ABSTRACT DOWNLOAD: The book of abstracts is available for download HERE.
Tuesday 10 February
| 08:30 | Registration and coffee in the Air/Fire and setting up posters | |||||
| 10:15 | Words of Welcome and Introduction to NAEM 2026 (Earth) | |||||
| 10:30 | Plenary 1: Being an ecologist in a world of biodiversity decline | |||||
| 12:10 | Lunch in the restaurant | |||||
| Earth | Water | Fire 1 | Rooms 2 & 3 | Rooms 10 & 11 | Main entrance | |
| 14:00 | Parallel 1a: Exploring Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning: From Traits to Functions | Parallel 1b: The Community (and) Ecology of Tropical Forests | Parallel 1c: Bridging Modelling and Field Ecology | Parallel 1d: Agroecological Transitions through Co-Creation: Multifunctionality in Rural Landscapes” | Parallel 1e: Plant Community responses to spatial and temporal scales | Workshop 1: Walking in Darwins Footsteps |
Conveners:
| Conveners: | Conveners: | Conveners: | Conveners: | Conveners: | |
| 14:00 | Cell size matters: a unifying theory across the tree of life (Wilco Verberk, Radboud University) | Slow but steady: young tropical forests with higher drought tolerance show lower productivity (Jazz Johanna Maria Kok, Wageningen University & Research) | Modelling the carrying capacity of Low-Trophic Aquaculture in the North Sea (Merel Lanjouw, Wageningen University & Research) | Above and below ground legacies in soil and vegetation shape early tropical succession (Tommonari Matsuo, Wageningen University & Research) | A connectivity threshold between grass patches amplifies coastal dune formation (Paul Berghuis, Utrecht University) | Many great minds have had their best ideas while out and about on daily walks to mull over a scientific question or on the look for inspiration. Charles Darwin, Jane Goodall and many more were known to walk daily for field observations and to develop their ideas. In this workshop we invite participants to walk in their footsteps on an hour-long stroll (approximately 5km). Rediscover what it means to you to be an ecologist, what inspires your work, connect and share with the group at the end. |
| 14:20 | Understanding plant diversity effects on community multitrophic interactions: the role of leaf and root defence traits (Leonardo Bassi, Netherlands Institute of Ecology) | Effect of dominant and rare tree species on productivity in secondary tropical forests (Iris Hordijk, Wageningen University & Research) | The impressive evasive performance of an aquatic prey (Lars Koopmans, University of Amsterdam) | Exploring rice cultivation as a sustainable future for Dutch peatlands (Martijne Kannekens, Leiden University) | Plant-soil feedback matters more than competition for short-term temporal dynamics of grassland community (Miradili Kuerban, Leiden University) | |
| 14:40 | Seagrass meadows as thermal shields: buffering sediment temperatures during heatwaves (B Walles, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research) | Predicting Species-Area Relationships in Fragmented Forests (Monique de Jager, Utrecht University) | Guano fertilization strengthens dune-engineering traits across dune grass species and origins, with consequences for dune dynamics (Floris van Rees, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research) | Monitoring of agroecological transitions at different scales (Anne van Doorn, Wageningen University and Research) | Effect of herbivore exclosure and winter inundation on vegetation heterogeneity and plant community composition in a grassland-wetland system (Emma Polman, University of Amsterdam) | |
| 15:00 | One species, diverse dunes: Intraspecific trait variation in a coastal engineer (Carlijn Lammers, Utrecht University) | Forest boundary shape modifies resilience through interactions with dispersal and savanna fires (Max van der Ree, Utrecht University) | Combining modelling and field studies for a better understanding of the effect of goose grazing on agricultural grassland yields (Nelleke Buitendijk, Faunabeheereenheid) | ALLFacts: Scaling Agroecological Transition Across Europe l The case of the ALLFacts Dutch Living Labs (Marjolein Elings, Wageningen University & Research) | Community-driven science on the edge: a Belgian case study from the MIREN Rocks network about rock climbing impacts on cliff vegetation (Sarane Coen, Utrecht University) | |
