Marco Meijer

#DidYouKnow that #PosidoniaOceanica 🌿 is a bustling hub of #biodiversity? It provides essential habitat for over: 4️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ plant species 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ animal species From colourful fish 🐠 to sea turtles 🐢 and crabs 🦀, Posidonia meadows serve as vital nurseries and spawning grounds for marine life. Preserving Posidonia means safeguarding biodiversity. That's why WWF Mediterranean is leading one of the largest regional initiatives to protect Posidonia oceanica across the Mediterranean. Learn more 👉 https://bit.ly/4bM1iaG #SavePosidonia #ProtectOurSeas #ClimateChange

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Are you interested in climate change’s effects on the relationship between fungi and forests? Would you like to know the impact of plant diversity management and intensification methods on grazing lands? Do you want to learn about how using satellite data can inform us about plant traits? Wonder no more, we've got you covered in the latest edition of the Inside Battelle blog covering the current news at America's NEON Program, a continental-scale network we operate for the National Science Foundation (NSF). https://okt.to/xJiXlQ

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🚨🚨New paper release about BGCI’s Conservation Action Tracker: “Conservation Action Tracker: A tool to identify and monitor conservation actions for tree species” (by Quintana, Rivers & Davies) ⚙️Conservation action information at the species level, including: Ex situ, in situ, propagation protocol, species recovery plan, policy and awareness 🌳Currently data on 4126 tree species, including 2161 threatened 🌿Helps prioritization of future conservation efforts by sharing knowledge, increasing collaboration, enabling the identification of conservation gaps, and making the information available to be used by decision-makers Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/e5-wPdex #ConservationBiology

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***EUDR Insights: Proof of land use change is important!*** The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) defines a 'forest' as land spanning more than 0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 meters and a canopy cover of more than 10 percent, excluding agricultural and urban land use. If deforestation assessments indicate activity after December 31, 2020, commodity plantations or farms growing coffee and cocoa must prove historical agricultural use before this date to mitigate deforestation risks and ensure compliance. 🌐 https://lnkd.in/eJ8RCPEy 🌱☕ #EUDR #Sustainability #Coffee #Cocoa #DeforestationFree

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🚀 Digitalisation for development! 🌍 🌾 For a decade, The Netherlands has invested in the Geodata for Agriculture and Water (G4AW) programme, which has had a transformative impact on agriculture and water management, particularly in a challenging climate context. In the latest NSO - Netherlands Space Office impact series, Catherine Le Côme, Deputy Global Sector Head Agri-Food at SNV, shares her insights on the incredible potential of digital applications in food systems. 🎙️ Highlights: 🌐 Innovative impact – the digital innovation of GARBAL, introduced by the programme, is empowering farmers in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger with satellite data to increase #productivity and resilience. 🤝 Strong partnerships - Collaboration between diverse organisations and local communities is delivering #sustainabledevelopment. "Digital applications allow us to reach many more people efficiently and safely, providing vital information for informed decisions and fostering job growth among youth" - Catherine Le Côme on why digitalisation is important. Click on the link to read the full article https://lnkd.in/ed9GG-Zm #SatelliteData #Digitalisation #TechForGood #Future #Foodsystems

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🌿 Exciting News! The Department of Ecology is Here! 🌿 We are excited to announce that the Aquatic Ecology & Environmental Biology group has transformed into the Department of Ecology under the Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES). Our department brings together a passionate team of ecologists dedicated to preserving and enhancing ecosystem health. 👥 Our diverse group includes aquatic and terrestrial ecologists focusing on plants, animals, microorganisms, and their interactions in our rapidly changing world. Together, we are committed to understanding and mitigating the impacts of environmental changes on biodiversity and ecosystem functions. 🔬 We strive to reverse biodiversity decline and restore key ecosystem functions through both basic and applied research. Our work includes: 🦋 Causes and consequences in biodiversity change 🌍 Adaptation and resilience to environmental stressors ♻️ Biogeochemical cycling and greenhouse gas emissions 🌱 Ecological management & restoration  📡 Emerging technology for ecological monitoring Our goal is to create and implement strategies that promote a sustainable and healthy environment for all. Visit our webpage <https://lnkd.in/e55ADhZ2> and keep following us for more updates on our research, projects, and opportunities for collaboration. Let's work together to build a better future for our planet! #Ecology #Research #Biodiversity #Sustainability #EnvironmentalScience #RadboudUniversity #EcologicalRestoration #GreenFuture

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👀 Did you miss the first Naturethon webinar? No worries, recording is already available on YouTube as well as on the Digital Library of NATURANCE website! 🔎 Learn more about the first Naturethon call: https://lnkd.in/dksgUhBa ✒ Register your group: https://lnkd.in/dVcDsWiP #naturethon #naturebasedsolutions #citizenengagement #citizenscience #climatechange #climateaction Adaptation AGORA

