In January 2023, I started working as a postdoctoral researcher at the new research unit Quantitative Biodiversity Dynamics (QBD). QBD is part of the research group Ecology & Biodiversity at Utrecht University. During the coming four years, I will mainly focus my research on investigating how Maximum Entropy Theory in Ecology (METE) can assist in pinpointing how environmental disturbances and restoration efforts can affect biodiversity and eco-evolutionary processes.       

Under habitat fragmentation, plant species' survival hinges on the ability of individuals to disperse from one habitat patch to another. While there is evidence that severe habitat fragmentation leads to evolution of reduced dispersal ability and that such decreased mobility is generally detrimental for species' survival, it is unknown whether species adapt via a gradual loss in dispersal ability or via a sudden shift from frequent to infrequent dispersal between patches (i.e., a critical transition). Using both a spatially explicit deterministic and individual-based stochastic model of hydrochorous seed dispersal, we show that a small increase in inter-patch distance can generate an abrupt shift in plant seed dispersal strategy from long to short distances. Most importantly, we found that a substantial increase in connectivity between habitat fragments is required to reverse this loss of long-distance dispersal, due to an evolutionary hysteresis effect. Our theory prompts for re-consideration of the eco-evolutionary consequences of habitat fragmentation as restoring habitat connectivity may require restoration of much higher connectivity levels than currently assumed. You can find the full publication in Ecology and Evolution here.

Results from our newest publication suggest that decreasing herbivore abundance may not translate directly to decreased yield loss, and management tools such as population reduction or derogation shooting should be used with care. Management aimed at concentrating geese in refuges could help to alleviate farmer–goose conflict, although further studies are required to determine if it would lead to damage reduction. We also find that not all species contribute equally to agricultural damage; care should be taken to ensure wildlife management targets the right species.

Soon in The American Naturalist, you will find an interesting read about two mussel species that differ in their movement and attachment strategies and coexist nonetheless (or rather because of it). Our study emphasises the importance of the interplay of species-specific behaviors to spatial self-organization and stress tolerance in natural communities. You can find a preprint here! 

In our latest modelling study, we show that seed dispersal kernel evolvion is greatly affected by the spatial and temporal dynamics of an ecosystem. In many cases, with intermediate patch sizes, gap sizes, and turnover rates, Levy-like dispersal kernels evolve! Our study thus shows that these intermittent local searches and long-distance movements are not just a common search strategy amongst animals, but also by plants. Read the paper here.  

Journal of Ecology has announced that our article - 'Seed dispersal distributions resulting from landscape-dependent daily movement behaviour of a key vector species' by Erik Kleyheeg, Jelle Treep, Monique de Jager, Bart Nolet, and Merel Soons has been recognized as a top 20 most read paper in Journal of Ecology! To see what this awesome paper is about, click here.  

Our newest paper is out now!! We created an individual-based model to estimate the distribution of the critically endangered Maui dolphin. Our main result is that Maui dolphins may have a much larger habitat than the area in which they are currently protected against fishing activities, which harm and eventually may eliminate this dolphin species. See https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2019.04.009. 

Our paper on the role of seed size in dispersal by water has made it into Journal of Ecology! It is still in the copyediting phase, but nevertheless I am very happy to see it online already. 

From October 1st on, I will be working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology! In collaboration with Bart Nolet and Kees Schreven from the NIOO and Chris Topping from Aarhus University, I will work on an agent-based model of geese migration. 

On November 8th this year, I will present some of my work at the PE&RC day! The scope of this year's meeting is the social network of nature; how do natural social networks work? Together with Toby Kiers, Wim van der Putten, Frank van Langevelde, and Astrid Groot, I will talk about these connections in nature, keeping close to my own area of expertise of course :). For more information, click here.

Our paper about non-random seed release by wind dispersed plants finally came out as an early view article in OIKOS! Click here to read it. 

March 21st 2018  - Jelle Treep defended his thesis at Utrecht University! In the morning, I presented our work on seed dispersal evolution at the preceding symposium.  

December 12th-14th 2017 - I was one of the lucky ones to present at the Evolutionary Ecology session of the Ecology Across Borders meeting in Ghent.