| 15:20 | Shifts in Biodiversity in Response to Mussel Bottom Culture in the Wadden Sea (Lotte Bouwman, Wageningen University & Research) | How land-use history and farm management determine multi-taxa biodiversity and ecosystem service multifunctionality in vanilla agroforestry (Dominic Martin, Wageningen University & Research) | Embracing ecological complexity in trait-based simulation models (Jorad de Vries, Wageningen University & Research) | Soil and Peace: Bridging soil ecological knowledge and frameworks for conflict resolution (Giles Roos, Netherlands Institute of Ecology) | Tracing plant diversity changes on the Swiss Plateau during agricultural intensification: evidence from pollen records (Catrien Hoffman, Utrecht University) | |
| 15:40 | Coffee and tea (Air / Fire) | |||||
| Earth | Water | Fire 1 | Rooms 2 & 3 | Rooms 10 & 11 | ||
| 16:10 | Parallel 2a: Collectively Collecting Data: Using Citizen Science in Ecological Research | Parallel 2b: Ecology Without Borders: Resource Subsidies and Connections Across Habitats and Ecosystems | Parallel 2c: Urban Ecology | Parallel 2d: Integrative Ecology: How Energy, Behavior, and Environment Shape Species and Ecosystems | Workshop 2: The Ecosystem of Ecological and Biodiversity Research Infrastructures in the Netherlands | |
Conveners:
| Conveners: | Conveners:
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| 16:10 | From citizen science to a new bird atlas: enhanced data collection, modern analyses, and improved population insights (Michiel Boom , Sovon) | Connecting the landscapes and waterscapes of the Netherlands (Nacho Villar & Casper van Leeuwen) | Green roofs (Eva Drukker, Wageningen University & Research) | Effects of canopy openness and forest management intensity on decomposition rate and decomposer communities of different types of necromass (Marit Hertlein, TU Dresden) | Within the Netherlands there are a number of scientific infrastructures that support ecological and biodiversity research. In this workshop we briefly present these infrastructures, how they complement each other and the opportunities and challenges we face. Our workshop is also an invitation for researchers to express their needs for tools and facilities and bring to the fore their contribution to further develop a coherent ecosystem of research infrastructures in the Netherlands. | |
| 16:30 | Ringing birds for science and conservation: a ‘high-end’ citizen science project (Henk van der Jeugd, Netherlands Institute of Ecology) | The carbon connection: impacts of succession and season on the food webs in the newly restored wetland islands of Marker Wadden (Gijs Hendrik van Beilen, Radboud University) | Urban airborne allergenic pollen shows highly local patterns driven by public green spaces (Nemi Dorst, Naturalis Biodiversity Center) | Energetic cost of infection is key to food-web resilience to parasitic invasion (Swarnendu Banerjee, University of Amsterdam) | ||
| 16:50 | Citizen Engagement in Environmental research: lessons learned on data quality (Lies Jacobs, University of Amsterdam) | Aquatic insects from ditches as prey for farmland birds: supplementary or critical? (Hugo Langezaal, Netherlands Institute of Ecology) | Basic Quality Nature: an approach to safeguard everyday resilient biodiversity (Hidde Hofhuis, Deltaplan Biodiversiteitsherstel) | Integrating Field Data and Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) Models to Explain Marine Species’ Energy Dynamics and Their Responses to Environmental Change (Alejandra Ortiz, Wageningen University & Research) | ||
| 17:10 | Identifiability of non-native species (Lars Willighagen, Radboud University) | Upstream passage of large migratory fish at the Haringvliet sluices in the Rhine-Meuse estuary (Melanie P. Meijer zu Schlochtern, Wageningen University & Research) | Combined effects on coots: how sound and light change communication in the city (Sebastiaan Grosscurt, Leiden University) | Responses of carabid beetles to river restoration: a case study in the Demer River (Malaurie Hons, University of Antwerp) | ||
| 17:30 | Modified hydrology controls terrestrial carbon fluxes towards freshwater lakes (Arie Vonk, University of Amsterdam ) | City-to-City Shifts: Species’ Urban Affinity Varies Widely (Josha Beninde, Vrije Universiteit) | Aquatic ecosystem restoration in Dutch peatland ditches: Introducing Stratiotis aloides (Fleur van Duin, Leiden University) | |||
| 17:50 | Drinks in the Lounge and from 18:30 onwards dinner in the restaurant | |||||
| 19:30 | Poster session 1: Odd-numbered posters (Air) | |||||
| 20:30 | Networking evening | |||||
Wednesday 11 February
| 08:30 | Registration for those coming on Day 2 (Main Entrance) | ||||
