Merel Soons

Prof. Dr. Merel Soons (Utrecht University) is a leading ecologist in Environmental Sciences and Chair of the university's Biodiversity Council. Her work integrates spatial ecology with global change drivers to advance biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration.

• Institution: Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development
• Expertise: Movement ecology, seed dispersal, wetland/grassland conservation
• Contact: mbsoons@uu.nl, m.b.soons@uu.nl

Her research bridges theoretical ecology and applied conservation, focusing on:

• Plant and animal dispersal across fragmented landscapes
• Biodiversity-climate interactions in grasslands and wetlands
• Restoration ecology for climate resilience and ecosystem services
• Global change impacts (land use, climate, nitrogen deposition)

Recent publications highlight her team's work on seed dispersal networks, drought resilience via plant diversity, and peatland bistability. Key projects include COMBINED (climate-biodiversity-human interactions) and UU BioCliVE (biodiversity-climate experiments).

Scientific Awards:

• NWO Meervoud grant (2025)
• NWO VIDI grant (2024)
• NWO Aspasia grant (2023)

She supervises 10+ PhD students and leads interdisciplinary collaborations with institutions like Natuurmonumenten, Urgenda Foundation, and LTO Netherlands, emphasizing policy-relevant science for sustainable landscape management.