Science Projects
My research is mainly fueled by a deep fascination for nature and science, but also to stimulate more efficient management of species and fragile links between ecosystems. My main research interest lies in functional ecology, in which I study a species’ niche, distribution and ecological role. I am also interested in how ecosystem processes are linked on different spatial and temporal scales, and how species with a large dispersal range can serve as vital links between ecosystems. Lastly, not only did I grow up in a digital world, but also in a rapidly changing world. Our perspectives on conserving nature, the climate and how we interact with species (e.g. large predatory species as wolves and sharks) have all changed vastly over the last two decades. How do these changes influence the integrity of ecosystems, food webs and how do we effectively conserve species on this rapidly changing planet?
CURRENT AND PAST PROJECTS
INTERTIDAL SHARKS AND RAYS
As most studies focusing on sharks and rays are conducting in coral reef ecystems, our knowledge on this species group within large intertidal areas is relatively limited. After two expeditions to the Banc d’Arguin we hypothesized that the roles that sharks and rays have within these ecosystem can be profound. Now, as part of the Conservation Ecology Group of the University of Groningen, I am studying the possible cascading effects local overfishing, and how sharks and rays link food webs on a spatial and temporal scale.
Most recent features:
Recent Posts
Sharks and Rays in Troubled Waters: Threatened Species in Dynamic Intertidal Ecosystems
I am glad to announce that my thesis has been published both in print and online. For the past five years, I have worked with …Read More »
RUG and IBAP tag first critically endangered sharks and rays in West Africa
In a first for the region, highly threatened sharks and rays have been tagged and released by scientists in the Bijagos Archipelago, off the coast …Read More »
SHARKS OF THE CARIBBEAN
Sharks, as mobile predators, can link multiple ecosystems across their range and influence food webs at different spatial scales. This ecological role can be disturbed by pressure on shark populations. In this project I focus on how sharks link different ecosystems and how anthropogenic stressors affect this.
Most recent features:
Recent Posts
Young lemon sharks of Statia
After the exciting news of the silky sharks on the Saba Bank two weeks ago, this time we move a bit Southeast from Saba to …Read More »
A new shark for the Saba Bank
As we set out to the immense Saba Bank to do regular dives last Thursday, our captain spotted two small sharks at the surface. One …Read More »
OTHER RESEARCH PROJECTS
From the Caribbean to West Africa, the Bahamas to South Africa, I got the opportunity to study sharks and rays within a large variety of ecosystems. From guitarfish and white sharks, to great hammerheads and milk sharks, read all about my other research projects.
Most recent features:
Measuring Hammerhead Sharks with Lasers
Although we published this paper already two (almost three, geez!) year ago, I think it is a paper worth sharing here as well. Together with …Read More »
First Publication on White Sharks
During a 2013 field project in Gansbaai, South Africa we collected valuable data for over 6 months on the unique dorsal fin notch pattern and …Read More »