| Earth | Water | Fire 1 | Rooms 2 & 3 | Rooms 10 & 11 | |
| 09:00 | Parallel 3a: Bright Spots in Nature Conservation and Restoration | Parallel 3b: The Future of Dutch Peatlands
| Parallel 3c: Migration Ecology | Parallel 3d: AI for ecology: challenges and opporunities | Workshop 3: Reproducible and Extensible R Package for Species Distribution Modelling (sdm) |
Conveners: | Conveners: | Conveners: | Conveners: | Conveners: | |
| 09:00 | Positive impacts of community involvement in the conservation of mountainous landscapes (Arash Ghoddousi, Wageningen University & Research) | Peatland conservation and restoration in a crowded country (Bjorn Robroek, Radboud University) | The paradoxical heavy reliance on irregularly used sites in the life-cycle networks of long-distance migratory shorebirds (Roeland A. Bom, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research) | Scientific Machine Learning: Bridging data-driven and mechanistic approaches in ecology (Jens van der Zee, Wageningen University & Research) | This workshop offers a short course to get you quickly started using the sdm R package for species distribution modelling. The sdm package has been developed by the workshop organiser and was introduced in a paper published in the Journal of Ecography (Naimi & Araujo, 2016). The package supports 20+ machine learning algorithms to develop species distribution models, and facilitates the ensemble forecasting of species distributions. |
| 09:20 | Bright spots in peatland conservation, rewetting and restoration (Renske J.E. Vroom, University of Greifswald) | Restoration for future self-regulation: drivers of successful Sphagnum reintroduction in raised bogs (José van Paassen, Wageningen University & Research) | Earlier departure is linked to milder winders and higher early spring body mass in a long-distance migratory goose facing Arctic warming (Jan Geisler, Netherlands Institute of Ecology) | AI for FAIR data: automating maturity assessment in ecosystem research (Parinaz Rashidi, University of Amsterdam) | |
| 09:40 | When is an ecosystem “restored”? New restoration approaches and brightspot Marker Wadden (Casper H.A. van Leeuwen, Radboud University) | Brackish water pulse drives biogeochemical responses and vitality of paludiculture plant (Sannimari Käärmelahti, Radboud University) | Young birds drive range shift despite cultural inheritance of parental sites (Hans Linssen & Bart Nolet, University of Amsterdam) | AI-driven workflow of image-based assessment of insect temporal activity under different light conditions (Gabriel A. Charvalakis, Netherlands Institute of Ecology ) | |
| 10:00 | Design engineering for restoration solutions: a case study in mussel reef restoration (Daniel P. Varley, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research ) | Mineral soil coverage and soil flipping as potential climate change mitigation measures on Dutch peatlands (Luuk Spierings, Utrecht University) | Directional patterns of nocturnal bird migration over the Netherlands: Insights from combining bird radars (Bart Kranstauber, University of Amsterdam) | Image-based deep learning detection of feeding buzzes and social calls in bats (Sander Buddendorf, Netherlands Institute of Ecology ) | |
| 10:20 | Towards climate-resilient forests (Sam Bielen, Netherlands Institute of Ecology ) | Meeting climate targets: exploring pathways for the Dutch Green Heart area (Michelle van Mulken, Utrecht University) | Linking Winter Habitat Use and Environmental Cue Connectivity to Spring Departure in European and East Asian Migratory Geese (Eun-Jeong Kim, University of Groningen) | Explainable AI for species distribution modelling (Thijs van der Plas, Wageningen University & Research) | |
| 10:40 | Coffee and tea (Air / Fire) | ||||
| 11:10 | Poster Session 2: Even-numbered posters (Air) | ||||
| 12:30 | Lunch (Restaurant) | ||||
| Earth | Water | Fire 1 | Rooms 2 & 3 | Rooms 10 & 11 | |
| 14:00 | Parallel 4a: Animal Resource Use
| Parallel 4b: The Transformative - Transdisciplinary Ecologist | Parallel 4c: Animal Movement Ecology | Parallel 4d: Advances in belowground ecology under global change | Workshop 5: Co-design of Digital Twins within LTER-LIFE |
Conveners: | Conveners: | Conveners: | Conveners: | Conveners: | |
