A5025248133- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Plant and animal studies
- Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Plant and Fungal Interactions Research
- Smart Cities and Technologies
- Hemiptera Insect Studies
- Insect Pheromone Research and Control
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
Leiden University
2010-2025
Naturalis Biodiversity Center
2020-2025
Classical biomonitoring techniques have focused primarily on measures linked to various biodiversity metrics and indicator species. Next-generation (NGB) describes a suite of tools approaches that allow the examination broader spectrum organisational levels - from genes entire ecosystems. Here, we frame ten key questions envisage will drive field NGB over next decade. While not exhaustive, this list covers most challenges facing NGB, provides basis steps for research implementation in field....
Abstract Background Culex pipiens sensu stricto (s.s.) is considered the primary vector of Usutu virus and West Nile virus, consists two morphologically identical but behaviourally distinct biotypes ( Cx. biotype molestus) their hybrids. Both are expected to differ in feeding behaviour, pipiens/molestus hybrids presumed display intermediate behaviour. However, evidence for patterns scarce, date no studies have related differences host abundance. Methods Mosquitoes were collected using CO 2...
Summary Intensification of agricultural use grassland habitats has been linked to the declines many farmland bird species, several whom have in decline for multiple decades despite agri‐environmental schemes. In Netherlands, where most grasslands transformed into well‐drained monocultures managed maximal dairy production, schemes that aim protect nests from activities are popular. The cause failure these schemes, however, seems poor recruitment birds. Using black‐tailed godwit Limosa limosa...
Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is frequently used as a non-invasive method to investigate species and biodiversity in ecosystems. However, such eDNA may represent both organisms currently present well that released their some point the past, thereby representing mix of current historic biodiversity. This lead false-positive detection organisms' presence. As particle size distribution (PSD) changes along with decay process, it facilitate solving above problem. Here, we set up tank...
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) strongly affect ecosystem functioning. To understand and quantify the mechanisms of this control, knowledge about relationship between actual abundance community composition AMF in soil plant roots is needed. We collected root samples a natural dune grassland to test whether, across community, host (measured as total length colonized) related (using neutral lipid fatty acids (NLFA) 16:1ω5 proxy). Next-generation sequencing was used explore role patterns....
Abstract Background There is an urgent need for cities to become more climate resilient; one of the key strategies include green spaces in urban environment. Currently, there a worry that increasing might increase mosquito nuisance. As such, this study explores comprehensive understanding how mosquitoes utilise contrasting grey and habitats at different life stages which environmental factors could drive these distributions. Methods We used setup six paired locations, park (green) vs....
• We assessed for interactions between priming effects, soil microbial dynamics, and organic amendment (OA) composition. Priming effects correlated closely with OAs' hot water to total carbon concentrations. can be reduced by composting, but not fermenting, OAs before application. Microbial properties better energetic than stoichiometric OA characterizations. Relationships used in the preliminary approximation of sequestration efficiency. Soil (SOC) through application amendments (OAs) is...
Environmental DNA (eDNA) approaches contributing to species identifications are quickly becoming the new norm in biomonitoring and ecosystem assessments. Yet, information such as age health state of population, which is vital biomonitoring, has not been accessible from eDNA. methylation potential provide on a population. Here, we measured eDNA along with tissue (tDNA) Lymnaea stagnalis at four life stages. We demonstrate that varies allows distinguishing among classes. Moreover, was globally...
Environmental DNA (eDNA) has been widely used in biomonitoring and major advantages compared to traditional methods such as counting observations. However, the persistence of eDNA within an ecosystem can lead false-positive results on presence organisms. To improve accuracy interpretation results, present study aimed enhance understanding connection between environmental factors persistence. Here, we set up tank experiments using freshwater from 16 field locations involving four types...
ABSTRACT Invasive species, such as the freshwater crayfish Procambarus clarkii , reportedly negatively influence abundance of various aquatic species. Moreover, these invaders are increasingly linked to ecological degradation ecosystems, invaded habitats show increased levels turbidity, nitrogen, and organic matter concentration. P. has, among other impacts, been associated with eutrophication in habitats. However, observations suggest that presence is often not accompanied by ecosystem...
