This research line developed from work in fundamental population ecology in the 1980s. The work with rodents that cause damage in agriculture or carry diseases, especially in Africa, has led to a strong interest in Ecologically Based Rodent Management, an approach to which the group has been, and still is, a major contributor. The group has a strong reputation for developing basic population ecological insights, which then are applied in predictive or simulation models for rodent outbreaks and rodent control. This work is an important framework for a number of collaborative projects with universities in Africa, but also for example for our work on rodents and rodent management around pig and poultry farms in Europe.
In recent years the group has expanded its activities to studying invasive birds and mammals. We use modelling and field studies to study potential distribution, factors determining invasiveness, and impact on native biodiversity.
Primarily supervised by the guest professor staff of the research group, we have several ongoing PhD-projects in different parts of the world about larger wildlife management and conservation, particularly in situations where wildlife and humans sometimes are in conflict.
Main investigators: Herwig Leirs, Erik Matthysen, Hans de Iongh, Hans Bauer, Luc De Bruyn, Erik Verheyen
Current postdocs: Vincent Sluydts
Current PhD students: Matthieu Chastel, Thomas Zewdneh,Bereket Alemayehu Arba, Anka Bedetti, Yigrem Kebede Deneke, Chiara Fraticelli, Mallé Gueye, Tsyon Gizaw, Rama Mishra, Stijn Verschueren