Frank van Langevelde

Frank van Langevelde is a Full Professor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at Wageningen University & Research, affiliated with the PE&RC and WIAS institutes. His research focuses on ecological interactions, savanna ecosystems, and animal behavior, with a strong emphasis on conservation biology. He has supervised over 20 PhD candidates, mentoring projects on topics like predator-prey dynamics, pollinator ecology, and wildlife management in human-dominated landscapes. His work integrates field studies, experimental approaches, and computational models to address pressing environmental challenges.

Research interests include scavenger ecology, savanna dynamics, pollinator health (e.g., honeybees and stingless bees), and the impacts of anthropogenic activities on wildlife. His studies often involve interdisciplinary collaborations, such as analyzing the effects of fire regimes on seedling survival or modeling collective decision-making in animal groups. Notable contributions include investigations into cheetah behavior, hyena coexistence, and the socio-economic dimensions of illegal wildlife trade in urban areas.

Frank van Langevelde’s recent publications highlight trends in animal behavior under environmental stress, the ecological consequences of land-use changes, and innovative approaches to biodiversity conservation. His datasets, such as those on hyena population dynamics and pollinator effectiveness, underscore his commitment to open science. Beyond academia, he engages in public outreach, discussing topics like tick-borne disease control and the link between biodiversity loss and zoonotic diseases.