Projects
Drone-informed microclimate modelling to improve species distribution models KU Leuven
The importance of microclimate as a driver of many biological phenomena has gained renewed attention in recent years, leading to a paradigm shift towards microclimate ecology. However, research in this field is strongly biased towards forest ecosystems, based on the premise that the difference between the available macroclimate data and microclimate conditions is largest in forests, due to the buffering capacity of tree canopies. However, ...
MICROMICS - Microclimate- and genomics-informed distribution modeling to improve predictions of species’ range dynamics and extinction risk under environmental change KU Leuven
Assessing the conservation status of wild banana genetic resources by means of population genetics and distribution modelling KU Leuven
Crop wild relatives (CWR) are wild plant species that are closely related or ancestral to cultivated plants. Because they often have high allelic diversity compared to their associated crop, they are an important source for the improvement of multiple agronomic traits such as yield or the resistance against biotic or abiotic stresses. Loss of genetic diversity due to increasing anthropogenic pressure now threatens their long term survival. ...
Modelling the distribution of wild boar in Flanders (EVINBO) Research Institute for Nature and Forest
What forest plants feel: incorporating microclimate into species distribution models KU Leuven
Ecological research still heavily relies on coarse-gridded macroclimatic data, which are typically derived from meteorological weather stations. Such stations collect data according to a standardized protocol, where measurements are taken at a height of approximately 2 meters in open landscapes, minimizing any external influence from trees or buildings. As a result, these macroclimate data are representative for free-air temperature ...
Characterization of the bacterial community composition in drinking water production and distribution systems, emphasizing Acinetobacter species. KU Leuven
The production and delivery of safe drinking water is challenging. The quality of drinking water is influenced by its chemical and microbial composition which in turn may be affected by the source water and the different processes applied in the production of drinking water. Important bacterial waterborne pathogens include members of the genera Legionella, Mycobacterium and Acinetobacter. Acinetobacter ...