Coastal dynamics
We study how environmental changes affect the dynamics in coastal areas. What changes in the food web, in species interactions, in biogeochemical and larger ecological processes and ultimately in evolution?
Our research uses multidisciplinary approaches to gain insight into changing coastal dynamics across broad spatial and temporal settings, from micro to macro scales and under tidal, seasonal, and centennial periods. We map the landscape and biodiversity under water, but also what lives in the sea bottom, where the Dutch Wadden Sea has our specific interest. A flagship project in this area of expertise is SIBES (Synoptic Intertidal Benthic Survey), a long-term monitoring scheme for sampling intertidal macrofauna across the Dutch Wadden Sea. The systematic data stemming from this project are in turn essential for other research projects and questions, within NIOZ but also at other research institutes.