Spatial Ecology

Dates: Sunday 29 March (late afternoon) – Friday 3 April 2026 (noon)

Location: Field station the Herdershut, Schiermonnikoog, the Netherlands.

Organisers:
Dr. Magdalena Kozielska-Reid (Research School Ecology and Evolution, RSEE)
Prof. dr. Johan van de Koppel (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, NIOZ)

Lecturers:

• Prof. dr. Johan van de Koppel (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, NIOZ)
• Dr. Valerie Reijers (Utrecht University)
• Prof. dr. Stijn Temmerman (University of Antwerp)
• Prof. dr. Dries Bonte (Ghent University) 

Scope of the course
Including space in ecological studies has become increasingly important in the past decades. Recent studies reveal that ecological processes can generate striking spatial complexity and that the movement and distribution of organisms interact with spatial environmental patterns. Studying these processes and interactions involves concepts and techniques that most young ecologists are unfamiliar with.

The aim of this course is to stimulate discussion and improve our understanding of how spatial interactions shape communities, ecosystems, and the movement patterns of organisms. Concepts such as spatial self-organisation, scale-free movement and biophysical interactions at multiple scales will be dealt with, as well as current techniques to quantify plant and animal movement, and the implications of spatial self-organisation in an ecosystem.

Contents & Structure
The subject will be worked out on the basis of lectures, field excursion, case studies, discussion and computer practicals. The contact with current research projects is guaranteed as concrete examples will be treated by scientists working in the field. There will also be the opportunity of discuss work and/or plans of the participating students with the whole group.

Preliminary programme:
The final programme for the course will be published in due time.