Katja Philippart
I work on the crossroads of algae, shellfish and environmental change. When changes occur in the climate or in the nutrient supply in the Wadden Sea, short-lived microalgae – and accordingly, the shellfish that feed on those algae – are the first to respond. Changes in the base of the food web alter the natural values of the Wadden Sea, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. That has direct consequences for the fish that use the Wadden Sea as a breeding ground and for migrating birds that find a vital tank station there. It also affects the people who earn their living from shellfish fishing. So it is crucial to understand the interactions between microalgae and shellfish.
Contact details
+31222369563Department
Research interests and expertise
- Coastal ecology
- Long-term changes Wadden Sea foodweb
- Pelagic and benthic microalgae and bivalves (larvae)
- Comperative analyses Wadden systems
- Impacts of climate change & eutrophication
Additional functions
Utrecht University - Professor of Productivity of Coastal Marine Ecosystems