Ecological research infrastructures in the Netherlands

Soil ecotron as seen from the sky

From experimental mini-ponds to research vessels, and from living labs to collections: in The Netherlands we have many ecological research facilities. This website provides a national overview of the large-scale ecological research infrastructures. 

For ecological researchers in the Netherlands this overview offers opportunities to team up with other researchers and to link to existing ecological research facilities and initiatives. Currently, the inventory of large-scale ecological research facilities focuses on ecotrons, scientific (data) collections, long-term field studies and research infrastructures for fieldwork.


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  1. Aqua-flex Arena: Outdoor mesocosms

    Facility
    NIOO-KNAW
    The Aqua-flex Arena is a fenced terrain (2500 m2; 80 x 32m) for performing outdoor mesoscosm experiments throughout the year, in the immediate promixity of the NIOO Aquatic Laboratories. Experiments can be performed with > 100 experimental units. There is great flexibility in the spatial set up of experimental units.
    Outdoor mesocoms

  2. Aquaria

    Facility
    NIOO-KNAW
    The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) houses 8 long glass aquaria (180 x 40 x 40 cm in length x width x height, 288L) and 24 shorter glass aquaria (90 × 50 × 50 cm in length x width x height, 225L). The aquaria can be kept at different temperatures which can be controlled by an automatic control system (Cascade Automation Systems, Ridderkerk, the Netherlands).
    Aquarium facility

  3. Avian blood sample collection

    Facility
    NIOO-KNAW
    Since 1994, we collect genetic samples from insects (winter moth) and birds (mainly great tit, blue tit, pied flycatcher, oystercatcher and various waterfowl). The location and specifications of a sample can be found in our relational data warehouse. There are more than 170,000 blood samples, feathers and other tissues stored at NIOO. The samples can be used to investigate the genotype of an individual or population in relation to their fenotype.
    test tubes

  4. Bacterial collection

    Facility
    NIOO-KNAW
    NIOO has a collection of thousands of bacterial strains isolated from different (semi-)natural and agricultural environments. Most are bacteria isolated from soils, rhizosphere or plant parts, but aquatic strains are present as well.
    Bacterial collection

  5. BioCliVE

    Facility
    Utrecht University
    The Utrecht University Biodiversity and Climate Variability Experiment, UU BioCliVE, is an experiment manipulating plant diversity and future precipitation scenarios to examine how biological diversity can provide us with natural insurance against climate change.
    BioCliVE facility

  6. Bird Radar

    Facility
    UvA
    The BirdScan radar is a radar to track aerial movement of animals. This information can be used to gain more insight in migration patterns and the influence of changes in the environment.
    Bird Radar

  7. CBS-KNAW collections and databases

    Facility
    Westerdijk Institute
    The CBS-KNAW culture collection from the Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute (WI-KNAW) is the largest in the world with more than 100.000 strains of fungi (including yeasts) and bacteria (including wild-type and mutant strains), hosts suitable for DNA research, genetically engineered plasmids, broad-host-range plasmids and phages.
    Culture collection Westerdijk

  8. CLUE field Veluwe + database

    Facility
    Dry sandy areas
    NIOO-KNAW
    Since 1995, we run a series of biodiversity experiments on a former agricultural field in the nature area Planken-Wambuis near Ede. In some plots, secondary succession has followed its natural course, In other plots, a low or high diversity of plants was sown, or the soil has been inoculated with soil from nature areas.
    Clue Field

  9. Eurasian oystercatcher research population Schiermonnikoog

    Facility
    Marine and intertidal areas
    Dunes and coastal areas
    NIOO-KNAW
    The long-term study population of Eurasian oystercatchers on Schiermonnikoog is used to study (1) the causes of population change in this indicator species of the Wadden Sea ecosystem, (2) to understand how individuals and populations respond to rapid environmental change.
    Scholeksters op de Vliehors

  10. Hackfort

    Facility
    Riverine Landscapes
    Radboud University
    Hackfort is an oak coppice grove in the East-Southeast of the city of Zutphen in the province of Gelderland, the Netherlands. The forest is situated at the transition from western riverine deposits and eastern periglacial cover sands.
    Beleef de Lente blog landschap (4)

  11. Hole-breeding passerines monitoring: Hoge Veluwe

    Facility
    Dry sandy areas
    NIOO-KNAW
    Hoge Veluwe is one of four areas in NIOO-AnE's long-term monitoring research on great tits and other bird species that started in 1955. It consists of a large forest area of more than 350 ha of mainly conifers and oak on poor sandy soil. This area is part of the largest forest complex in the Netherlands, De Veluwe. Every breeding season, many students and researchers are involved in doing field work at Hoge Veluwe.
    AnE nestkasten

  12. Hole-breeding passerines monitoring: Liesbos

    Facility
    Dry sandy areas
    NIOO-KNAW
    Liesbos is one of four areas in NIOO-AnE's long-term monitoring research on great tits and other bird species that started in 1955. It consists of a large forest area of about 100 ha of deciduous trees, mainly oak, on rich sandy-loam soil.
    Liesbos


 

www.eco-ri.nl is initiated and maintained by the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), and supported by the Dutch universities and research institutes connected to NERN (Netherlands Ecological Research Network) and/or BiodiversityXL (Centre of Excellence for Netherlands Biodiversity Research).

The inventory of ecological research infrastructures is ongoing. 

 

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