iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

VACATURE voor Wondergrond project 📣 We zoeken iemand die eerst als jobstudent aan de slag kan en daarna bijkomend als wetenschappelijk medewerker! Zie alle info 👇. Solliciteren kan tot 26 juni via email naar stephanie.schelfhout@ugent.be @stephschelfhout.bsky.social

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

We are looking for a jobstudent for upcoming summer! www.ugent.be/bw/environme...

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

2) Taller shrub species with less tasty leaves where among the clear winners. 3) Shrubs adapted to shade also strongly increased, hinting on an influx and expansion of shrub species from the treeline. Over time, this could turn our once rich alpine meadows in more homogeneous shrub lands.

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

New research from #ForNaLab shows that: 1) Shrub cover has significantly increased on European mountains since 2001, likely due to a combination of warmer temperatures and abandonment of grazing practices.

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

More shrubs in the mountains?! 😮 Why would this be a problem for the local biodiversity? Shrubs are tall and can form dense canopies, eventually outcompeting many of the smaller alpine flowers. 📃by Thomas Vanneste onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Widespread Shrubification on European Mountain Summits

Based on vegetation resurveys from 572 plots of 1 m2 located on mountain summits spread across Europe's major mountain ranges, shrubification was calculated as the change in shrub cover between 2001 ...

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

pieterdefrenne.bsky.social @karen-depauw.bsky.social Out in International Journal of Biometeorology!

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

niooknaw.bsky.social ciskaveen.bsky.social stephschelfhout.bsky.social

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Published in npj Biodiversity!

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

📢New paper out by Isabelle van der Zanden & Lieke Moereels et al: Food forests support different — and often more — soil life than croplands & grasslands. Especially more organisms sensitive to disturbance or drought like fungi, woodlice & harvestmen. 🍄🪲🪱 🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s44185-026-00125-w

doi.org

Planting food forests can increase soil biodiversity in agricultural landscapes of Northwest Europe - npj Biodiversity

npj Biodiversity - Planting food forests can increase soil biodiversity in agricultural landscapes of Northwest Europe

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Phenology—the timing of flowering and growth—is an important indicator. By comparing historical observations of early spring bloomers with current data, researchers analyze changes in seasonal rhythms and climate sensitivity.

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Following a citizen science experiment conducted between 1952 and 1965, the FOURCAST project is repeating this experiment, focusing on April 4–5 to study climate change. Will you help us gather phenology observations of spring bloomers? www.plantentuinmeise.be/nl/nieuws/39... 📸Erwin Derous

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Methods in Ecology and Evolution @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

🏅 Shortlisted for the 2025 Robert May prize! 🏅 Pieter Sanczuk talks about their new article, testing whether optical fibres can be used to measure microclimate temperatures in the forest 🌳 🌡️ @fornalab.bsky.social Read the blog here 👇 buff.ly/OlCR4Z3

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UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) @ukceh.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

European plant communities respond to climate warming differently! www.ceh.ac.uk/news-and-media/news/e… Paper: short-url.org/1lYRM led by @fornalab.bsky.social & INBO, Belgium. UKCEH: Chris Andrews, Jan Dick & @jmbecologist.bsky.social

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

The Indianapolis Zoo Uproar Conservation Challenge is here! Help the Spiky Yellow Woodlouse come roaring back by casting your vote at UproarChallenge.com. Help our species advance to the next round and bring us closer to the $10,000 conservation prize for woodlice conservation!

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

@stephschelfhout.bsky.social from ForNaLab and the ANEKO earthworm working group, can only confirm what Charles Darwin already suspected: without earthworms, no loose and healthy soil, less water infiltration, and far lower productivity. They do their work quietly, in the dark, and without applause.

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

🪱 In the Ugly Ducklings column of @eoswetenschap.bsky.social, the earthworm takes the spotlight. Earthworms recycle, aerate and structure the soil as if it were nothing. Or, less elegantly put: the most important poop machine in the world. Read the article here 👇 www.eoswetenschap.eu/natuur-milie...

eoswetenschap.eu

De belangrijkste kakmachine ter wereld

Darwins oproep om regenwormen meer te waarderen ligt bijna tweehonderd jaar achter ons, maar nog steeds onderschatten we dit ogenschijnlijk banale diertje.

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

And this article covered the scientific paper published by our colleague Pallieter De Smedt in @conbiology.bsky.social "Terrestrial isopod pet trade is booming worldwide but they are barely protected by legislation. We urgently call for it." Full 📃👇 conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Rise of terrestrial isopods in the pet trade and the need for their inclusion in trade regulation

Wild animals sold as pets are at a higher risk of extinction than animals that are not traded. Invertebrates are often overlooked in national and international laws designed to control the global pet...

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

Yep, this joke was written in the context of this @nytimes.com article starring isopods and exposing the growing international trade of isopod species, many colourful and rare, some not even scientifically described. Isopods are barely protected by legislation! www.nytimes.com/2026/01/28/c...

nytimes.com

These Pets Are Armored, Spiky and Pricey. Poachers Want to Cash In.

