Dr. Anieke van Leeuwen

I study the dynamics of marine ecosystems with emphasis on the roles of organismal life-history, species interactions, fisheries, and parasites. Ecologically diverse, these subjects share crucial aspects: energy is the common currency for interactions and low-level processes shape high-level dynamics. I use mathematical modelling and data analyses to study interactions and feedbacks, within and between species. My line revolves around the mechanisms that lead to population collapses of Atlantic cod, surges of Wadden Sea seabass, how size-structure in fish populations shapes the top-down and bottom-up regulation in marine food webs, and how predation can influence the size-structure of host species to the benefit of parasites. Research based in theory, validated in observations.