Residing atop the trophic ladder, the jaguar plays a crucial role in the functioning, stability, and resilience of neotropical forest ecosystems. They influence the entire food web and have wide-ranging effects on various ecological processes. However, jaguars are a highly at-risk and near-threatened …

Information about the sources of plastic litter found in the Zeeuwse Delta is still scarce. This problem is addressed by this study with the aim to identify the possible sources of plastics that washed ashore on a selection of beaches in the Zeeuwse Delta. For this study the source and origin of the …

Amphibians, and in particular anurans, are amongst the most endangered species on earth. Comparing the physiology between urban and rural anurans provides key information on the effect of urbanization on anurans. In turn, this information can help with preservation and conservation of the species as …

Like most ocean regions today, the European and contiguous seas experience cumulative impacts from local human activities and global pressures. They are largely in poor environmental condition with deteriorating trends. Despite several success stories, European policies for marine conservation fall short …

Camera trap technology has galvanized the study of predator-prey ecology in wild animal communities by expanding the scale and diversity of predator-prey interactions that can be analyzed. While observational data from systematic camera arrays have informed inferences on the spatiotemporal outcomes of …

The invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) started invading the Caribbean Sea since the 1980’s and were first sighted on the Saba Bank since 2009 where they established themselves fully during the following two years. They have no specific preference for prey species and their predation …

Coral reefs in the Caribbean have suffered massive losses of corals since the early 1980s due to a wide range of human impacts, such as explosive human populations growth, coastal pollution, global warming, overfishing, invasive species and diseases. The publication in the journal science in 2003 stated …

To ensure stability for ships, ballast water is often used to correct or adjust the list or trim of a ship. After loading the ballast water is often carried across the ocean and discharged in an area with another aquatic environment. As a result, invasive species can end up in the water and effect the …

The loss of biodiversity is a worldwide problem caused by over exploitation of natural resources, pollution, introduction of invasive species and other problems, human induced. The Netherlands is working on strengthening its natural environment boosting social and economic wellbeing. In Southwest Drenthe, …

The invasion of alien species threatens ecosystem functioning and is the second greatest cause for biodiversity loss around the world. Presently the Arctic regions are the least invaded realms of the world. However not much is known on the current- and future impact of alien species on the Arctic Ocean. …