I am beyond excited to share that I won the 2nd prize at the KNW Waternetwerk BSc Scriptieprijs 2023 for my Bachelor's thesis!

My research focused on the diet composition variations of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) and European smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) across two distinct habitats of the Dutch Wadden Sea: the salt marshes and the subtidal areas. I investigated how these fish species forage in these environments and the impact of habitat management on their feeding behavior.

Here are some key findings from my research:

1. Subtidal areas were not the preferred feeding grounds for these species, as evidenced by a higher occurrence of empty stomachs in fish caught there.

2. There were clear dietary differences between Atlantic herring and European smelt, which suggests that conservation efforts must take a species-specific approach when identifying important prey items to protect.

3. Stomach content variation between the three tested salt marshes that each experienced different management strategies indicated the significant role of habitat management in influencing fish foraging. This highlights the need to carefully consider how habitat management practices affect marine ecosystems.

Important note: these findings were part of a broader PhD research project by Hannah Charan-Dixon, who continued this work and conducted in depth research into fish within the salt marshes of the Wadden Sea.

Everything we do impacts our environment, but we can only adapt if we know where and how to make a change. When we understand how human activity influences fish foraging, we can take informed steps toward creating a more sustainable future.

A big thank you to the Koninklijk Nederlands Waternetwerk for this honor and for supporting research that contributes to a more sustainable future.

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For a video summarizing my work click here.

I am very proud to share my first scientific paper, published in the Journal of Sea Research: "The molecularly and visually identified prey of fish in Dutch salt marshes".

[Click here to read the article]

Coastal marshes provide essential feeding and nursery habitats for many juvenile and small fish species. In this study, we explored their diets using both visual and DNA-based methods to gain deeper insight into coastal food webs and the factors shaping these threatened ecosystems.

This paper represents an important milestone for me, and I’m incredibly grateful to Hannah Charan-Dixon for letting me be part of this journey and for all her guidance and support along the way. I also want to thank all co-authors and collaborators who helped make this come true.

I’m thrilled to see this work published and to have contributed to advancing our understanding of these important coastal ecosystems.