The Centre for Terrestrial Ecology

At the Centre for Terrestrial Ecology (CTE) of the NIOO-KNAW, which is situated in Heteren, the main focus is the ecology of land life. There are three scientific departments.

The department of Animal Population Biology studies the evolutionary ecology of animals (mainly birds). An important part of the research is aimed at the ecological consequences of global warming.

The department of Multitrophic Interactions researches the effects on plants caused by above- and belowground organisms, which are situated on or nearby these plants. An interesting part of this research is the research on causes of invasions by exotic plant as a result of human actions or climate changes.

The department of Terrestrial Microbial Ecology aims at the role of bacteria and fungi in vital soil-borne processes such as the growth of plants and the decomposition of plant remains. Amongst other things we try to discover unknown bacteria with interesting characteristics with the help of modern, molecular biological techniques.

In 2010 the CTE will move, together with the Centre for Limnology (CL) from Nieuwersluis, to a new building in Wageningen, next to the campus of Wageningen University and Research Centre.