Dries Bonte

Background

About Dries Bonte

Dries Bonte graduated with a Phd on the spatial ecology and evolution of spiders in coastal dunes and obtained a postdoctoral fellowship from FWO on dispersal evolution. He spent one year abroad to get trained in modeling (Würzburg University). He belonged to the first generation of Tenure Track Professors at Ghent University and was a research professor for 10years. In 2020, he joined the department as an associated professor. He leads the educational committee of the Department Biology and is editor-in-Chief of Oikos. The Bonte lab (Spatial Ecology & Evolution) works on topics related to the integration of ecological and evolutionary concepts into a spatial perspective. Together with approx. 5-10 Msc, 10 PhD students, 5 postdocs and 3 technicians, the group aims to unravel the eco-evolutionary mechanisms behind population dynamics, community assembly but also their important applications. Spatial interactions are considered as a central process behind the structuring of biodiversity at different scales. These goals are achieved by integrating theoretical, correlative and experimental approaches, using a wide array of methodological techniques (from molecular techniques to remote sensing). Our research, while fundamental by nature, contributes to further developments of nature-based solutions, nature management and species conservation.