [121398]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121398
- Van de Waal, D. B., Brandenburg, K. M., Keuskamp, J., Trimborn, S., Rokitta, S., Kranz, S. A., & Rost, B. (2019). Highest plasticity of carbon-concentrating mechanisms in earliest evolved phytoplankton. Limnology & Oceanography Letters, 4(2), 37-43. https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10102
- Brandenburg, K. M., Velthuis, M., & Van de Waal, D. B. (2019). Meta-analysis reveals enhanced growth of marine harmful algae from temperate regions with warming and elevated CO2 levels. Global Change Biology, 25(8), 2607-2618. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14678
- Schulhof, M. A., Shurin, J. B., Declerck, S. A. J., & Van de Waal, D. B. (2019). Phytoplankton growth and stoichiometric responses to warming, nutrient addition and grazing depend on lake productivity and cell size. Global Change Biology, 2751-2762. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14660
- Hillebrand, H., Blasius, B., Borer, E. T., Chase, J. M., Downing, J., Eriksson, B. K.,... Ryabov, A. B. (2018). Biodiversity change is uncoupled from species richness trends: consequences for conservation and monitoring. Journal of Applied Ecology, 55(1), 169-184. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12959
- Gao, B., Liu, J., Zhang, C., & Van de Waal, D. B. (2018). Biological stoichiometry of oleaginous microalgal lipid synthesis: The role of N:P supply ratios and growth rate on microalgal elemental and biochemical composition. Algal Research, 32, 353-361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.algal.2018.04.019
- Van de Waal, D. B., Elser, J. J., Martiny, A. C., Sterner, R. W., & Cotner, J. B. (2018). Editorial: Progress in Ecological Stoichiometry. Frontiers in Microbiology, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.01957
- Frenken, T., Wierenga, J. H. W., van Donk, E., Declerck, S. A. J., de Senerpont Domis, L., Rohrlack, T., & Van de Waal, D. B. (2018). Fungal parasites of a toxic inedible cyanobacterium provide food to zooplankton. Limnology and Oceanography, 63(6), 2384-2393. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.10945
- Kazanjian, G., Velthuis, M., Aben, R. C., Stephan, S., Peeters, E. T. H. M., Frenken, T.,... Hilt, S. (2018). Impacts of warming on top-down and bottom-up controls of periphyton production. Scientific Reports, 8(1), [9901]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-26348-x
- Brandenburg, K. M., Wohlrab, S., John, U., Kremp, A., Jerney, J., Krock, B., & Van de Waal, D. B. (2018). Intraspecific trait variation and trade-offs within and across populations of a toxic dinoflagellate. Ecology Letters, 21(10), 1561-1571. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13138
- Van de Waal, D. B., Guillebault, D., Alfonso, A., Rodríguez, I., Botana, L. M., Bijkerk, R., & Medlin, L. K. (2018). Molecular detection of harmful cyanobacteria and expression of their toxin genes in Dutch lakes using multi-probe RNA chips. Harmful Algae, 72, 25-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2017.12.007
- Frenken, T., Wierenga, J., Gsell, A. S., van Donk, E., Rohrlack, T., & Van de Waal, D. B. (2017). Changes in N:P Supply Ratios affect the Ecological Stoichiometry of a Toxic Cyanobacterium and its Fungal Parasite. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8, [1015]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01015
- Cheng, K., Van de Waal, D. B., Niu, X. Y., & Zhao, Y. J. (2017). Combined Effects of Elevated pCO2 and Warming Facilitate Cyanophage Infections. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8, [fmicb.2017.01096]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01096
- Brandenburg, K. M., de Senerpont Domis, L. N., Wohlrab, S., Krock, B., John, U., van Scheppingen, Y.,... Van de Waal, D. B. (2017). Combined physical, chemical and biological factors shape Alexandrium ostenfeldii blooms in the Netherlands. Harmful Algae, 63, 146-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2017.02.004
