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Dr. J.M.H. (Jolanda) Verspagen

Assistant Professor of Aquatic Microbial Ecology
Faculty of Science
Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics
Photographer: onbekend
Visiting address
  • Science Park 904
  • Room number: C4.224
Postal address
  • Postbus 94240
    1090 GE Amsterdam
Contact details
  • Profile

    My scientific interests

    I am a phytoplankton ecologist, currently working as an assistant professor in the department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology. In my research I combine experimental data and/or field data with mathematical models. I am fascinated by phytoplankton because they are responsible for about half of all global carbon fixation and form the base of the aquatic food web. Moreover, they are a hugely diverse group of organisms, both in shape and in traits. My scientific fascination regarding phytoplankton focuses on two global topics:

    • How do physiology (or traits) influence the ecological distribution of and the ecological interactions between different phytoplankton species.

    • What role do phytoplankton communities play in ecosystem functioning, in particular in carbon and nutrient cycles?

    Current projects

    Impact of rising CO2 on competitive interactions and species composition in freshwater phytoplankton communities

    Rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations will increase dissolved CO2 concentrations, decrease pH and shift carbon speciation in aquatic systems. Phytoplankton need inorganic carbon (dissolved CO2 and often bicarbonate) to photosynthesize and grow. However, major species- and strain-specific differences exist both in carbon uptake strategies and pH tolerance.Therefore, changes in carbon chemistry are expected to impact both the size of phytoplankton blooms and the competitive interactions and species composition within phytoplankton blooms. I am workin on the following questions:

    What inorganic carbon uptake  strategies exist in freshwater phytoplankton, how do these traits influence competition and how are these traits related to the current distribution of phytoplankton species?

    Which carbon uptake  strategies will benefit from rising CO2 concentrations, and how will this impact phytoplankton communities?

    The role of phytoplankton blooms in sequestering carbon in freshwater systems

    Rising CO2 concentrations are predicted to change carbon cycling in lakes and intensify phytoplankton blooms. However, the role that phytoplankton blooms play in carbon cycling, carbon burial and the drawdown of atmospheric CO2 in freshwaters is relatively poorly studied. I am trying to answer the following questions:

    How do phytoplankton blooms influence organic carbon burial and the atmospheric CO2 flux in different types freshwater systems?

    Can the temporal dynamics of phytoplankton population density, organic carbon burial and the atmospheric CO2 flux be captured by a model and can this model be used to make predictions about these processes at increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations?

    Can quagga mussels control cyanobacterial blooms?

    Mussels feed on phytoplankton and suspended organic matter by filtering large quantities of water. Recently, the invasion of the quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis) in Lake Sloterplas coincided with a sharp reduction in the size of the cyanobacterial summer bloom in this lake. Cyanobacterial blooms are highly undesirable because they are potentially toxic. Together with Waternet (a Dutch water company), we are investigating whether and how the quagga mussel can be used to control the cyanobacterial bloom in the Sloterplas.

     

     

  • background / PhD research

    Background

    I'm an aquatic ecologist with experience in field monitoring, laboratory experiments and modelling. I studied biology at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. During my studies I focused on nutrient dynamics and biodiversity in soils and sediments. I carried out my PhD research on the population dynamics of a freshwater cyanobacterium at the Universiteit van Amsterdam and the Netherland Institute of Ecology (NIOO). As a postdoctoral researcher at the department of Aquatic Microbiology,  I investigated the impact of rising CO2 concentrations on phytoplankton blooms in freshwaters. Currently, I am an Assistant Professor in the Freshwater and Marine Ecology group at IBED.

    PhD project

    During my PhD I investigated the population dynamics of Microcystis in Lake Volkerak-Zoommeer in the southwest of the Netherlands. Microcystis is a notorious potentially toxic cyanobacterium that causes problems in freshwaters all over the world. It contains gas vesicles that make it lighter than water, so that it can accumulate at the surface of the water column, forming toxic scums.
    Lake Volkerak-Zoommeer used to be an estuarium before the building of a dam turned it into a freshwater lake in 1987. Since the mid-90's, massive blooms of Microcystis dominate the lake during summer.
     

