Our mission is to translate ecological understanding into actionable knowledge that helps safeguard ecosystems in a changing world.
Understanding ecosystems in a rapidly changing world
What sustains life on a rapidly changing planet? Ecology helps provide the answer. From the diversity of organisms in a gram of soil to ecosystem functioning across continents, ecological processes underpin food production, climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, and human well-being.
At the Ecology & Biodiversity group at Utrecht University, we study how biodiversity and global environmental change shape ecosystems and the services they provide to society. Our research bridges fundamental and applied science, connecting local ecological processes to global environmental challenges. By combining experiments, observational studies, large-scale research infrastructures, global research networks, and citizen science, we seek to uncover the ecological mechanisms that determine ecosystem functioning, resilience, and sustainability.
Our research themes
Our research is organized around three interconnected themes that together address how ecosystems function and respond to environmental change.
Above- & Belowground InteractionsHow do interactions among plants, soils, microbes, and consumers influence ecosystem functioning?
Biodiversity & Ecosystem FunctioningHow does biodiversity shape productivity, stability, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem resilience?
Ecological ScalingHow do local ecological processes scale up to landscapes, regions, and global ecosystems?
How we do science
Addressing ecological challenges requires integrative and collaborative approaches. We therefore combine complementary ways of doing research:
Large-scale experimental platformsWe use state-of-the-art experimental infrastructures to test ecological theory under realistic conditions.
Global research networksWe collaborate across ecosystems, climates, and continents to identify general ecological principles and scale local findings globally.
Citizen science & societal engagementWe work together with citizens, stakeholders, and communities to co-create knowledge and strengthen societal impact.
Our values
At Ecology & Biodiversity, we believe that scientific excellence depends on how we work together. Addressing complex environmental challenges requires an open, inclusive, equitable, and collaborative research culture. We foster a supportive environment where curiosity, teamwork, scientific rigor, and empathy enable both people and research to thrive.
Research-driven education
Our research and societal priorities are deeply embedded in our teaching. We aim to inspire the next generation of ecologists through inclusive, collaborative, and research-driven education. Students engage with real ecological questions through fieldwork, experiments, data analysis, and participation in ongoing researchâdeveloping the knowledge and skills needed to understand ecosystems and contribute to solutions for environmental challenges.
Meet our researchers
The Ecology & Biodiversity group brings together researchers working across scales, systems, and disciplines to better understand biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in a changing world.