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

How come isopods end up in the late night show with @sethmeyerspencil.bsky.social ? First, enjoy the joke 😀👇 See below to get the story behind it 🧵 youtu.be/T58hOrsaGoI?...

youtu.be

Seth Holds a Surprise Inspection of His Monologue Writers in February 2026

YouTube video by Late Night with Seth Meyers

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Stephanie Schelfhout @stephschelfhout.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

@fornalab.bsky.social colleague Pallieter De Smedt made it to the @nytimes.com with his paper on isopods 🤓🥳🤩 www.nytimes.com/2026/01/28/c...

nytimes.com

These Pets Are Armored, Spiky and Pricey. Poachers Want to Cash In.

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

🏙️➡️🌳 Groene infrastructuur is essentieel Van grote bossen en stadsparken tot tuinen met bomen: vermindert hittestress, versterkt biodiversiteit en bevordert welzijn 💚🌿. #StedelijkGroen #NatuurInDeStad #Klimaat #Gezondheid

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

🐝🌼 Ook kleine tuinen tellen mee! Ze helpen mee koelen én herbergen verrassend veel biodiversiteit 🌸🦋. #Biodiversiteit #Stadstuin #Leefklimaat #Natuur

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

🌡️🌳 Bomen maken het verschil! Tijdens hittegolven zijn tuinen met >50% kroonbedekking gemiddeld 6°C koeler dan tuinen zonder bomen 🌞🌿. #Hittestress #GroeneInfrastructuur #Klimaatadaptatie #Bomen

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

📘🌿 Nieuw rapport gepubliceerd! “Metingen en analyse van het microklimaat – Nationaal Park Brabantse Wouden” Metingen in bossen, tuinen en langs fietsroutes 🚲🌳, in samenwerking met dept. Fysica ugent. #Zoniënwoud #BrabantseWouden #Microklimaat #Groen #UGent #PlantentuinMeise #KMI

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Hiring! We are looking for a field assistant for the coming 7 months to support a large field campaign across Europe for the #Trees4Adapt project on climate change impacts on biodiversity in forests. Drivers license required. Apply online til 3/2! jobs.ugent.be/job-invite/2... @fbwugent.bsky.social

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Met dank aan Djapo voor de goede ondersteuning bij de ontwikkeling van het pakket, en voor de uitnodiging voor het rondetafelgesprek! www.djapo.be/aanbod/kopen...

djapo.be

Dromen over bomen - lessen voor de kleuterklas en het eerste leerjaar | Djapo

Lessen en begeleiding - Educatie voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Daarom ontwikkelden we bij ForNaLab samen met Djapo een educatief pakket en luisterverhaal voor kleuters. Met 'Dromen over bomen' werken kleuters rond het thema bos en ontdekken ze hoe het microklimaat belangrijk is voor mensen, dieren & planten. Gratis te downloaden: formica.ugent.be/onderwijs.html

formica.ugent.be

FORMICA

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Onze visie: de kleutertijd is een cruciale ontwikkelingsfase. Door kinderen al vroeg bewust te maken van hun impact op de wereld, bouwen we aan een generatie die duurzaam leeft en oplossingen vindt voor klimaatuitdagingen. Zo geven we hen het vertrouwen dat zij het verschil kunnen maken.

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Verdienen complexe thema’s zoals klimaatverandering en het leed in Gaza een plek in de kleuterklas? Collega Leen Depauw mocht deelnemen aan een rondetafelgesprek bij @knack.be om deze vraag te beantwoorden. Het verslag daarvan lees je hier: www.knack.be/nieuws/belgi...

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

We need to broaden the perspective of biodiversity analyses. Otherwise, we miss the full picture. Shifts in the distribution of species are not simply driven by temperature changes alone.

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

However, purely by design constrains, eastward or westward range shifts driven by other environmental changes such as nitrogen pollution, are less likely recorded.

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

We revealed that species range shift studies globally tend to have a geographic set-up that facilitates the detection of poleward movements, as expected with warming. This leads to the perception that poleward, warming-driven range shifts predominate.

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Karen De Pauw 🌼 @karen-depauw.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

🌳 Weerstations tonen het regionale klimaat, maar in een bos gebeurt vaak iets heel anders. Daarom experimenteerden we binnen het MIRRA-project met sensoren en bouwden we een website om het microklimaat van het Aelmoeseneiebos live te volgen! 📄Ik schreef een blogpost voor @eoswetenschap.bsky.social

eoswetenschap.eu

De vinger aan de pols: realtime microklimaat in het Aelmoeseneiebos

Weerstations vertellen ons wat er gebeurt met het klimaat in onze regio, maar het microklimaat in een bos kan zich heel anders gedragen. Dit microklimaat wor...

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Karen De Pauw 🌼 @karen-depauw.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

We published this open letter on #UrbanForests as essential(!!) infrastructure for climate resilience & biodiversity aimed at policymakers at #COP30. 4🗝️priorities🧵👇 @plantspeopleplanet.bsky.social @fornalab.bsky.social @fbwugent.bsky.social @meisebotanicgarden.bsky.social @westsyduhie.bsky.social

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

There is some challenge, though: optical firbes are relatively fragile and prone to damage especially in instable conditions such as in forests.

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ForNaLab @fornalab.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

The most well-know use-case of optical fibres is internet. We show that it actually allows us to measure microclimate temperatures at the ultra-high resolution of 25 cm! Since these fibres can be very long, up to 30 km (!), this novel means of environmental monitoring seems super promising.

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