I'm a biologist in the Anthropocene, with the main focus on plastic pollution. I work on animal architecture and study the structures made by animals, like nests, casings and bowers. Birds nowadays are often using plastics to built their nest. I study these modern structures, and what they contain. Why do animals use these new materials?
Keywords
Animal architecture, urban evolution, biodiversity, human impact, plastic pollution, Anthropocene, science communication
Researchinterest
Animals are great architects! But these often wonderfull structures have a story to tell.
I study the use of plastic in bird nests. From sunglasses to windscreen wipers, the stranges object may be used as nesting material by birds in the Anthropocene.
Keypublications
Hiemstra, A.-F., Gravendeel, B., & Schilthuizen, M. (2021). Birds using artificial plants as nesting material. Behaviour 1–13. http://doi.org/10.1163/1568539X-bja10115
Hiemstra, A. F., Rambonnet, L., Gravendeel, B., & Schilthuizen, M. (2021). The effects of COVID-19 litter on animal life. Animal Biology, 1, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1163/15707563-bja10052
Tasseron P., Zinsmeister H., Rambonnet L., Hiemstra A.F., Siepman D., van Emmerik T., (2020) Plastic Hotspot Mapping in Urban Water Systems. Geosciences, 10(9), 342 https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences10090342