ANIMAL ECOLOGY

Welcome to the Animal Ecology Group website. 

(recent photograph of our group at Animal Ecology Group 2007)

Head: Prof.dr. Theunis Piersma

 

Black-tailed godwits on the move  

In May 2009 we started with an exciting new avenue in our population study of Black-tailed godwits: satellite transmitters were implanted in 15 godwits that were breeding in SW Friesland. We can now follow these individuals during their journeys from the Dutch breeding grounds to their wintering areas in West Africa. The aim of this project is to gain better insight in flyway and stop-over sites of this endangered migratory meadowbird species. You can join us in following these individuals on a daily basis via the website of Birdlife Netherlands ( http://www.vogelbescherming.nl/nl/actueel/grutto_op_reis/volg_de_gruttos ). This is a joined project with the US Geological Survey, Altenburg en Wymenga Ecological Consultants, Nederland-Gruttoland and financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and the Province of Fryslân.  

 

Info about the Animal Ecology Group

Our research focuses on the behavioural ecology of migration, dispersal, sex and reproduction. We use both an evolutionary and physiological approach to study animals in their natural environment. The emphasis is on the individual level, where interactions between individuals are of growing interest.

The work is done in a variety of systems all over the world and focusses on birds (waders, songbirds and waterfowl). The ultimate aim is to understand distribution patterns as a consequence of historical constraints in interplay with current selection. We expect that this understanding will also help to conserve nature around us.

See the menu on the left for more information on our research, education and organisation.

The Animal Ecology Group participates in the Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies (CEES), which also harbours the research groups Community and Conservation Ecology , Evolutionary Genetics , Plant Physiology , Marine Benthic Ecology and Evolution , Microbial Ecology , Ocean Ecosystems and Theoretical Biology . The institute CEES coordinates the Dutch graduate school Functional Ecology (FE).

Furthermore, the groups participate in the Topmaster programme Evolutionary Biology.

Our Group is housed at the Biological Centre, Kerklaan 30, 9751 NN Haren, The Netherlands

Mail address:

Animal Ecology Group, P.O.Box 14, 9750 AA Haren -The Netherlands

Phone +31 (0)50 3632040, Fax +31 (0)50 3635205

See "Information for visitors" for maps of Haren and Groningen