Maartje Klapwijk

I specialise in anthropogenic effects on species interactions, using insects as a study system. Current research questions in applied ecology are dealing with forest management, climate change and insect outbreaks. From the perspective of basic ecology, questions related to associational effects, indirect interactions and population dynamics are part of my research interest.

The central subject of my research is population regulation through trophic interactions (feeding interactions). One of my main research interests is how these interactions are affected by human induced changes to the living environment of the interacting species. In my work this is represented by research on climate effects on insects and the interactions with their natural enemies.

Management used for semi-natural forests determines for a large part the structural and biological diversity in forest stands. Increased diversity of vegetation will have a subsequent effect on the diversity of consumers and predators. My main interest is whether forest management affects the top-down pressure of predators on insect herbivores with positive effects of pest supression. Forest health is important when considering species invasions and emerging pests.

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In my teacing I take an ecological perspective on problems with forest pests and invasive species. I have supervised students for projects in this context and also for projects connecting remote sensing or social science to pest insect projects.

I am co-coordinator of the division for Forest Health at the International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO) and in that capacity I am a member of the IUFRO board. 

I am representing Sweden at the European and mediterranean Plant Protection organisation (EPPO) in the Panel on Quarantine Species For Forestry.