Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research

Department of Coastal Systems

Understanding how various levels of ecological organisation respond to environmental change through studies on eco-evolutionary patterns and processes in the coastal zone

Working at exceptionally large spatiotemporal scales, the NIOZ is unique in that its expertise spans almost the complete trophic pyramid: from primary producers (algae) to secondary producers (shellfish, worms, snails), and predators (birds, mammals, fish) at subsequent trophic levels. This ecological expertise is complemented by the in-depth knowledge at NIOZ of the local and global physical properties and processes of coastal systems.

News and updates

Monday 19 May 2025
Cordgrass spreads the risk
Cordgrass that establishes itself on virgin soil on the coast, tries to avoid the risks of being washed away by forming small clusters of plants. That is shown by the research of coastal ecologist Clea van de Ven, described in the dissertation she…
Wednesday 07 May 2025
Coastal squeeze is bad for biodiversity, and for us!
Worldwide, coastal areas are squeezed between a rising sea level on one end and human structures on the other. The distance between a sandy coastline and the first human structures averages less than 400 meters around the world. And the narrower a…
Wednesday 16 April 2025
Researchers solve the case of the shrinking red knots
Many animal species become smaller or larger in recent decades, with climate change often mentioned as a cause. Red knots, shorebirds travelling 10 thousand kilometers every year between breeding grounds in Arctic Russia and wintering grounds in West…

Expertise

Coastal dynamics We study how environmental changes affect the energy flows and ecological processes within the context of trophic interactions, ranging from biogeochemical to species interactions.
Movement & Connectivity We study the movement of plankton, invertebrates, fish, birds, reptiles and marine mammals on various spatial scales, and how their movement connects trophic levels, habitats, and ecosystems.
Adapting to change We explore the possibilities as well as limitations of organisms to adapt to environmental change with its effects on population dynamics and community structures.

Employees

 
Peck, Myron
Head of Scientific Department
 
Bijleveld, Allert
Senior Scientist
 
Camphuijsen, Kees
Senior Scientist
 
Gils van, Jan
Research Leader
 
Govers, Laura
Senior Scientist
 
Heide van der, Tjisse
Research Leader
 
Leeuwen van, Anieke
Senior Scientist
 
Molen van der, Johan
Senior Scientist
 
Philippart, Katja
Research Leader
 
Piersma, Theunis
Senior Research Leader
 
Puccinelli, Eleonora
Tenure track Scientist
 
Thieltges, David
Senior Scientist
 
Visser, Fleur
Senior Scientist
 
Berghuis, Paul
PhD student
 
Botting, Isla
Visiting PhD
 
Gobbens, Evy
Visiting PhD
 
He, Haiyan
Visiting PhD
 
Hendriks, Anne
PhD student
 
Jolma, Rosa
PhD student
 
Katz, Tini
Visiting PhD
 
Peterson, Emily
PhD student
 
Rees van, Floris
PhD student
 
Scholten, Charlotte
PhD student
 
Varley, Daniel
PhD student
 
Vorenkamp, Anne
PhD student
 
Wilde De, Marie
PhD student
 
Brunner, Livia
Laboratory Assistant
 
Colas Loricera, Felix
Project/Department Controller
 
Dekinga, Anne
Senior Research Assistant
 
Horn ten, Job
Senior Research Assistant
 
Kleine Schaars, Loran
Research Assistant
 
Koolhaas, Anita
Research Assistant
 
Leeuwen van, Sonja
Senior Research Assistant
 
Monte de, Luc
Senior Laboratory Assistant
 
Mosk, Dennis
Research Assistant
 
Twijnstra, Robert
Research Assistant
 
Wagemaakers, Eric
Senior Research Assistant
 
Weerlee van, Evaline
Research Assistant
 
Wit de, Bas
Research Assistant

Linked Projects

Sedway
Funder
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research
Project duration
1 Oct 2024 - 30 Sep 2028
ACTNOW_Advancing understanding of Cumulative Impacts on European marine biodiversity
Supervisor
Myron Peck
Funder
European Community
Project duration
1 Jan 2023 - 31 Dec 2026
UUNIOZ_Builders on the beach
Funder
Utrecht University
Project duration
1 Jan 2021 - 31 Dec 2025

Linked publications

Other departments