Activities

In 2022, PhD student Vincent Dolmans set out to sample a wide range of temporary ponds in Belgium and the Netherlands. Temporary ponds have never been surveyed in this Western Atlantic part of Europe which is characterised by intensive agriculture and dramatic historic losses of ponds. However, temporary ponds still exist and some are still in a decent ecological condition with typical temporary pond fauna such as large branchiopod crustaceans. Particularly military training grounds provide many temporary aquatic habitats while high quality temporary ponds on farmland are relatively rare, at least in Northern Belgium (Flanders).

Sampling a bomb crater in Dunbergbroek, Holsbeek

A newly created forest pond in Meerdaalwoud, Oud Heverlee, home to Salamandra salamandra

As of April 2022, the Respond project has been launched. In the first year we are performing a lot of desktop research and administration. However, we’ll be adding info on ongoing activities shortly.