- Aben, R. C. H., Barros, N., van Donk, E., Frenken, T., Hilt, S., Kazanjian, G.,... Kosten, S. (2017). Cross continental increase in methane ebullition under climate change. Nature Communications, 8(1), [1682]. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01535-y
- Eberlein, T., Wohlrab, S., Rost, B., John, U., Bach, L. T., Riebesell, U., & Van de Waal, D. B. (2017). Effects of ocean acidification on primary production in a coastal North Sea phytoplankton community. PLoS One, 12(3), [e0172594]. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0172594
- Meunier, C. L., Broersma, M., El-Sabaawi, R., Halvorson, H., Herstoff, E. M., Van de Waal, D. B.,... Litchman, E. (2017). From elements to function: toward unifying ecological stoichiometry and trait-based ecology. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 5, [fenvs.2017.00018]. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2017.00018
- Grutters, B. M. C., Saccomanno, B., Gross, E. M., Van de Waal, D. B., van Donk, E., & Bakker, E. S. (2017). Growth strategy, phylogeny and stoichiometry determine the allelopathic potential of native and non-native plants. Oikos, 126(12). https://doi.org/10.1111/oik.03956
- Frenken, T., Alacid, E., Berger, S. A., Bourne, E. C., Gerphagnon, M., Grossart, H-P.,... Agha, R. (2017). Integrating chytrid fungal parasites into plankton ecology: research gaps and needs. Environmental Microbiology, 19(10), 3802-3822. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.13827
- Teurlincx, S., Velthuis, M., Seroka, D., Govaert, L., van Donk, E., Van de Waal, D. B., & Declerck, S. A. J. (2017). Species sorting and stoichiometric plasticity control community C:P ratio of first-order aquatic consumers. Ecology Letters, 20(6), 751-760. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12773
- Fernandes, T. V., Suárez-Muñoz, M., Trebuch, L. M., Verbraak, P. J., & Van de Waal, D. B. (2017). Toward an Ecologically Optimized N:P Recovery from Wastewater by Microalgae. Frontiers in Microbiology, 8, 1742. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01742
- Velthuis, M., de Senerpont Domis, L. N., Frenken, T., Stephan, S., Kazanjian, G., Aben, R.,... Van de Waal, D. B. (2017). Warming advances top-down control and reduces producer biomass in a freshwater plankton community. Ecosphere, 8(1), [e01651]. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1651
- Hoins, M., Eberlein, T., Van de Waal, D. B., Sluijs, A., Reichart, G-J., & Rost, B. (2016). CO2-dependent carbon isotope fractionation in dinoflagellates relates to their inorganic carbon fluxes. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 481, 9-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2016.04.001
- Harris, T. D., Smith, V. H., Graham, J. L., Van de Waal, D. B., Tedesco, L. P., & Clercin, N. (2016). Combined effects of nitrogen to phosphorus ratios and nitrogen speciation on cyanobacterial metabolite concentrations in eutrophic Midwestern USA reservoirs. Inland Waters, 6(2), 199-210. https://doi.org/10.5268/IW-6.2.938
- Hoins, M., Eberlein, T., Groβmann, C. H., Brandenburg, K., Reichart, G-J., Rost, B.,... Van de Waal, D. B. (2016). Combined Effects of Ocean Acidification and Light or Nitrogen Availabilities on 13C Fractionation in Marine Dinoflagellates. PLoS One, 11(5), e0154370. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154370
- Liu, J., van Oosterhout, E., Faassen, E. J., Lurling, M., Helmsing, N. R., & Van de Waal, D. B. (2016). Elevated pCO2 causes a shift towards more toxic microcystin variants in nitrogen limited Microcystis aeruginosa. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 92(2), [fiv159]. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiv159
- Eberlein, T., Van de Waal, D. B., Brandenburg, K. M., John, U., Voss, M., Achterberg, E. P., & Rost, B. (2016). Interactive effects of ocean acidification and nitrogen limitation on two bloom-forming dinoflagellate species. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 543, 127-140. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11568
