Weather extremes and populations persistence (LARCH) (KB-14-011-005, KB-01-016-013)

Climate change leads to more extreme weather (droughts, very mild winters, extreme rainfall etc.), with possible consequences for the Dutch fauna. Should we take them into account in nature conservation policy? How do we make landscapes and biodiversity 'extreme-weather-proof'?

In this study, we look at the effects of extreme weather on the survival of animal populations such as grasshoppers, dragonflies, butterflies and reptiles. We also examine potential changes in landscape to counteract negative effects. Eg, by increasing natural areas, make nature more heterogeneous or by developing greenblue veining in the surrounding countryside.

Methods used: ( i ) Literature study, ( ii ) Statistical analysis of data from national surveys (presence or absence of species) and KNMI ( weather data), and ( iii ) Model Simulation. The goal is to underpin or improve the rules and algoritmns of models such as LARCH (Alterra) or the Meta Nature Planner (PBL). The research is part of a PhD program.