Curriculum Vitae
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2007- 2011: PhD student at NIOO-KNAW Department of Terrestrial Ecology. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Wim van der Putten; Co-supervisor: Dr. Wietse de Boer
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January and February 2007: research assistant to study presence of antibiotic resistant genes, at IRAS, Utrecht University, under supervision of Dr. Heike Schmitt
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2006 MSc research project at the institute of biology, department of microbiology, University of Copenhagen. I studied the Diversity of IncP-1 plasmids in the environment. Supervisors: Martin Ian Bahl and Prof. Dr. Søren Sørensen
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2005 MSc research project at LER, National institute for public health and the environment (RIVM) and IRAS, Utrecht University. I studied the effects of veterinary antibiotics on soil functioning. Supervisor: Dr. Heike Schmitt.
Education
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October 2011: PhD degree, Wageningen University
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February 2007: MSc degree Toxicology and Environmental Health, Utrecht University
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December 2004: Master degree in veterinary sciences, Utrecht University
Research interest
I am interested in interactions between global changes, soil functions and plant species. Global changes as climate change, nitrogen deposition, pollution, land use change and biological invasions are an important threat to biodiversity loss and therewith the functioning of ecosystems worldwide. These global changes may affect plant species diversity as well as soil functions. My long-term research goal is to understand how global changes affect biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services.
Projects
Climate change, plant invasion and soil microbiology
Climate change might make that exotic plants from previous warmer habitats can expand their ranges pole wards. These plants can become abundant or even invasive in their new range. Such exotic plants might alter soil functioning via altered interactions with soil microbes within their rhizosphere or via litter. Within this project, I study how exotic plants alter soil nutrient mineralization and I study how changes in the functional redundancy of soils affect exotic and native plants.
PhD-thesis
Newcomers in plant communities: interactions with soil and climate change
Defended thesis on 5 October 2011
Abstract:
Plant species are being introduced into new habitats intentionally or accidentally. These newcomers in plant communities, which are named exotic plant species, are often suggested to speed up soil processes, which create a positive feedback to the exotics only. Many of the recent established exotic plant species in the Netherlands originate from warmer climate regions and may therefore benefit from climate change-induced water stress.
A literature study showed that effects of exotic plant species on the soil nitrogen cycle can take many directions. Furthermore, experimental studies showed that exotic plant species do not take up more nutrients than their related natives in the new ecosystem. Litter of exotic plant species can have a positive feedback to the exotic by increasing nutrient cycling, but in those cases it also had a positive effect to the related native species. Therefore, interactions with soil processes do not necessarily increase the productivity of exotics more than that of natives.
A greenhouse experiment showed that it depends on the timing and the type of water stress if exotic plant species increase in dominance. Climate change-induced changes in soil biota and microbial functions may remain in soil as a legacy that can be important for the future dominance of exotics in plant communities.
 
Co-Operation
members of the VICI team at TE-NIOO: Mirka Macel, Elly Morriën and Tim Engelkes
Selected Publications
A. Meisner, W. de Boer, J.H.C. Cornelissen, W.H. van der Putten, 2012, Reciprocal effects of litter from exotic and congeneric native plant species via soil nutrients, PLoS ONE 7(2): e31596
A. Meisner, W. de Boer, K. J. F. Verhoeven, H.T.S. Boschker, W.H. van der Putten, 2011, Comparison of nutrient acquisition in exotic plant species and congeneric natives, Journal of Ecology 99(6): 1308-1315
E. Morriën, T. Engelkes, M. Macel, A. Meisner and W.H. van der Putten, 2010, Climate change and invasion by intracontinental range-expanding plants: the role of biotic interactions, Annals of Botany 105 (6): 843-848
A. Meisner, W. De Boer, W.H.G. Hol, J. Adams Krumins, W.H. Van Der Putten, 2009, No paradox for invasive plants, Science 325 (5942): 814
M. I. Bahl, M. Burmølle, A. Meisner, L. Hestbjerg Hansen, S.J. Sørensen, 2009, All IncP-1 plasmid subgroups, including the novel ε subgroup, are prevalent in the influent of a Danish wastewater treatment plant, Plasmid 62: 134-139
If available then a PDF can be requested at library@nioo.knaw.nl
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