Travelling abroad to conduct research is nothing new for Yvet Telgenkamp. Over the past five years, she has stayed at Store Mosse National Park at least 17 times. ‘It’s the largest contiguous peatland area in southern Sweden,’ she explains. ‘The peatland there is still untouched, whereas the peatland in the Netherlands suffers greatly from nitrogen pollution. Over in Sweden, you can still see how natural processes are meant to unfold.’
Ecologist Yvet Telgenkamp’s summer: focusing on peatland restoration and a beluga whale
Yvet Telgenkamp is looking forward to a special summer. The PhD candidate in Ecology at Radboud University will be joining a research group in Canada for a month, before going on a personal trip. ‘Those green-tinted glasses go everywhere with me.’
Peatland as a carbon sink
Her research focuses on the role of plant functional groups in the carbon cycle of upland peatlands. ‘I’m looking at different plant species in the peatlands and how they cope with climate change. Drought stress can cause plants to die off, leaving the underlying peat exposed. When that happens, the peatland ceases to function and carbon is released into the atmosphere. What was once a carbon sink then becomes a carbon source.’
According to Telgenkamp, that is precisely why her research is so urgent. ‘Heatwaves and prolonged periods of drought are becoming increasingly common. That is the last thing you want in a peatland area. Peatlands must remain wet; otherwise, you’re opening the door to a carbon vault.’
She is not looking at climate models, but at the ecological consequences. ‘Ecosystems are being given less and less time to recover between periods of drought. Whereas this used to happen once every ten years, we are now seeing much shorter cycles.’
Human influence also plays a role. ‘In the Netherlands, people often think of peatlands as green cow pastures, but this type of peatland has been drained. We extract peat for greenhouse horticulture and potting compost. At the same time, the climate is warming faster. That makes peatlands doubly vulnerable: to human activity and to climate change.’
According to Telgenkamp, peatland conservation is crucial. ‘When peatlands function properly, they are among the most effective carbon sinks on Earth, even more so than tropical rainforests. But if the system collapses, it actually becomes a major source of carbon emissions that accelerates climate change. For intact peatland systems, you have to look to Scandinavia.’
One coherent story
Telgenkamp speaks enthusiastically about her fieldwork in Store Mosse. ‘There, the peatland is still in good condition. We’ve been conducting experiments there for 15 years, removing groups of plants to see what happens.’ She compares it to a football team. ‘If you take the goalkeeper out, for example, the whole game changes. It works the same way with plant species in the peatland. When we removed the shrubs, the entire peat mat collapsed. Those shrubs literally support the system. Even a ten-centimetre difference in height makes a big ecological difference, because it affects the water level.’
That insight taught her to take a broader view. ‘Ecology seems simple, but it is extremely complex. Everything is interconnected. If you focus too much on one aspect, you lose sight of the bigger picture.’ She praises the collaboration involved in fieldwork. ‘It’s real teamwork, thanks to the many enthusiastic students who time and again enjoy doing internships, and other colleagues who are happy to roll up their sleeves.’
Focus on peatland restoration
This summer, Telgenkamp is heading to Université Laval in Canada for a month-long research stay. ‘Earlier this year, I was awarded the Christine Mohrmann Stipendium, which is intended for women in science. Thanks to that stipend, I can spend some time at a university abroad. I was keen to collaborate with Line Rochefort, Professor of Botany at Université Laval. She had previously given me valuable feedback on my paper. Her research group focuses on peatland restoration, which ties in perfectly with my interests.’
Telgenkamp emphasises the difference in focus. ‘My research is fundamental, while the Canadian research group is looking at how effective peatland restoration efforts are. In other words, the scientific basis behind nature conservation policy and nature restoration. I want to learn more about that.’ Previous experiences in Canada also play a part. ‘At Western University last year, I saw just how vast and diverse the Canadian peatland landscape is. That gives me further insights.’
Looking for a beluga
‘It’s going to be a busy summer,’ laughs Telgenkamp. Before she leaves for Canada, she’ll first be taking part in the Nijmegen Four Day Marches. And straight after her research stay, she and her partner will be going on holiday through the Canadian province of Québec. ‘We’re both ecologists. We look at landscapes differently: why is it green here, which plant and animal species can you see here?’
Still, it’s a holiday too. ‘I think it would be brilliant to go on a canoe trip in the bays of Québec and spot whales there, especially the white beluga whale. I think that’s a magnificent animal.’ At the same time, she acknowledges that she never completely lets go of her research. ‘Those green-tinted glasses go everywhere with me. That’s just who I am.’
As she looks ahead, she hopes for two things. ‘Scientifically, I want to discover where my future lies: fundamental research or more in the direction of nature restoration. And personally, I hope I spot a beluga. They’re clever creatures, and what I love about marine life is that it never ceases to surprise you. Hopefully, that will happen to me this summer too.’
Summer Series
This story is part of Radboud Recharge's Summer Series. In this year's series, we speak with researchers not only about their research, but also about their summer: the time when they recharge. Curious about the other stories in the series? You can read them on the Radboud Recharge website.
Contact information
- Organizational unit
- Faculty of Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Ecology
- Theme
- Sustainability, Nature, Summer special