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🔍 Reimagining insect research with Roel van Klink and Leandro Nascimento ❗Insects, comprising nearly 75% of all known animal species, are facing a grave threat, with 40% at risk of extinction. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for improved global monitoring and protection efforts. 🗞 In an interview just published in Mongabay, Roel van Klink and our senior bioacoustics scientist Leandro A. Do Nascimento shed light on the current state of insect biodiversity monitoring. Van Klink, a senior researcher at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, highlighted the labor-intensive nature of traditional methods and society's reluctance to invest in comprehensive insect monitoring. https://lnkd.in/dtHv9-TG 🦋 To address these challenges, van Klink spearheaded an initiative to bring together scientists and technologists from around the world. This collaboration resulted in a special issue titled “Towards a toolkit for global insect biodiversity monitoring,” published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society and co-edited by Leandro A. Do Nascimento. 💡 The issue features contributions from 142 authors across 27 countries, focusing on cutting-edge technologies such as acoustic monitoring, computer vision, radar technology, and DNA analysis. https://lnkd.in/d9PSinM8 🌟 These innovations promise to revolutionize insect biodiversity monitoring by enhancing efficiency and accuracy while reducing human effort and the need for lethal sampling methods. For instance, acoustic monitoring can identify insects through sound, offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional trapping methods. 🌎 The interview also emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the need for extensive training data to develop robust AI tools for species identification. Establishing a global network of sensors and integrating various monitoring technologies could provide a comprehensive picture of insect populations and their dynamics. 🌱 As van Klink and Nascimento advocate for better funding and international cooperation, their work serves as a crucial step towards safeguarding insect biodiversity and, by extension, the health of our ecosystems. 🙏 Many thanks to Abhishyant Kidangoor, Mongabay staff writer covering conservation technology, for the interview and writing this interesting and highly informative article. #biodiversity #insectresearch #environmentalscience #techinnovation #conservation #bioacoustics #naturetech

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🌊 Enhancing Sustainability with Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) in the Baltic Sea Region! 🌊 🗝 Today we want to share key insights from a recent article on societal perceptions of aquaculture, combining a scoping review and media analysis. #TETRAS acknowledges that to achieve a successful expansion and implementation of recirculating aquaculture systems (#RAS) in the Baltic Sea Region, it is fundamental to increase and improve awareness of sustainable aquaculture and RAS. 🗣 As part of our project, Pilot 4 is currently setting up a small-scale RAS to improve aquaculture awareness. Hilary Karlson and Mette Jørgensen from Guldborgsund Kommune recently shared why decided to focus this Pilot on aquaculture awareness: “Currently, there are no land-based fish production facilities in our region, and establishing a successful business venture in this sector requires the entire value chain of an aquaculture facility to be engaged. The African Catfish remains relatively unknown in Denmark as a nutritious source of protein and essential fatty acids. Generating market demand for a product requires raising awareness, demystifying misconceptions, and gaining consumer acceptance. GBS aims to provide fact-based information about closed RAS fish and plant production to empower future stakeholders and consumers to make informed decisions, whether as consumers, producers, or investors.” 🧠 Here are some key insights from the article applied to RAS: 🔍 Transparency and Communication: Building trust through transparent operations and clear communication is essential. Highlighting the environmental and economic benefits of RAS can positively shape perceptions. 🤝 Engaging Stakeholders: Collaboration with local communities, environmental NGOs, and policymakers helps address concerns and showcase the advantages of RAS. Partnering with scientists ensures our strategies are evidence-based. 🌱 Focus on Sustainability: Promoting the sustainability aspects of RAS—such as reduced environmental impact and efficient resource use—reinforces the positive impact of our project. ⚖️  Addressing Negative Perceptions: Public awareness campaigns and transparent reporting are vital to counter negative perceptions. Proactive measures on environmental impact and fish welfare are key. 📣 Tailored Communication Strategies: Customizing our communication based on the audience’s characteristics and using diverse media channels ensures broader and more effective outreach. 📢 Read the full article to delve deeper into these insights and understand the broader context of societal perceptions of aquaculture. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e65ZVhec 🌐 Learn more about our project and how we’re pioneering sustainable aquaculture in the Baltic Sea region. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ewQAnxxB #SustainableAquaculture #StakeholderEngagement #BalticSea #MadewithInterreg #WaterSmartSolutions 