    PhD research

    My research focused on benthic-pelagic coupling in the population dynamics of Microcystis . Large amounts of Microcystis overwinter in the sediment and relatively little was known about the interactions between this benthic population and the well studied pelagic population in the water column. I monitored Microcystis populations in the water column and in the sediments and measured the exchange between the two populations for a period of two years. In addition I studied Microcystis growth and mortality in the lab under different light intensities and temperatures. Furthermore I studied the aggregation of clay to Microcystis and the subsequent sinking of buoyant colonies from the water column.
    My measurements show that the benthic populations of Microcystis remain viable throughout the year and my models show that benthic Microcystis contribute substantially to the size of the summer bloom. Also, resuspension of the sediment can affect the two populations in different ways. Resuspension enables recruitment of the benthic population to the water column. However, the increase in suspended sediment particles can also increase sedimentation of the pelagic population to the sediment through the attachment of suspended particles to Microcystis colonies.
    This knowledge was then used to predict which lake management strategies could be effective in the battle against Microcystis blooms in Lake Volkerak-Zoommeer: the (re-)introduction of saline water into the lake or flushing with freshwater. My model of the population dynamics of Microcystis indicates that both water management strategies can be effective in reducing blooms in the lake. However, since freshwater availability during summer is generally low, the water managers are currently considering the reintroduction of saline water.

    Thesis

    Below you can download a pdf file of my thesis "Benthic pelagic coupling in the population dynamics of the cyanobacterium Microcystis ".

    Download Thesis "benthic-pelagic coupling"
  • Publications up to 2006

    key publications

    Same of these publications can be downloaded (see below)

    • Verspagen J. M. H. , P. M. Visser, and J. Huisman. 2006. Aggregation with clay causes sedimentation of the buoyant cyanobacteria Microcystis spp. Aquatic Microbial Ecology 44 :165-174.
    • Verspagen J. M. H. , J. Passarge, K. D. Jöhnk, P. M. Visser, L. Peperzak, P. Boers, H. J. Laanbroek, and J. Huisman. 2006. Water management strategies against toxic Microcystis blooms in the Dutch delta. Ecological Applications 16 :313-327.
    • Verspagen J. M. H. , E. O. F. M. Snelder, P. M. Visser, K. D. Jöhnk, B. W. Ibelings, L. R. Mur, and J. Huisman. 2005. Benthic-pelagic coupling in the population dynamics of the harmful cyanobacterium Microcystis . Freshwater Biology 50 : 854-867.
    • Huisman J.,J. Sharples,J. M. Stroom, P. M. Visser, W. E. A. Kardinaal, J. M. H. Verspagen , and B. Sommeijer 2004. Changes in turbulent mixing shift competition for light between phytoplankton species. Ecology 85 : 2960-2970.
    • Verspagen J. M. H. , E. O. F. M. Snelder, Visser P. M., Huisman J., Mur L. R., and Ibelings B. W. 2004. Recruitment of benthic Microcystis (Cyanophyceae) to the water column: internal buoyancy changes or resuspension? Journal of Phycology 40 :260-270.
    • Verhoef H. A., J. M. H. Verspagen , and H. R. Zoomer 2000. Direct and indirect effects of ultraviolet-B radiation on soil biota, decomposition and nutrient fluxes in dune grassland soil systems. Biology and Fertility of Soils 31 :366-371.
    Verspagen et al 2006 - AME
    Verspagen et al 2006 - Ecol Appl
    Verspagen et al 2005
    Verspagen et al 2004

    Reports (in Dutch)

    • Boderie P., J. Icke, M. Kuijper, E. Meijers,  J. M. H. Verspagen en J. Huisman. 2005. Ontwikkeling 1-D stofstromenmodel noordelijk en zuidelijk deltabekken en 2-D blauwalgenmodel Volkerak Zoommeer. Rapport Q4037 in opdracht van Rijkswaterstaat.
    • Verspagen J. M. H. , H. J. Laanbroek, J. Huisman en P. Boers. 2005. Doorspoelen of opzouten? Bestrijding van blauwalgen in het Volkerak-Zoommeer. Rapport in opdracht van Rijkswaterstaat-directie Zeeland.
    • Verspagen J. M. H. 2000. Verspreiding van Microcystis in het Volkerak-Zoommeer. RIZA-project RI-2819, Report-1, Lelystad.
    Doorspoelen of opzouten?
  • Publications

    2022

    2021

    2020

    2019

    2018

    • Huisman, J., Codd, G. A., Paerl, H. W., Ibelings, B. W., Verspagen, J. M. H., & Visser, P. M. (2018). Cyanobacterial blooms. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 16, 471-483. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-018-0040-1 [details]
    • Mantzouki, E., Campbell, J., van Loon, E., Visser, P., Konstantinou, I., Antoniou, M., Giuliani, G., Machado-Vieira, D., Gurjão de Oliveira, A., Špoljarić Maronić, D., Stević, F., Žuna Pfeiffer, T., Bokan Vucelić, I., Žutinić, P., Gligora Udovič, M., Plenković-Moraj, A., Tsiarta, N., Bláha, L., Geriš, R., ... Ibelings, B. W. (2018). A European Multi Lake Survey dataset of environmental variables, phytoplankton pigments and cyanotoxins. Scientific Data, 5, Article 180226. https://doi.org/10.1038/sdata.2018.226 [details]
    • Mantzouki, E., Visser, P. M., Verspagen, J. M. H., Ibelings, B. W., & European Multi Lake Survey (2018). Temperature Effects Explain Continental Scale Distribution of Cyanobacterial Toxins. Toxins, 10(4), Article 156. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins10040156 [details]

