Personal profile

Research interests

What spurs me on is the question what determines the diversity and composition of soil fauna communities. I am especially interested in the interplay between species-specific traits and spatial scales in determining shifts in community composition under environmental stress. I study which functional traits underlay changes in species composition, from the micro-scale (m2) to the macro-scale (among biomes). I also study how changes in species composition (via response traits) affect important soil processes (via effect traits), such as litter decomposition.

My aim is to integrate ecological and evolutionary concepts into community ecology by using inter- and intraspecific variation in species traits, including life history traits and tolerance traits (micro-scale) and dispersal traits (meta- to macro-scale), to understand the impact of environmental changes on local community composition and functioning. My main focus is on ecosystem engineers and the effect of non-trophic interactions on ecosystem dynamics.

My research emphasizes a mechanistic approach, linking species functional traits to community composition and functioning. I use a variety of study systems, including green beach, salt marsh, and sub-arctic tundra, as well as a variety of model organisms, including ecosystem engineers such as Amphipoda, Collembola and terrestrial Isopoda.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 13 - Climate Action
  • SDG 14 - Life Below Water
  • SDG 15 - Life on Land

External positions

Advisor, Land van Ons

1-Jan-2021 → …

Advisor, European Invertebrate Survey Netherlands

27-Oct-2013 → …

Guest researcher, Naturalis Biodiversity Center

27-Oct-2013 → …

Professor, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

1-Apr-2005 → …

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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

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