Ecological research infrastructures in the Netherlands
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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Aqua-flex Arena: Outdoor mesocosms
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. -
Aquaria
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). -
Avian blood sample collection
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. -
Bacterial collection
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. -
BioCliVE
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. -
Bird Radar
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. -
CBS-KNAW collections and databases
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. -
CLUE field Veluwe + database
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. -
Eurasian oystercatcher research population Schiermonnikoog
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. -
Hackfort
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. -
Hole-breeding passerines monitoring: Hoge Veluwe
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. -
Hole-breeding passerines monitoring: Liesbos
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.
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.
Highlighted ecological research infrastructures
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National Research Fleet
The National Research Fleet consists of three research vessels: RV Pelagia, RV Navicula and RV Adriaen Coenen.
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Limnotrons
The limnotrons are nine stainless steel indoor mesocosms with a high level of control.
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LTSER-platform Veluwe
The Veluwe is the largest connected nature area of the Netherlands, with a great array of ecological and socio-economic research.
Institutes
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NIOO-KNAW
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Leiden University
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NIOZ
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Radboud University
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Rijkswaterstaat
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Utrecht University
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UVA
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Wageningen University & Research
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Westerdijk Institute
Contact
If you have any additions to the inventory, please contact the NIOO Research Support Office via rso@nioo.knaw.nl.