Centre for Wetland Ecology |

Previous CWE Symposium: Future of rivers and streams: ecology and restoration under global change

6 March 2019
University of Antwerp, Belgium

The aquatic environment is a very dynamic and complex metasystem that fulfills a large number of key services. It hosts an enormous diversity of plant and animal species, but is threatened by global change. The sustainable use, management and protection of the aquatic environment in all its diversity, is key to the success of a whole range of human activities and their long term sustainability. This CWE symposium lists present-day threats and opportunities in rivers, makes projections for the future and learns about 21st century river management.

Presentations

Bert Teunkens (University of Antwerp): Quantification and characterization of the (macro)plastic flux in the Scheldt basin (Belgium).

Jonas Schoelynck (University of Antwerp) & Paul van Loon (Flanders Environment Agency): Is the invasion of the Chinese Mitten Crab a threat to lowland rivers in Flanders?

Peter van Puijenbroek (PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency): Fish migration in European rivers: a long way to go.

Stefan Preiner (University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna) & Rosanne Reitsema (University of Antwerp): Effects of macrophytes on ecosystem metabolism and nutrient cycling in a groundwater-fed lowland river.

Stijn Temmerman, Jim van Belzen, Olivier Gourgue (University of Antwerp) & Johan van de Koppel (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research): What will become of the Hedwig-Prosperpolder after de-embankment?

Bianca Veraart & Bart Aubroeck (Antwerp Province, Dienst Integraal Waterbeleid): Habitat restoration in small rivers using artificial materials.

Rob Fraaije (Waterboard Aa en Maas): Restoration and management of aquatic and riparian vegetation in climate proof stream valleys.

Menno Straatsma (Utrecht University): Biodiversity recovery following delta-wide measures for flood risk reduction.

Ralf Verdonschot (Wageningen Environmental Research): Riparian zone reconnection as a catalyst for watershed restoration: a case study on the Leuvenumse beek.

Previous CWE Symposium: Towards renewable energy: opportunities and consequences for freshwater and marine ecosystems

29 Juni 2018
Deltares, Delft

Renewable energy sources such as solar panels, geothermal energy and wind turbines are increasingly replacing fossil fuels. Freshwater and marine ecosystems provide many opportunities for generating renewable energy, however, this may come with ecological consequences. This CWE symposium brings together research on both the opportunities and consequences of the current energy transition for freshwater and marine ecosystems.

Presentations

Ralph Buij (Wageningen Environmental Research): Broad assessment of species vulnerability to the energy transition in The Netherlands and solutions for a way forward.

Jeroen Geurts, Christian Fritz and Renske Vroom (Radboud University Nijmegen): Climate mitigation in rewetted peatlands used for paludiculture.

Barry Scholten (IFTechnology): Smart polders: opportunities to generate thermal energy from polder water.

Hilde Tomassen and Fons Smolders (B-ware): Lake Ouderkerk: how the extraction of cold water and an improvement of the water quality can be combined.

Ingeborg van Splunder (Rijkswaterstaat): The impact of offshore windfarms on the marine ecosystem.

Gerard de Laak (Sportvisserij Nederland): Effects of hydropower on fish.

Rick Wortelboer (Deltares): The ecological effects of solar panels on freshwater ecosystems.

Stefan Kools (KWR Water Cycle Research Institute): The impact of geothermal heatpumps on ground water systems.

Gerben van Geest and Pascal Boderie (Deltares): The impact of cold water release on ditch ecosystems.

Previous CWE Symposium: Future of aquatic carbon: impacts, feedbacks and mitigation

17 November 2017
Netherlands Institute of Ecology

The global carbon cycle is changing at an unprecedented rate, with a wide range of consequences for aquatic ecosystems. For instance, primary producers may benefit from higher levels of CO₂ while ocean acidification may hamper calcification in marine organisms. Furthermore, changes in wetland functioning may feedback on global carbon cycling with shifts in greenhouse gas emissions accelerating or buffering climate change. This CWE symposium brings together research on different components of the carbon cycle in both inland and marine systems, aiming to present a comprehensive overview on the future of carbon in aquatic ecosystems.