Black‐tailed Godwit Limosa limosa clutches have been collected for headstarting, a captive rearing intervention where eggs are taken from the wild and artificially incubated, chicks reared in captivity to fledging, before being released into wild. This conservation measure has reduced local extinction risk UK population, but it may impacts on genetic diversity population viability, especially when wild‐sourced must be small population. Comparing of 42 pairs with much larger breeding...
Subtropical gyres are hotspots for plastic pollution, and accumulation zones found within the North Pacific gyre, in Garbage Patch (NPGP). Plastic debris these offshore waters can persist decades mainly originate from fishing activities. The non-profit organization Ocean Cleanup aims to remove this legacy since August 2021, has removed over 480,000kg of area across 23 collection trips (6-7 weeks each). These cleanup operations create a unique opportunity monitor collect data on marine life...
The rapid decline of terrestrial biodiversity worldwide demands for expansion high-resolution biomonitoring to support science-based policy. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has proven effective at aquatic systems but remains underexplored habitats, partly due point-source sampling bias and difficulty in upscaling. Air recently emerged as a promising substrate yet most studies use active samplers which tend be expensive, bulky, require power. We used newly developed, inexpensive, reusable,...
Antibiotics are a contaminant class of worldwide concern as they frequently detected in aquatic ecosystems. To better understand the impacts antibiotics on ecosystems, we conducted an outdoor mesocosm experiment which communities were exposed to different concentrations antibiotic sulfamethoxazole (0, 0.15, 1.5, 15 and 150 μg/L). These include mean (0.15 μg/L) maximum (15 ecosystems worldwide. Sulfamethoxazole was applied once week for eight consecutive weeks 1530 L mesocosms Netherlands,...
Summary Quantifying the abundances of fungi is key to understanding natural variation in mycorrhizal communities relation plant ecophysiology and environmental heterogeneity. High‐throughput metabarcoding approaches have transformed our ability characterize compare complex communities. However, it remains unclear how well read counts correlate with actual sample, potentially limiting their use as a proxy for species abundances. Here, we droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) evaluate reliability ITS2...
Mosquito borne diseases pose a threat to human health worldwide. Disease risk is primarily determined by presence and abundance of vector species. A better understanding mosquito diversity can direct improved control, but this requires combination monitoring techniques that yield both rapid reliable information. Particularly larval detection pivotal move towards more targeted management with less environmental impact. Current methods rely strongly on manual labour taxonomic expertise, which...
In the context of population genetic research, a faster and less invasive method DNA sampling would allow large-scale assessments diversity differentiation with help volunteer observers. The aim this study was to investigate usefulness eggshell membranes as source for by addressing membrane quality, degeneration cross-contamination. To end, comparison made blood-derived samples. We have demonstrated 100% successful extraction from post-hatched Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) well blood...
On the basis of morphological differences, three subspecies Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) have been recognized (L. l. limosa, L. islandica and melanuroides). In previous studies mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence data showed minimal genetic divergence between an absence sub-structuring within limosa. Here, population structure phylogeographic patterns analyzed using COI, HVR1 HVR2 mtDNA as well 12 microsatellite loci (nuDNA). The nuDNA suggest differentiation limosa from Sweden...
Improved biomonitoring of mosquitoes requires an in-depth understanding on occurrences both vector and non-vector species, in larval adult stages. Accurate descriptions the ecological context which thrive remain limited, particularly for The aim this study was to develop a mixed-amplicon eDNA approach assess (i) whether mosquito communities stagnant fresh-water bodies can be detected using Culicidae-specific primer (ii) how these results compare traditional trapping mosquitoes. Results from...
Freshwater habitats are under stress from agricultural land use, most notably the influx of neonicotinoid pesticides and increased nutrient pressure fertilizer. Traditional studies investigating effects stressors on freshwater systems often limited to a narrow range taxa, depending heavily morphological expertise. Additionally, disentanglement multiple simultaneous can be difficult in field studies, whereas controlled laboratory conditions do not accurately reflect natural food webs. To...
The antidepressant fluoxetine is frequently detected in aquatic ecosystems, yet the effects on communities and ecosystems are still largely unknown. Therefore aim of this study to assess long-term application key components including macroinvertebrate-, zooplankton-, phytoplankton- microbial organic matter decomposition by using traditional non-traditional assessment methods. For this, we exposed 18 outdoor mesocosms (water volume 1530 L 10 cm sediment) five different concentrations (0.2, 2,...