The natural value of Dutch sandy beaches has been declining for decades. These relatively unstable, low nutritious, wave-washed environments lack the primary producers that represent the base of the food web. Thus, the sandy beach food web relies almost entirely on nutrient influx of other systems. Beside …

Plastic pollution has increased over the years and this affects especially seabirds which are vulnerable to this type of pollution. A species that is used as indicator species for plastic pollution is the short-tailed shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris). These seabirds belong to the procellariids group …

During incubation, an embryo is developing in the egg for a period of 21 days. During the incubation process air exchange occurs between the egg and its external environment during which it loses humidity due to water diffusion through the shell. This loss in humidity can affect chicks’ quality and, …

In this thesis project research is one how Hatchery ter Heerdt can improve their chick quality by introducing an objective quality scoring system for their outgoing product at the hatchery. New parameters like chick length and navel quality are tested in the hatchery.