Presentations

Appy Sluijs & Joost Frieling (Utrecht University): Oceanic carbon in the past and future

Sarian Kosten (Radboud University Nijmegen): Global change impacts on greenhouse gas emissions from aquatic ecosystems

Ralf Aben (Radboud University Nijmegen): Effect of warming and primary producer dominance on the greenhouse gas balance of shallow lakes

Gerben van Geest (Deltares): Carbon: not only a limiting nutrient in soft water lakes

Lennart de Nooijer (Royal Netherlands Insitute for Sea Research): Impacts of elevated pCO₂ on marine calcifiers

Mandy Velthuis (Netherlands Institute of Ecology): Elevated pCO₂ but not warming enhances C:N, C:P and N:P stoichiometry of marine phytoplankton

Jolanda Verspagen (University of Amsterdam): Impact of rising CO₂ on freshwater phytoplankton – from cell to bloom dynamics

Annelies Veraart (Radboud University Nijmegen): A microbial perspective on methane oxidation in wetlands

David Campbell (University of Waikato, New Zealand): New Zealand raised peat bogs persist as strong carbon and greenhouse gas sinks during droughts and artificial water table lowering

Previous CWE Symposium: Multiple stressors and ecological complexity in aquatic systems

23 June 2017 - Leiden University

Realistic predictions of how existing and emerging anthropogenic stressors (e.g. climate change, pesticides and nutrients) affect our natural environment and the organisms therein are essential for targeted ecosystem management. Historically, scientific studies have focused on the effects of single anthropogenic stressors and single ecosystems. However, it is increasingly recognized that multiple anthropogenic stressors can interact and that anthropogenic pressures resonate beyond ecosystem boundaries. This CWE symposium unites research on various stressors and natural complexity, focusing on aquatic ecosystems.

Mirco Bundschuh (SLU, Uppsala): Effects of contaminants across ecosystem boundaries: Concept and experimental design.

Annemarie van Wezel (Utrecht University/KWR): Understanding and mitigating risks of chemicals in (ground)water systems.

James Campbell and Hans Slabbekoorn (Leiden University): Sound impact on fish: From individual hearing to population effects.

Alessandro Manfrin (IGB, Berlin): Artificial light at night alters fluxes and community structure in recipient aquatic ecosystems.

Ellard Hunting (Leiden University): Cascading effects of stressors on detrital food webs.

Milo de Baat and Michiel Kraak (University of Amsterdam): Innovating ecotoxicological water quality assessment.

Thijs Bosker and Nyncke Blomer (Leiden University College): Modeling population-level impacts of stressors on sheepshead minnow in the Gulf of Mexico.

Luc De Meester (KU Leuven): Genetic adaptation to a mosaic of environmental stressors.

Els Smit (RIVM): Water quality policy in a European context: Looking for the right tools to protect aquatic ecosystems.

Previous CWE Symposium: From Wadden Sea to Marker Wadden: functioning and restoration of large aquatic ecosystems

The Wadden Sea and the IJssel- and Markermeer were once part of the single estuary of the Zuiderzee, but have become units since closure of the Afsluitdijk in 1932. Both ecosystems continue to be of great importance as habitat for aquatic organisms, yet they also face many challenges for the conservation of plants, fish and birds. In this CWE symposium we investigate the main drivers of the functioning of these large marine and freshwater ecosystems and pay ample attention to the many new initiatives to restore and improve the quality of nature from Wadden Sea to Marker Wadden.

Han Olff (University of Groningen): Starting from scratch: assembly of novel ecosystems.

Roel Posthoorn (Natuurmonumenten): Bird paradise the (Marker) Wadden: restoration of aquatic ecosystems.

Jan van Gils (Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research): Trends and bottlenecks in shorebirds in Wadden systems.

Mennobart van Eerden (Rijkswaterstaat): Waterbird trends in Lake Markermeer and IJsselmeer.

Marjolijn Christianen (University of Groningen): What drives the production of the Wadden Sea food-web?

Harm van der Geest (University of Amsterdam): What drives productivity of Lake Markermeer?

