"Positive interactions between organisms and their environment is key in the functioning of many ecosystems. How can we use such knowledge in ecosystem restoration?"

Research focus: ecosystem restoration and sustainable peatland use

I am an ecologist specializing in the functioning and restoration of wetlands, peatlands, salt marshes, and intertidal ecosystems, with a strong focus on systems dominated by habitat-modifying organisms (e.g., oysters, mussels, and ecosystem-engineering plants).

My research has two main themes:

1. Ecosystem functioning & nature-based restoration
   I investigate how habitat-modifying species shape ecosystem processes at a fundamental level. I apply this knowledge to develop innovative, nature-based restoration strategies, often by mimicking emergent traits using tools such as biodegradable structures, 3D-printed substrates, and other ecological engineering approaches that enhance biological facilitation.

2. Sustainable peatland management & rewetting strategies
   I study how to reduce the negative impacts of peatland drainage, including nutrient runoff and greenhouse gas emissions, through rewetting and paludiculture and full peatland restoration (bog and fen). My work focuses on restoring internal feedbacks that support ecological recovery while enabling sustainable economic use.

I combine field observations, controlled field experiments and laboratory studies across multiple spatial scales, including landscape-level analyses, to understand ecosystem dynamics and inform restoration practice.

Ralph Temmink has been a member of the Utrecht Young Academy, a bridge between young and talented researchers, since 2026.