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OPEN POSITION Assistant Researcher | Biological Sciences (Ecology, Ecological Restoration, Rewilding) We are seeking to recruit an Assistant Researcher (Reference BIOPOLIS 2024-24) within the project wildE (HORIZON-CL5-2022-D1-02-05, Grant Agreement No. 101081251), funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe Framework Programme. The project wildE (https://lnkd.in/eN54wXgb) introduces climate-smart rewilding as an innovative restoration approach to create climate benefits while also addressing other socio-environmental needs. The project gathers a multi-disciplinary team of leading European experts to develop a research and innovation programme addressing the climate-biodiversity nexus in tight association with the socio-economic dimension of large-scale restoration. The team will also project scenarios to assess Europe’s rewilding potentials under diverse land-use and climate change futures. wildE will (i) generate comprehensive case-comparative data on European rewilding trends and outcomes, (ii) quantify the net social, economic and environmental benefits, synergies and trade-offs related to rewilding and alternative land-use options; (iii) develop cutting-edge projections for future land use and climate scenarios; and (iv) develop tangible and readily accessible decision-support and management guidelines to enable policymakers, conservation managers, communities, and the private sector to co-construct climate-smart rewilding strategies as effective nature-based solutions (NbS) for meeting the EU’s climate and biodiversity targets. Embedded within an ambitious stakeholder engagement, communications programme, wildE research will enable climate-smart rewilding as operational large-scale NbS to effectively foster the natural capacity of Europe’s ecosystems for climate change mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity support. The position holder will carry out research activities related to the participation of BIOPOLIS-CIBIO in wildE, namely: (i) development of two rewilding case studies (Sabor and Antarr); (ii) field collection of biological data; (iii) assessment of the preferences and attitudes of stakeholders in relation to contrasting rewilding scenarios; (iv) synthesis and integration of knowledge generated by wildE case studies across Europe; and (v) and analysis of data collected and co-production of scientific publications. The position holder is also expected to collaborate in the general development of the project, including participation in meetings, communication and dissemination activities, production and revision of deliverables, among others. Application deadline: May 24, 2024 Full announcement: https://lnkd.in/dP39WVY3

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📢 New publication 'Linking nematodes and ecosystem function: a trait-based framework' by Chongzhe Zhang, Ian Wright, Uffe Nielsen, Stefan Geisen and Manqiang Liu in Trends in Ecology and Evolution. Abstract Trait-based approaches are being increasingly adopted to understand species’ ecological strategies and how organisms influence ecosystem function. Trait-based research on soil organisms, however, remains poorly developed compared with that for plants. The abundant and diverse soil nematodes are prime candidates to advance trait-based approaches belowground, but a unified trait framework to describe nematode ecological strategies and assess their linkages with ecosystem function is lacking. We categorized nematode traits as morphological, physiological, life history, and community clusters, and proposed the nematode economics spectrum (NES) to better understand nematode ecological strategies and their association with ecosystem function. We argue that bridging the NES and the plant economics spectrum will facilitate a more holistic understanding of ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycling under global change. https://lnkd.in/gFt9Ri_t

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Course open for registration: Principles of Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics (21-24 January '25, Ede, the Netherlands) organised by Wageningen Institute for Environment and Climate Research (WIMEK)/Sense. This course is intended for those just embarking on genomics within an ecological setting and teaches the fundamentals of the discipline, while concentrating on ecological questions. The course focuses on four topics, each of which is treated by lectures, case studies and participant presentations. Also, participants are encouraged to apply the principles of the course to their own research. The four topics are:  1.    Population genomics (large-scale comparison of DNA sequences in populations)  2.    Comparative genomics (comparing genomes of different organisms)  3.    Metagenomics (study of genetic material directly from environmental samples)  4.    Functional genomics (understanding the function of genes in a genome) https://lnkd.in/eSHPnv8M

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🎙️ Conservation International CEO Dr. M Sanjayan joins Like It's Live host Arroe Collins to explain what scientists around the world are doing to improve the fate of corals, which is the theme of Changing Planet series 3. 🌐 Changing Planet, a 7-year project now in its third year, examines issues facing the planet’s most threatened ecosystems—such as coral reefs. You can stream Changing Planet on PBS, and listen to Dr. M Sanjayan on Like It’s Live here. 👉 https://lnkd.in/ensHCpN4

