Animal Ecology

How do animals and their (natural) environment interact with each other? In this specialisation the focus lies on wildlife, grazing animals, marine animals and aquatic organisms.

Specialisation in a nutshell

The specialisation Animal Ecology focuses on the interaction between animal populations and their wider environment, the ecosystem. The environment can be natural or affected by human intervention, i.e. an agro-ecosystem. Mechanisms that underlie the impact of animals on their environment, by food intake behaviour, by interaction with other animals, are studied to understand animal and aquatic ecological systems.

This specialisation has four thesis tracks:

  • Aquaculture and Fisheries (AFI)

  • Behavioural Ecology (BHE)

  • Marine Animal Ecology (MAE)
  • Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group (WEC)

Thesis and internship

A thesis or internship project for the specialisation Animal Ecology is conducted at the AFI, BHE, MAE or WEC chair group and results in a scientific report and a presentation. A thesis project usually links up with ongoing research at one of these research groups or is conducted in cooperation with commercial or (non-)governmental organisations. At the websites of the different chair groups, you can find more information about research topics.

AFI chair group

BHE chair group

MAE chair group

WEC chair group