More than 80 years of experience in nematological research

Focus

Taxonomy, phylogeny, morphology, and biology of nematodes from natural and agricultural ecosystems, including free-living, plant-parasitic, virus-vector, facultatively parasitic, and entomopathogenic nematodes.

Out of the backbone of nematode phylogeny towards species delineation, we integrate a tradition of light-microscopy and ultrastructural morphology with molecular approaches.

Current investigation topics

• Optimizing nematode taxonomy (See also www.nematodes.myspecies.info):
  - combining morphology and DNA-based species delimitation
  - (digital) morphological vouchers of sequenced individuals
  - sequences and ecology of specimens from type populations
  - DNA barcoding and comprehensive databanks
• (Cryptic) diversity and biology of plant-parasitic nematodes, with focus on tropical countries
• Diversity and succession of nematodes in compost processes
  The interaction of (compost) nematodes on soil food web processes
• The origin and evolution of plant-parasitism
• Ultrastructural morphology of nematodes and other animals

Staff page

Education

• International Master of Science in Agro- and Environmental Nematology
• Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education: Nematology Education in Sub-Saharan Africa