Tag Archives: Urban

Drought and heat might help exotic plants escape out of the city

Posted on August 12, 2022 by lembrechtsjonas

In new research lead by group member Charly Géron, we show that Belgian cities host different exotic plant species than the countryside. Those urban species come from warm and dry native climates and are better adapted to drought and heat. … Continue reading →

Posted in Belgium, General | Tagged Alien species, Invasive species, Nature, Science, Trees, Urban, Urban heat island, Urban nature | Leave a comment

Even exotics plants prefer the shade during a heat wave

Posted on July 14, 2021 by lembrechtsjonas

A warmer climate of origin does not necessarily protect exotic plants from heatwaves like our country has experienced in recent summers, we showed in a recent paper by Charly Géron, PhD candidate in our group. What does? Local microclimates! Our … Continue reading →

Posted in Belgium | Tagged Ecology, Global change, Invasive species, Nature, Nature photography, Plant invasions, Science, Urban, Urban ecology | Leave a comment

How heat makes our cities sweat at night

Posted on July 10, 2021 by lembrechtsjonas

Beautiful data visualization in newspaper De Standaard today, who show-case the newest conclusions from our citizen science project. Here, I provide a shortened English summary of the longread, but for the full beauty of the visuals, you MUST check out … Continue reading →

Posted in Belgium | Tagged Climate, climate change, Ecology, Heat, Microclimate, Science, Urban, Urban ecology, Urban heat islands | Leave a comment

Urban invaders loving the heat

Posted on March 15, 2021 by lembrechtsjonas

Guest post by Charly Géron, PhD student in The 3D Lab and lead author of a new study on how urban microclimates might facilitate plant invasions in cities. They are submerging the news, movies, papers and talks everywhere. I am … Continue reading →

Posted in Belgium, General | Tagged Ecology, Invasive species, Nature, Nature photography, Science, Urban, Urban ecology | Leave a comment

#NatureOrNot

Posted on December 4, 2020 by lembrechtsjonas

Our #NatureOrNot survey has been an unexpectedly big success! More than 1300 people informed us about what they consider nature and what not. The poster above, made by master student Naomi De Vries who’s in charge of the project, summarizes … Continue reading →

Posted in Belgium, General, Netherlands | Tagged Ecology, Ethnography, Gardens, Nature, Natureornot, Outdoors, Science, Urban, Urban ecology | Leave a comment

Wanted: opinions about nature!

Posted on July 30, 2020 by lembrechtsjonas

Where would you draw the line between nature and culture? Ecologists from the University of Antwerp would like your* opinion on YOUR definition of nature in this rapidly changing world. Answer their questions now via http://www.natureornot.be! *If you’re living in … Continue reading →