Our work is strongly internationally oriented; our scientists work closely with colleagues from different universities and from all other major natural history institutes in the world. The emphasis of Naturalis' scientific research is on nature in Brazil, South East Asia and the Caribbean.
Research groupsand departments
Evolutionary Ecology
We have a general interest in contemporary evolution and are specifically focused on the adaptation of organisms to ecological changes in their environment. We study how ancient and more recent man-made environments, such as the city biome, create…
Understanding evolution
We study how the interplay of interactions determines evolutionary processes. We integrate a combination of phylogenetic, ecological, genomic, morphological, and anatomical approaches and apply these to several target taxa, mainly in plants and fungi. Our…
Tropical botany
The tropics contain the overwhelming majority of Earth’s plant diversity. Describing species, understanding their distributions, evolutionary and ecological relationships, and recognizing their role in human societies – themes in the Tropical Botany…
Marine biodiversity
Our seas and oceans are changing rapidly: increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations cause warming, acidification, and deoxyxenation at rates higher than in the previous millions of years. These global challenges interact with regional and local processes…
Taxonomy & systematics
Naming and describing the earth’s organisms (taxonomy) and arranging them in a system of evolutionary origins (systematics) is one of the main tasks of Naturalis. Our research group collects, describes, and investigates plant and animal species. We do this…
ISBI International Collaboration on Biodiversity Infrastructures
The ISBI department focuses on international collaboration to promote the development of biodiversity research infrastructures. We bring together and align natural history institutions and international initiatives on biodiversity infrastructures and data…
Pollinator Ecology
Pollinators are crucial for the natural environment and for food production – so also for mankind. We aim to use the results of our research directly in societal projects and include citizen science and awareness in our work. Our research activities are a…
Vertebrate evolution, development and ecology
Vertebrate history ranges back in time over 535 million years documenting major changes in biodiversity, evolutionary success and ecological adaptations. Although vertebrates are a relatively small group in the animal kingdom, their skeletons are well…
Functional Traits
Since plants cannot run away, they have developed a wide array of functional adaptations throughout evolution to survive changing conditions. Our research group focuses on wood formation, one of the most fundamental evolutionary innovations that gave rise…
Plankton Diversity and Evolution
We study the organisms that drift with ocean currents. Plankton are at the basis of marine foodchains and are sensitive indicators of climate change. We employ a combination of phylogenetic, morphological and genomic approaches to obtain a better…
Naturalis laboratories
The Naturalis laboratories offer a wide range of opportunities to perform biological or geological scientific analyses. A group of 8 research technicians with specialist knowledge annually support 80 students, 60 internal research projects, 10PhDs, 40…
ICT more than just data
For an optimal exchange of digital biodiversity information, our advanced IT infrastructure is linked to worldwide networks and databases. Naturalis provides more than just data. We also develop tools to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and the use of…
Research Coordination Office (RCO)
The Research Coordination Office (RCO) supports the Naturalis Research and Education (R&E) sector with the aim to realise the institute’s ambition to perform excellent and high impact science. We assist in positioning the institute strategically in the…
Scientificdirectors
Scientific Advisory Board(SAB)
Currently our Board exists of:
- Prof. Dr Paul Brakefield (Chairman, ad interim) - Director of the Cambridge University Museum of Zoology
- Prof. Eric Schranz - Professor of Biosystematics at Wageningen University & Research
- Prof. Dr. Richard Lane - Independent consultant in international health, biodiversity and science policy
- Prof. Dr. David Harper - Professor of Palaeontology at Durham University, UK
- Prof. Dr. Dennis Stevenson - Deputy director of laboratory research and curator of botany at New York Botanical Garden
- Professor Peter de Ruiter - Professor of Theoretical Ecology with Biometris at Wageningen University and Research.
- Dr. Roy Erkens - senior lecturer on Evolution and Biodiversity at Maastricht University