Mariëlle van Riel (Alterra/University of Amsterdam) and Ruurd Noordhuis (Deltares): Marker Wadden “candy-shop” for birds? Historic analysis of a degrading lake and options to increase production.

Wilco de Bruijne (LINKit consult): From Wadden Sea to Marker Wadden and back: restoration of fish migration.

Laura Govers (University of Groningen/ Radboud University): Stimulating ecosystem engineers: restoration of seagrass beds.

Previous CWE Symposium: The good, the bad or a bit of both? The role of exotic species in aquatic ecosystems

Globalization and climate change facilitate the spread of exotic species into our ecosystems. We fear that exotic species will destroy our native ecosystems. However, our feelings towards exotic species are mixed, because sometimes they may play a crucial role in healing our damaged ecosystems. In the upcoming CWE symposium we unravel how exotic plants and animals impact ecosystem functioning, find out whether they coexist or compete with native species and discover their impact on native flora and fauna. Download a pdf of the poster

The presentations are available for download:

Ralf Verdonschot (Alterra Wageningen UR) - Do non-indigenous species replace or coexist with native species? An example from Dutch freshwater invertebrate communities.
Martijn Dorenbosch (Bureau Waardenburg) - Invasive fish in Dutch aquatic systems: a blessing or a curse?
Annemarieke Spitzen (RAVON & Ghent University) - Invasive pathogens threaten amphibian diversity
Joachim Mergeay (Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek) - Grasping coevolution is key to managing invasive species
Iris Stiers (Free University Brussels) - The influence of invasive plant species cover on different biological communities in temperate aquatic ecosystems
Emiel Brouwer (B-WARE) - New Zealand Pigmyweed (Crassula helmsii), a big threat to the vegetation of soft water pools?
Bart Grutters (NIOO) - Native and non-native plants support similar ecosystem functions in freshwater ecosystems
Ruurd Noordhuis (Deltares) - Pros and cons of invaders in the larger lakes in The Netherlands
Bart Schaub (Hoogheemraadschap Rijnland) - Investigating the quagga mussel invasion

Previous CWE Symposium: Half a century of fundamental and applied wetland ecology, 27 November 2015

Talks can be downloaded from this page.

The last CWE symposium, 'Half a century of fundamental and applied wetland ecology: from acidification to climate change', was dedicated to the retirement of Prof. dr. Jan Roelofs.

Wetland ecologists have dealt with many different anthropogenic stressors over the past decades. The fundamental and applied research concerning these stressors has contributed to our knowledge on how wetland ecosystems function. In this symposium, the speakers will talk about drivers of change, important ecosystem processes and options for habitat restoration. Following the regular programme, Prof. dr. Jan Roelofs gave his official farewell lecture after 42 years of ecological research.

Previous CWE Symposium: Growing Peat, 11 June 2015

The symposium on Growing Peat was well visited by an international audience of more than 80 people. We had a full programme with interesting talks and a wonderful lunch excursion to the Volgermeer. The presentations are available as pdf's:

Prof. dr. Bas van Geel on A palaeo-ecological view on peat growth
Prof. dr. Leon Lamers on Volgermeer: from chemical waste dump to growing peatland
Dr. Jeroen van Zuidam on Colonization by ecosystem engineers: Influence of trophic level and waterbird disturbance
Ciska Overbeek MSc on Production and decomposition of aquatic pioneer vegetation
Sarah Faye Harpenslager MSc on Peat formation: a matter of (C-) balance
Dr. Annemieke Kooijman on Growing peat: don’t forget the rich-fen stage
Dr. Winnie Rip on Can watermanagement stimulate peat formation?
Dr. Bas van de Riet on Omhoog met het Veen: Results & Perspectives for Paludiculture in the Peat Meadow Landscape

We thank all participants for their contribution to this successful symposium. The next CWE symposium, 'Half a century of fundamental and applied wetland ecology: from acidification to climate change', is dedicated to the retirement of Prof. dr. Jan Roelofs and will be held in Nijmegen at the 27th of November. More information will follow later.

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