For an aspiring ecologist, Max’s background is perhaps a bit unorthodox. In 2017 he completed a bachelor in 3D animation at the Utrecht University of the Arts. Afterwards he made short explainer films for industrial and logistical companies for several years, and also worked at larger animation companies as a programmer. After doing a number of short courses on computer science, and liking them, he decided to do a master’s in Game and Media Technology at Utrecht University. His intention was to return to the animation industry afterwards, but during his master’s he found he derived a lot of fulfilment from doing courses and research projects in biology and ecology, and he therefore began considering to apply for a PhD. An opportunity presented itself through his then-master thesis supervisor (and current daily supervisor) Arie Staal. Max knew he liked the topic thanks to his thesis, so he applied. And here he is!

Research Project: The role of fire feedbacks in spatial resilience of forest-savanna boundaries

In this research project, the mechanisms through which savanna-forest spatial patterns come about and evolve through time are studied. Such mechanisms not only include feedbacks between fire and tree cover, but also seed dispersal and underlying environmental heterogeneity such as soil conditions. A wide range of techniques are employed, from modelling to remote sensing and field-based measurements, in an attempt to create a synergy between theory and empirics. A model has been developed with a high spatial resolution, making it possible to represent individual trees and track demographic developments within the simulated forest, as well as fine-scale tree-fire interactions. The model incorporates spatially explicit fire spread and realistic dispersal by birds and wind, allowing study of how dispersal modes and fire size and frequency affect savanna-forest development. Furthermore, extension of the model is planned to enable experiments with environmental heterogeneity, such as spatial variation in soil fertility. Moreover, validation of the model using field measurements and remote sensing data is aimed for. To conclude, by combining different techniques, understanding of the scale as well as the drivers of savanna-forest bistability is intended to be increased, enabling more accurate predictions of how these ecosystems may respond to global change.