Rens Vaessen

Dr. Rens Vaessen is a full-time researcher at the Department of Ecology and Biodiversity, Utrecht University. His work focuses on the ecological impacts of hunting in tropical forests of French Guiana, particularly how animal removal affects forest dynamics through disrupted seed dispersal and seedling predation.

Using line transects, he compares seedling and sapling composition in hunted versus non-hunted areas, emphasizing functional traits like leaf toughness and specific leaf area. This research is funded by the Trésor Foundation and Utrecht University.

• Specializes in tropical forest ecology
• Investigates animal-plant interactions
• Employs functional trait analysis
• Operates in French Guiana's ecosystems

Contact: Hugo R. Kruyt Building (Room N308), Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht | Phone: +31 30 253 6835 | Email: r.w.vaessen@uu.nl, rwvaessen@uu.nl