    2017

    2016

    • Sandrini, G., Ji, X., Verspagen, J. M. H., Tann, R. P., Slot, P. C., Luimstra, V. M., Schuurmans, J. M., Matthijs, H. C. P., & Huisman, J. (2016). Rapid adaptation of harmful cyanobacteria to rising CO2. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 113(33), 9315-9320. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1602435113 [details]
    • Visser, P. M., Verspagen, J. M. H., Sandrini, G., Stal, L. J., Matthijs, H. C. P., Davis, T. W., Paerl, H. W., & Huisman, J. (2016). How rising CO2 and global warming may stimulate harmful cyanobacterial blooms. Harmful Algae, 54, 145-159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2015.12.006 [details]

    2014

    2011

    • van de Waal, D. B., Verspagen, J. M. H., Finke, J. F., Vournazou, V., Immers, A. K., Kardinaal, W. E. A., Tonk, L., Becker, S., van Donk, E., Visser, P. M., & Huisman, J. (2011). Reversal in competitive dominance of a toxic versus non-toxic cyanobacterium in response to rising CO2. The ISME Journal, 5(9), 1438-1450. https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2011.28 [details]

    2010

    • van de Waal, D. B., Verschoor, A. M., Verspagen, J. M. H., van Donk, E., & Huisman, J. (2010). Climate-driven changes in the ecological stoichiometry of aquatic ecosystems. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 8(3), 145-152. https://doi.org/10.1890/080178 [details]

    2009

    • van de Waal, D. B., Verspagen, J. M. H., Lürling, M., van Donk, E., Visser, P. M., & Huisman, J. (2009). The ecological stoichiometry of toxins produced by harmful cyanobacteria: An experimental test of the carbon-nutrient balance hypothesis. Ecology Letters, 12(12), 1326-1335. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2009.01383.x [details]

    2020

    2010

    • Verspagen, J. M. H. (2010). Giftige blauwalgen, overlastveroorzakers of planeetredders? Natura, 107(4), 108-111.

    2020

    • Ji, X. (2020). Living in a changing world: Rising CO2 and its impact on lake phytoplankton. [Thesis, fully internal, Universiteit van Amsterdam]. [details]

    2018

    • Mantzouki, E., Visser, P., Antoniou, M., Tsiarta, N., Christoffersen, K., Warming, T., Feldmann, T., Laas, A., Panksep, K., Tuvikene, L., Kangro, K., Salmi, P., Arvola, L., Fastner, J., Straile, D., Rothhaupt, K.-O., Fonvielle, J., Grossart, H.-P., Avagianos, C., … Sevindik, T. (2018). The European Multi Lake Survey (EMLS) dataset of physical, chemical, algal pigments and cyanotoxin parameters 2015.. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/ab0f6f577e05a540aa951973432e60a7
    • Mantzouki, E., Campbell, J., Visser, P., Konstantinou, I., Antoniou, M., Giuliani, G., Machado-Vieira, D., Tsiarta, N., Christoffersen, K., Warming, T., Feldmann, T., Laas, A., Panksep, K., Tuvikene, L., Kangro, K., Salmi, P., Arvola, L., Fastner, J., Straile, D., … Önem, B. (2018). The European Multi Lake Survey (EMLS) dataset of physical, chemical, algal pigments and cyanotoxin parameters 2015.. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/dabc352040fa58284f78883fa9debe37

    2016

    • Verspagen, J. M. H., Passarge, J., Jöhnk, K. D., Visser, P. M., Peperzak, L., Boers, P., Laanbroek, H. J. & Huisman, J. (2016). Appendix A. An assessment of the nutrient status of Lake Volkerak.. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.3512321.v1
    • Wilken, S., Verspagen, J. M. H., Naus-Wiezer, S., Huisman, J. & Van Donk, E. (2016). Appendix A. Detailed methods of additional experiments to explain the lack of biological control at high nitrogen loads.. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.3519638.v1
    • Verspagen, J. M. H., Passarge, J., Jöhnk, K. D., Visser, P. M., Peperzak, L., Boers, P., Laanbroek, H. J. & Huisman, J. (2016). Appendix B. A table providing an overview of all model parameters and their estimated values.. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.3512318.v1
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