| 14:00 | Shared traits of herbivores and carnivores tracking resources (Thomas Lameris, University of Groningen) | NWA-ORC Living Lab VeenVitaal: Towards sustainable and dynamic (agro-ecological) peat meadows for biodiversity, farmers, nature manager, policy administrator, bank and citizen (Matty P. Berg, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) | Disentangling offshore wind farm avoidance from fishery attraction using Step Selection Analysis in GPS-tracked Lesser Black-backed Gulls (Rosemarie Kentie, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research) | Diversity–productivity relationships in ericaceous plants are influenced by interactions with ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (Camille Delavaux, ETH Zurich) | In this workshop we introduce the LTER-LIFE infrastructure, where you will build digital twins of ecosystems. Digital twinning of an ecosystem requires that we bring together knowledge from different (sub)disciplines in ecology and environmental and life sciences. With the participants we will explore how LTER-LIFE supports the co-design of digital twins and the linking of data and models into reproducible analyses workflows. This workshop is hands-on and requires participants to bring their own laptop. |
| 14:20 | Behavioural responses of a mud-dwelling clam to sediment coarsening and heatwaves (Tjitske Kooistra, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research) | Bending the Curve: Engaging Communities in a Biodiversity Challenge (Mieke de Wit, Wageningen University & Research) | First long-distance tracking of adult allis shad (Alosa alosa) with acoustic telemetry (Rob Kroes, University of Amsterdam) | The Rhizosphere connection – how changes in root traits and exudation in response to insect-based fertilizer could explain crop species differences in N uptake and rhizosphere activity (Lee Harris Frank, Wageningen University & Research) | |
| 14:40 | Small prey, big impact: insects and godwit chicks in Frisian dairy grasslands (Michella Ligtelijn, University of Groningen) | Beavers in Your Backyard: Social-Ecological Dynamics of Beavers in Anthropogenic Landscapes (Britt van Zelst, Wageningen University & Research) | Fine-Scale Movement of an Elusive Carnivore Revealed by Automated Radio Tracking (Pieter Otte, University of Groningen) | Restoring organic carbon in agricultural soils: long-term management and sporadic organic inputs (Giulia Vultaggio, Wageningen University & Research) | |
| 15:00 | The diet of free-roaming domestic cats in open habitats using eDNA metabarcoding (Esther Swankhuisen, University of Groningen) | Lessons learned from a transdisciplinary Living Lab (Rosa Boone, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) | Functional trait similarity predicts fine-scale space-use overlap in a diverse shorebird community (Johannes Krietsch, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research) | Cattle grazing override engineering effect of Lasius flavus on the salt mash ecosystem of Schiermonnikoog (Eline van der Meer) | |
| 15:20 | Plenary discussion | Design for ecology (Mariet Sauerwein, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research) | The impact of vehicle-based wildlife tourism on carnivore space use and movement (Merel Hilderink, Wageningen University & Research) | Harmonizing Environmental DNA and Remote Sensing for Scalable Belowground Biodiversity Assessment (Andjin Siegenthaler, University of Twente) | |
| 15:40 | Coffee and tea (Air / Fire) | ||||
| 16:10 | Plenary 2: Macroecology and Physiology in a Warming World, Wilco Verberk (Radboud University) and Laura H. Antão (University of Turku) | ||||
| 17:40 | Awards and Closing Ceremony | ||||
| 18:00 | Farewell drinks | ||||
| 18:30 | Dinner | ||||
| 19:30 | End / Travel Home | ||||
Each year in February, the Netherlands Ecological Research Network (NERN) organises her annual conference, the Netherlands Annual Ecology Meeting (NAEM). This conference is particularly geared towards people working in the field of ecology and/or evolution. It aims to strengthen the network of ecologists in the Netherlands, Belgium, and surrounding countries and provides an overview of the work carried out by the people in the network. The NAEM meeting is two full days, each day consisting of a plenary session, in which a Dutch/Flemish and an international world leader present their view on a specific topic in ecology or evolution, two sets of five parallel sessions (including more workshop-like sessions), and a poster session. Parallel sessions consists of 5 oral presentations, thus leading to a total of approximately 80 oral presentations and several workshops. On average, we have about 75-100 scientific poster presentations during the meeting. The coming February will be the 18th edition of the NAEM meeting.