- Martens, H., Van de Waal, D. B., Brandenburg, K. M., Krock, B., & Tillmann, U. (2016). Salinity effects on growth and toxin production in an Alexandrium ostenfeldii (Dinophyceae) isolate from The Netherlands. Journal of Plankton Research, 38(5), 1302-1316. https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbw053
- Gobler, C. J., Burkholder, J. M., Davis, T. W., Harke, M. J., Johengen, T., Stow, C. A., & Van de Waal, D. B. (2016). The dual role of nitrogen supply in controlling the growth and toxicity of cyanobacterial blooms. Harmful Algae, 54(April), 87-97. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2016.01.010
- Lewandowska, A. M., Biermann, A., Borer, E. T., Cebrián-Piqueras, M. A., Declerck, S. A. J., De Meester, L.,... Hillebrand, H. (2016). The influence of balanced and imbalanced resource supply on biodiversity–functioning relationship across ecosystems. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 371(1694), [1694]. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2015.0283
- Frenken, T., Velthuis, M., De Senerpont Domis, L., Stephan, S., Aben, R. C., Kosten, S.,... Van de Waal, D. B. (2016). Warming accelerates termination of a phytoplankton spring bloom by fungal parasites. Global Change Biology, 22(1), 299-309. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13095
- Van de Waal, D. B., Tillmann, U., Martens, H., Krock, B., van Scheppingen, Y., & John, U. (2015). Characterization of multiple isolates from an Alexandrium ostenfeldii bloom in The Netherlands. Harmful Algae, 49, 94-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2015.08.002
- John, U., Tillmann, U., Hülskötter, J., Alpermann, T. J., Wohlrab, S., & Van de Waal, D. (2015). Intraspecific facilitation by allelochemical mediated grazing protection within a toxigenic dinoflagellate population. Proceedings of the Royal Society B-Biological Sciences, 282(1798), [20141268]. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2014.1268
- Hoins, M., Van de Waal, D. B., Eberlein, T., Reichart, G-J., Rost, B., & Sluijs, A. (2015). Stable carbon isotope fractionation of organic cyst-forming dinoflagellates: evaluating the potential for a CO2 proxy. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 160, 267-276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2015.04.001
- De Senerpont Domis, L. N., Van de Waal, D. B., Helmsing, N. R., Van Donk, E., & Mooij, W. M. (2014). Community stoichiometry in a changing world: combined effects of warming and eutrophication on phytoplankton dynamics. Ecology, 95(6), 1485-1495. https://doi.org/10.1890/13-1251.1
- Verspagen, J. M. H., Van de Waal, D. B., Finke, J. F., Visser, P. M., & Huisman, J. (2014). Contrasting effects of rising CO2 on primary production and ecological stoichiometry at different nutrient levels. Ecology Letters, 17(8), 951-960. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12298
- Eberlein, T., Van de Waal, D. B., & Rost, B. (2014). Differential effects of ocean acidification on carbon acquisition in two bloom-forming dinoflagellate species. Physiologia Plantarum, 151(4), 468-479. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppl.12137
- Van de Waal, D. B., Eberlein, T., John, U., Wohlrab, S., & Rost, B. (2014). Impact of elevated pCO2 on paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin content and composition in Alexandrium tamarense. Toxicon, (February 2014), 58-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.11.011
- Rabouille, S. A. M., Van de Waal, D. B., Matthijs, H. C. P., & Huisman, J. (2014). Nitrogen fixation and respiratory electron transport in the cyanobacterium Cyanothece under different light:dark cycles. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 87(3), 630-638. https://doi.org/10.1111/1574-6941.12251
- Verspagen, J. M. H., Van de Waal, D. B., Finke, J. F., Visser, P. M., Van Donk, E., & Huisman, J. (2014). Rising CO2 levels will intensify phytoplankton blooms in eutrophic and hypertrophic lakes. PLoS One, 9(8), [e104325]. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0104325
