- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics - University of Amsterdam

Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics

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About IBED

Life on Earth evolves under continuously changing environmental conditions. Changes in climate, the atmosphere, geo-morphology, ocean currents, hydrology, soils, habitats: they all may affect the functioning of ecosystems and the diversity of organisms they sustain.

To enable a sustainable management of the system called Earth, a thorough understanding of the functioning of ecosystems and their response to natural and human-induced changes is needed. The Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) meets this challenge through a joint effort of scientists with expertise in biology, physical geography, environmental chemistry and mathematical modelling.

news

Does it make sense to be nice?

On Sunday 15 November, Dr. Martijn Egas of the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) held a 'Wakker Worden Kinderlezing' (Lecture series for children) about this question at the NEMO science museum in Amsterdam.

Dr. Jasper Vrugt wins Young Outstanding Scientist Award

Dr. Jasper A. Vrugt, a guest researcher of the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics has been selected to receive the 2010 Outstanding Young Scientist Award from the European Geophysical Union (EGU).

Coupled oscillations of predators and prey cause chaos in food webs

Predator and prey species may display oscillations in population abundances. When predators increase, their prey populations go down. However, what happens if two predator-prey systems interact? In a new study highlighted in Nature and Science, Elisa Benincà and Jef Huisman of IBED show how the interplay between two predator-prey cycles produces chaos in an experimental food web.

Rapid spread of the Mexican flu not necessarily a bad thing

According to Dr. Maarten Boerlijst, assistant professor in Theoretical Ecology with the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) it is not necessarily a bad thing if the Mexican flu spreads rapidly through The Netherlands.

Mauritius since the last ice-age

In the autumn of 2009, a research team of the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) led by Prof. dr. Henry Hooghiemstra saw an important research project funded to study the impacts of human and natural change on Mauritius since the last ice age. Special attention will be given to the extinction of the dodo, and the presence of a ‘dodo graveyard’ with an exceptional concentration of dodo skeletons on Mauritius.

The UvA climbs World Rankings

The University of Amsterdam is the highest ranking Dutch University according to THE QS World University Rankings 2009.

Winter areas determine contaminant levels in Svalbard geese

A recent study by the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) shows that contaminant levels in pink-footed geese are three times higher than in barnacle geese. This may be caused by a different pollutant exposure in their wintering areas in continental Europe and Scotland, respectively.

Successful parabolic flights expected to yield insights in avalanches on Mars

Last Monday, researchers from the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) of the UvA together with colleagues from Utrecht University (UU) and TU Delft (TUD) performed a successful research flight campaign above the North Sea to study avalanches on Mars

IBED researchers advise Ecuadorian government about sustainable reforestation

In a five-year research programme, researchers of the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) investigated depressions of the upper forest line in the Ecuadorian Andes as a result of human interference, and formulated directions for future reforestation efforts. In June 2009 they presented the final results to the Ecuadorian Vice-Minister of the Environment Blgo. Manuel Bravo.

Biofuels, sustainability and biodiversity

Are biofuels a sustainable alternative for fossil fuels? In a recent publication, Prof. Lucas Reijnders of the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) of the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and co-authors critically examined the impact of biofuel production in Southeast Asia on biodiversity and CO2 reduction. They concluded that when biodiversity loss and CO2 release associated with land use change are entered in the equation, biofuels are often unsustainable.

Also refer to

Research Groups of

Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics

Research Showcase

The varied research of IBED illustrated in our Research Showcase.

IBED is a leading centre for research and education on aquatic ecosystems. Click here to visit the special IBED WATER site