Please note that, in contrast to all previous event, accommodation is not included in the arrangement and you have to arrange this yourself at De Werelt (Click HERE).
| EARLY-BIRD FEE (deadline December 19) | REGULAR FEE | |
| PhD candidates/MSc students (2 days, without Bed & Breakfast) | € 275,- | € 350,- |
| PhD candidates/MSc students (1-day visitor) | € 175,- | € 250,- |
| Others (2 days, without Bed & Breakfast) | € 335,- | € 410,- |
| Others (1-day visitor) | € 215,- | € 290,- |
- Participation fee does not include overnight stay.
- Participation fee includes coffee & tea, lunches, and dinners.
Suggestions for an overnight stay:
- Conference venue- De Werelt, Lunteren
Note:
- Please read NERN Cancellation conditions for more information.
Instructions for oral presentations
If you present your work in an oral presentation at NAEM2026, please submit a concise title, an abstract (max. 150 words) and your name + affiliation details (research group and university/institute) to the conveners of the session (press on one of the names of the conveners in the programme below to send an asbtract). The presentations are scheduled for 15 minutes talk + 5 minutes discussion each. The conveners of each session are responsible for filling their session with 5 presentations, one of which is given by one of the conveners or a senior scientist giving the birds-eye view on the topic. The deadline for abstract submission to conveners is Friday 14 November 2025. The conveners will select the most applicable abstracts and will inform the applicants about their acceptance/rejection no later than Friday 5 December 2025.
Presenting a poster during the NAEM meeting
Besides the plenary and parallel sessions, the time has been allotted to two poster sessions. Those wanting to present a poster, are asked to indicate this in the registration form on the website. You will be contacted mid January to indicate the title of your poster. Posters presented during the NAEM meeting have to be formatted in PORTRAIT ORIENTATION and in A0-size. At the end of the meeting, the best poster (as judged by the NAEM audience) will be selected and awarded with the NAEM Poster Prize.
Please register your poster title HERE if you are already registered for the conference, and you would like to give a poster presentation.
Stands and exhibitions
Please contact sanja.selakovic@wur.nl or Claudius.vandevijver@wur.nl for more information in case you want to organise a stand or exhibition.
- Chris Smit, University of Groningen (chair)
- Emily Burdfield-Steel, University of Amsterdam
- Joscha Beninde, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- Lourens Poorter, Wageningen University & Research
- Emilia Hannula, Leiden University
- Yann Hautier, Utrecht University
- Eric Verbruggen, University of Antwerp
- Steven Declerck, Netherlands Institute of Ecology
- Casper van Leeuwen, Radboud Univesity Nijmegen
- Dries Bonte, Ghent University
- Evy de Nijs (PhD representative), University of Amsterdam
- Sanja Selaković, Netherlands Ecological Research Network
- Gilian van Duijvendijk, Netherlands Ecological Research Network
- Claudius van de Vijver, Netherlands Ecological Research Network
Claudius van de Vijver (NERN)
Phone: +31 (0) 317 485116
Email: claudius.vandevijver@wur.nl
Sanja Selaković (NERN)
Email: sanja.selakovic@wur.nl
Gilian van Duijvendijk (NERN)
Email: gilian.vanduijvendijk@wur.nl
IMPORTANT:
- The payment process will be handled through the Aanmelder system. Please ensure you have all the necessary information (address + reference number) for the invoices ready before clicking on the link below.
- You can pay via:
- Participants from WUR can pay by cost center code / project number (kostenplaats/projectnummer)
- iDeal
- Invoice / Bank transfer (select the option "Register and pay later / Bank transfer" to receive an invoice for payment)
- If you have any issues regarding payment, please contact us office@nern.nl
- Please note that hotel accommodation is not included in the conference registration. We recommend arranging your accommodation as soon as you complete your registration. Suggestions for an overnight stay: Conference venue- De Werelt, Lunteren
- The NERN office does only provide documents for the visa application after receiving a recommendation letter from a Dutch professor active within the NERN network.
- Please find the cancellation conditions here.
Please register HERE.