MSc. M. van der Geest
PhD-student Marine Ecology		Ecology of tropical benthic communities Population dynamics Life-history strategies Carrying capacity Ecosystem functioning Marine foodwebs
Matthijs.van.der.Geest@nioz.nl +31(0)222-369484 +31(0)222-319674
Visiting address:	Postal address:	CV Research Interests Projects Links Downloads
Landsdiep 4 NL-1797 SZ 't Horntje (Texel) The Netherlands   Tel. (+31) (0)222-369300 Fax: (+31) (0)222-319674	P.O. Box 59, NL-1790 AB Den Burg The Netherlands

 

CV	Top ^
Personal
Family name     First name(s) Date of birth Place of birth	Van der Geest Matthijs 7 April 1978 Leiderdorp, The Netherlands
Education
2003 2002 1999 1996	PADI Dive Master MSc. Biology, University of Groningen BSc. Biology, Wageningen University Atheneum, Agnes College, Leiden
Prizes & Grants
2006	WOTRO Integrated Programme, NWO
Employment record
2006-2010 2005 2004 2003	PhD at NIOZ (Fragile biodiversity linkages) SOVON (Bird assessments in the province of Groningen) Nature XP / De Natuurschool (excursion guide) Project Scientist for Coral Cay Conservation (Roatan, Honduras)

 

Research Interests	Top ^
I try to understand the mechanisms underlying the tremendous carrying capacity of the Banc d'Arguin (Mauritania) for wintering waders. I do this by a bottom-up approach, thus by studying population dynamics of their benthic prey. By using tag and recapture methods I hope to come to valid production estimates of the most abundant benthic prey species in order to see if high production rates of benthic prey could possibly explain the high number of wintering waders. As an extra tool to better understand the functioning of the Banc d’Arguin foodweb, I make use of stable isotope techniques to reveal new throphic linkages. One new tropic linkage that I try to elucidate is that of bivalves of the familiy of Lucinidaea that harbour chemo-autotrophic bacteria in their gills. These endosymbiotic bacteria bearing bivalves are very abundant at the Banc d’Arguin and thus could be of great importance as a food source for wintering waders.

 

Projects	Top ^
Fragile biodiversity linkages: production and consumption in a nutrient-poor seagrass-dominated intertidal ecosystem, the Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania (funded by WOTRO, NWO) Supervisors: Prof. Th. Piersma (University of Groningen and Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research), Prof. J. van der Meer (Free University Amsterdam and Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research), Prof H. Olff (University of Groningen).

 

Link	Top ^
Electronic copy of my WOTRO proposal

 

Downloads	Top ^
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Selected Publications	Top ^
Jacques Clavier, Laurent Chauvaud, Antoine Carlier, Erwan Amice, Matthijs Van der Geest, Pierre Labrosse, Ahmed Diagne, Christian Hily (2011). Aerial and underwater carbon metabolism of a Zostera noltii seagrass bed in the Banc d’Arguin, Mauritania. Aquatic Botany 95 (2011) 24–30   Van der Geest M., J.A. van Gils, J. van der Meer, H. Olff, T. Piersma (2011). Suitability of calcein as an in situ growth marker in burrowing bivalves.  Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 399 (2011): 1-7   Van Gils J. A, M. v.d. Geest, C. Kraan, E. O. Folmer, E. J. Jansen & T. Piersma (2009). Gekoppelde draagkrachten tussen Waddenzee en Banc d’Arguin voor overwinterende steltlopers. Limosa 82 (2009):134-140