Climate change requires cities to adapt to heat, drought, and high-intensity rainfall to become resilient. In the Netherlands, more than 74% of population lives in urban areas. Many Dutch cities have intensified their efforts to become climate resilient and water-robust by 2050. One of the strategies …

Residing atop the trophic ladder, the jaguar plays a crucial role in the functioning, stability, and resilience of neotropical forest ecosystems. They influence the entire food web and have wide-ranging effects on various ecological processes. However, jaguars are a highly at-risk and near-threatened …

Information about the sources of plastic litter found in the Zeeuwse Delta is still scarce. This problem is addressed by this study with the aim to identify the possible sources of plastics that washed ashore on a selection of beaches in the Zeeuwse Delta. For this study the source and origin of the …

Amphibians, and in particular anurans, are amongst the most endangered species on earth. Comparing the physiology between urban and rural anurans provides key information on the effect of urbanization on anurans. In turn, this information can help with preservation and conservation of the species as …

The invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) started invading the Caribbean Sea since the 1980’s and were first sighted on the Saba Bank since 2009 where they established themselves fully during the following two years. They have no specific preference for prey species and their predation …

Coral reefs in the Caribbean have suffered massive losses of corals since the early 1980s due to a wide range of human impacts, such as explosive human populations growth, coastal pollution, global warming, overfishing, invasive species and diseases. The publication in the journal science in 2003 stated …

To ensure stability for ships, ballast water is often used to correct or adjust the list or trim of a ship. After loading the ballast water is often carried across the ocean and discharged in an area with another aquatic environment. As a result, invasive species can end up in the water and effect the …

The loss of biodiversity is a worldwide problem caused by over exploitation of natural resources, pollution, introduction of invasive species and other problems, human induced. The Netherlands is working on strengthening its natural environment boosting social and economic wellbeing. In Southwest Drenthe, …

The raccoon dog was introduced in Russia and has been moving west ever since. Currently there are populations in: Finland, Poland, Germany and the Baltic countries. There are sightings in Norway, Denmark and Sweden. There is a high possibility that the raccoon dog will settle in the Netherlands. Raccoon …

In 2005, a new sibling species of Aspergillus fumigatus was discovered: Aspergillus lentulus. Both species can cause invasive fungal disease in immune-compromised patients. The species are morphologically very similar. Current techniques for identification are PCR-based or morphology-based. These techniques …