Past and present fieldwork  

  • Fish ecology of large-scale ecosystem restoration project "Marker Wadden"
    • with Prof. E.S. Bakker (Netherlands Institute of Ecology)
    • We study the ecological consequences of a large-scale restoration project "Marker Wadden" in shallow lake Markermeer in the Netherlands. Yearly field campaigns on vegetation, zooplankton, benthic/pelagic macro-invertebrates, and young-of-the-year fish. Tracking studies on adult fish via acoustic telemetry networks of Vemco. Main question: how do different trophic levels in the aquatic food web responsd to large-scale ecosystem changes? Read more in Ecological Solutions and Evidence and Movement Ecology.

  • Dispersal of seeds and aquatic invertebrates by piscivorous birds 
    • with Prof. A.J. Green (Doñana Biological Station, Sevilla, Spain)
    • We investigate dispersal of seeds and aquatic invertebrates by waterbirds using population genetic approaches, GPS tracking of birds and collecting faecal samples in the field. Recent work revealed that predatory waterbird species such as great cormorants and grey heron disperse seeds and aquatic invertebrates that they first ingested along with their prey (e.g. fish, small mammals). Read more in Biology Letters and Freshwater Biology.
  • Grayling migration ecology in large Norwegian rivers
    • with Prof. A. Vøllestad (UiO, Oslo, Norway) & Dr. J. Museth (NINA, Lillehammer, Norway).
    • We set up a large scale field experiment to determine to what extent small European grayling (Thymallus thymallus) larvae (< 20 mm) may drift downstream due to high discharges in large river systems. Voluntary or involuntary downstream drift may be an important driving factor for adult upstream spawning migration. Read more in Journal of Fish Biology
  • Seed dispersal by Song Thrushes (Turdus philomelos), Balearctic Islands, Spain
    • with Dr. L. Santamaría (IMEDEA, Spain).
    • We monitored seed removal by Thrushes over time, to make a spatially explicit model of seed predation and subsequent endozoochorous seed dispersal in a remote small island system.   
  • Shorebird migration ecology, Australia
    • with Prof. M. Klaassen (Deakin University, Australia).
    • We captured, measured and banded migratory shorebirds to retrieve geolocators containing information on migration. 
  • Population genetics of aquatic snails, Parque Nacional de Doñana, Spain
    • with Dr. J. Figuerola (Doñana Biological Station, Sevilla, Spain).
    • We sampled the invasive aquatic snail Physa acuta throughout and around Doñana National Park, in order to perform population genetic analyses that informed on the potential dispersal vectors used by this invasive species. Read more in Freshwater Biology 
  • Breeding ecology Brentgeese (Branta bernicla), Taimyr, Siberia
    • with Yu. L. Mazurov (Heritage institute, Russia), Dr. B.S. Ebbinge (Alterra, The Netherlands), Dr. B.A. Nolet (NIOO, The Netherlands).
    • Within a long term monitoring framework we investigated the breeding succes and choices of Arctic breeding Brentgeese (Branta bernicla) in relation to lemming cycles and the presence of gulls and snowy owls on the breeding sites.
  • Shorebird breeding ecology, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, US
    • with Dr. S.E. Jamieson (Simon Fraser University, Canada), B. McCaffery (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, US).
    • By catching, color banding and following individual Dunlin (Calidris alpina pacifica) we could determine how individuals make decisions on mate choice and choice of nesting sites when arriving to Arctic breeding grounds after their long-distance migration. Read more in The Wilson Journal of Ornithology