Prof. Dr.

Nico KOEDAM

Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Room 7F416
Pleinlaan 2
1050 Brussels | Belgium

Phone: 
+32-2-6293413

Nico Koedam is full professor at the Faculty of Sciences and Bio-engineering Sciences. Trained as a plant scientist (MSc and PhD) his initial doctoral and postdoctoral research in physio-ecology evolved to plant-microorganism interactions. When appointed in 1993 as the Head of the research group Plant Biology and Nature Management at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, research was oriented and widened, with ‘mangrove ecology and physiology’ as an overarching theme.

Currently the group of Nico Koedam is active in mangrove functional physiology, mangrove ecology, dispersal, biogeography and conservation (management), including socio-ecological systems, mostly in east Africa and south and south-east Asia. Research under his guidance also targets wetland migratory connectivity, with at present an emphasis on the EU and its nature conservation policy.

His teaching assignment covers a wide range of courses on ecology, biogeography, nature management and policy and governance, for BSc and MSc students biology, geography and bio-engineering. He is the promotor of the MSc programme Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management (‘Oceans & Lakes’), an International Course Programme financially supported by the University Development Cooperation section of the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR UOS), jointly organised with the universities of Ghent and Antwerp.

He is mostly interested in fundamental (physio-) ecological processes and patterns, but wishes to translate relevant elements to society, both in an EU context and in developing and emerging countries. He motivates and trains students and researchers in his group to contribute with their resp. expertise to society.

Merken R, Deboelpaep E, Teunen J, Saura S, Koedam N (2015) Wetland Suitability and Connectivity for Trans-Saharan Migratory Waterbirds. PLoS ONE 10(8): e0135445. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0135445

Mukherjee, N., J. Hugé, W.J. Sutherland, J. McNeill, M. Van Opstal, F. Dahdouh-Guebas & N. Koedam, 2015. The Delphi technique in ecology and biological conservation: applications and guidelines. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 6(9) :1097-1109.

Wang'ondu, V.W., J.O. Bosire, J.G. Kairo, J.I. Kinyamario, F.B. Mwaura, F. Dahdouh-Guebas & N. Koedam, 2014. Litter fall dynamics of restored mangroves (Rhizophora mucronata Lamk. and Sonneratia alba Sm.) in Kenya. Restoration Ecology 22(6): 824-831.

Di Nitto, D., G. Neukermans, N. Koedam, H. Defever, F. Pattyn, J.G. Kairo & F. Dahdouh-Guebas, 2014. Mangroves facing climate change: landward migration potential in response to projected scenarios of sea level rise. Biogeosciences 11: 857-871.

Lee, S.Y., J.H. Primavera, F. Dahdouh-Guebas, K. McKee, J.O. Bosire, S. Cannicci, K. Diele, F. Fromard, N. Koedam, C. Marchand, I. Mendelssohn, N. Mukherjee, S. Record, 2014.  Ecological role and services of tropical mangrove ecosystems: A reassessment.  Global Ecology and Biogeography 23: 726–743.

Quisthoudt, K., N. Schmitz, C.F. Randin, F. Dahdouh-Guebas, E.M.R. Robert & N. Koedam, 2012.  Temperature variation among mangrove latitudinal range limits worldwide. TREES: Structure and Function 26(6):1919-1931.