Theunis Piersma

Prof. Theunis Piersma is a renowned ecologist at the University of Groningen, specializing in animal ecology with a focus on migratory birds. He holds a dual role as a Wadden biologist at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) on Texel, advocating for Wadden Sea conservation. His work integrates long-term field studies, satellite tracking, and genetic analyses to understand how climate, food availability, and human activity impact bird populations.

Key affiliations include leadership roles in BirdEyes, an interdisciplinary climate change research center, and the Watch Birds project monitoring six Wadden Sea species. Notable achievements include the Spinoza Prize (2014), Godman Salvin Prize (2020), and Royal Decoration for his contributions to ecology. His research spans avian migration learning mechanisms, habitat conservation strategies, and climate-driven ecological shifts.

Recent studies emphasize avian migration plasticity (e.g., learned routes in black-tailed godwits), the impact of habitat loss on shorebirds, and leveraging big data from bird transmitters to guide conservation. Collaborations involve institutions like NIOZ, University of Amsterdam, and Fryske Akademy.