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🌳"Do you care about preserving tropical fruit tree genetic resources?" Discover conservation secrets with ATPBR's WebCon 18 publication booklet, Series! No need to search any further! This new booklet from Dr. V. Ramanatha Rao is the best resource for sustainable conservation methods. This publication, moderated by the renowned Dr. M. J. Vasudeva Rao, is a must-read for anyone interested in agriculture and conservation. Thinking! Why you should read this Webcon.18 publication booklet. ✔ Comprehensive Coverage: Dive deep into genetic diversity studies, germplasm utilization, and both ex-situ and in-situ conservation strategies. ✔ Expert Insights: Benefit from the wisdom of leading experts with decades of experience. ✔ Practical Applications: Discover actionable strategies that you can implement in your conservation efforts. 🤵 Meet the Experts, Dr. V. Ramanatha Rao: ✔ Educational Background: He holds a doctorate in genetics from IARI, New Delhi. Professional Journey: ✔He worked on groundnut genetic resources at ICRISAT. ✔Established the Arachis genetic resource collection in Brazil. ✔Held key roles at Bioversity International in Rome, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur. Achievements: ✔Published over 300 papers and books. ✔Played a pivotal role in developing national plant genetic resources programs across Asia. ✔Currently, Co-Founder of GRSV Consulting Services and Chief Editor of the AgriTech Newsletter. What You’ll Learn: ✔Understand the significance and methods for studying genetic diversity. ✔ Learn how to effectively use germplasm in conservation efforts. ✔ Investigate ex-situ and in-situ conservation strategies for long-term sustainability. ✔Learn about policies and programs that support plant genetic resources. Curious? Get Your Copy Now! Secure your copy through the ATPBR publication. Check out the link in the comments section. 👇 Stay updated on our official ATPBR website. Follow us on Facebook and Advanced Training in Plant Breeding . Dr. Aparna Tiwari Dr. Nagraani Mahaajan Surinder Tikoo Surinder Tikoo

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🌱💧 Nature-based solutions for water management: New insights from Costa Rica 🌍   A recent study by the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) examines the attitudes of political and administrative decision-makers towards nature-based solutions (NBS) in water management. It focuses on a case study of the Tárcoles River in Costa Rica, one of the most polluted rivers in the country.   In her master's thesis, Franka Pätzke, a graduate of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, examined the attitudes of the members of the Tárcoles River Basin Commission in Costa Rica towards the implementation of a fictitious constructed wetland. Constructed wetlands use the natural processes of plants and microorganisms to remove pollutants from water. They are cost-effective and create valuable habitats for biodiversity conservation, but are not yet widely used.   The case study identifies three main groups of decision makers: "nature lovers", "cost-conscious" and "willing to participate". Despite a shared vision, there are differences in priorities. Franka Pätzke emphasizes the need for a paradigm shift in policy-making towards ecosystem-based approaches and more cooperation at all levels of government.   Read more about the study and the challenges and opportunities of implementing NBS: https://lnkd.in/efddiCCM #watermanagement #sustainability #biodiversity #NBS #CostaRica #environmentalresearch The illustration was created with the help of Adobe Firefly and carefully checked under the aspects of the AI regulations at ZALF.

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📢 We are pleased to announce the publication of Honggang Zhao latest research paper: “Consequences of domestication in eastern oyster: Insights from whole genomic analyses.” 🔍 Abstract Summary: Selective breeding in high-fecundity aquaculture species like the eastern oyster has shown rapid success. The paper investigates the genetic changes associated with domestication, hypothesizing that standardized culture protocols lead to parallel domestication effects across independent strains. Using a newly developed 600K SNP array, this study tested for parallel domestication effects in multiple independent selection lines compared with their progenitor wild populations. Key findings include: 🔹 Population Structure: Differentiation levels indicated as [wild − wild] < [wild − cultured] < [cultured − cultured]. 🔹Genome Scan: Identified 1174 candidate SNPs showing adaptation to the captive environment. 🔹Random Forest Analysis: Highlighted 37 outlier SNPs with high discriminatory power between wild and selected oysters, enriched for cytoskeletal functions. 🔹 Evolutionary Consequences: Domestication altered genetic diversity, effective population size, relatedness, runs-of-homozygosity profiles, and linkage disequilibrium patterns in selected strains compared to wild oysters. This study not only enhances our understanding of the rapid genomic changes stemming from hatchery-based cultivation of eastern oysters but also provides insights into the evolutionary consequences of domestication. The findings offer valuable genomic resources for monitoring interbreeding between farm and wild oysters. Read the full paper here: https://hubs.ly/Q02J31-_0 #Research #Aquaculture #Genomics #Oysters #SelectiveBreeding #Domestication #GeneticAdaptation #SustainableAquaculture

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🍓 👩‍🌾 "There is a clear societal wish for a reduction in the use of chemical pesticides in Dutch #agriculture and horticulture." Researchers from Wageningen University & Research are addressing this wish by developing cultivation methods that are more resilient to diseases, plagues and weeds so that chemical pesticides don't have to be used. Their research focusses on the cultivation of strawberries. These are grown in greenhouses where pest insects are fought using other insects. Want to know more about their research? Read it here!👇 https://lnkd.in/eST6yaNv #Pesticides #Research #Crops

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