- Van de Waal, D. B., Eberlein, T., Bublitz, Y., John, U., & Rost, B. (2014). Shake it easy: a gently mixed continuous culture system for dinoflagellates. Journal of Plankton Research, 36(3), 889-894. https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/fbt138
- Van de Waal, D. B., Smith, V. H., Declerck, S. A. J., Stam, E. C. M., & Elser, J. J. (2014). Stoichiometric regulation of phytoplankton toxins. Ecology Letters, 17(6), 736-742. https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.12280
- Hillebrand, H., Cowles, J. M., Lewandowska, A., Van de Waal, D. B., & Plum, C. (2014). Think ratio! A stoichiometric view on biodiversity-ecosystem functioning research. Basic and Applied Ecology, 15(6), 465-474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.baae.2014.06.003
- Van de Waal, D. B., Tillmann, U., Zhu, M., Koch, B. P., Rost, B., & John, U. (2013). Nutrient pulse induces dynamic changes in cellular C:N:P, amino acids, and paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins in Alexandrium tamarense. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 493, 57-69. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10532
- Van de Waal, D. B., John, U., Ziveri, P., Reichart, G. J., Hoins, M., Sluijs, A., & Rost, B. (2013). Ocean acidification reduces growth and calcification in a marine dinoflagellate. PLoS One, 8(6), [e65987]. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0065987
- Van de Waal, D. B., Verspagen, J. M. H., Finke, J. F., Vournazou, V., Immers, A., Kardinaal, W. E. A.,... Huisman, J. (2011). Reversal in competitive dominance of a toxic versus non-toxic cyanobacterium in response to rising CO2. ISME Journal, 5(9), 1438-1450. https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2011.28
- Van de Waal, D. B., Verschoor, A. M., Verspagen, J. M. H., Van Donk, E., & Huisman, J. (2010). Climate-driven changes in the ecological stoichiometry of aquatic ecosystems. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 8(3), 145-152. https://doi.org/10.1890/080178
- Van de Waal, D. B. (2010). Out of balance: implications of climate change for the ecological stoichiometry of harmgul cyanobacteria, (PhD Thesis). Amsterdam: University of Amsterdam.
- Van de Waal, D. B., Ferreruela, G., Tonk, L., Van Donk, E., Huisman, J., Visser, P. M., & Matthijs, H. C. P. (2010). Pulsed nitrogen supply induces dynamic changes in the amino acid compositionand microcystin production of the harmful cyanobacterium Planktothrix agardhii. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 74(2), 430-438. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6941.2010.00958.x
- Van de Waal, D. B., Verspagen, J. M. H., Lürling, M., Van Donk, E., Visser, P. M., & Huisman, J. (2009). The ecological stoichiometry of toxins produced by harmful cyanobacteria: an experimental test of the carbon-nutrient balance hypothesis. Ecology Letters, 12(12), 1326-1335. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01383.x
- Tonk, L., Van de Waal, D. B., Slot, P., Huisman, J., Matthijs, H. C. P., & Visser, P. M. (2008). Amino acid availability determines the ratio of microcystin variants in the cyanobacterium Planktothrix agardhii. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 65(3), 383-390. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-6941.2008.00541.x
- Tijdens, M., Van de Waal, D. B., Slovackova, H., Hoogveld, H. L., & Gons, H. J. (2008). Estimates of bacterial and phytoplankton mortality caused by viral lysis and microzooplankton grazing in a shallow eutrophic lake. Freshwater Biology, 53(6), 1126-1141. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2427.2008.01958.x
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- De Senerpont Domis, L., Lürling, M., & Van de Waal, D. (2014). Giftige dinoflagellaten in de Ouwerkerksekreek. AKWA.
- Van de Waal, D. B., & Van Donk, E. (2013). Algen in het wild. In Algen (Vol. 3, pp. 5-17). (Cahiers Biowetenschappen en Maatschappij).
