NIB

New address:

Gozdarski Inštitut Slovenije
Vecna pot 2
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia

Email: maarten.degroot(at)gozdis.si

Short biography:

My main research interests focus on the mate selection in plant mediated mating systems and ecology of plant-insect interactions.

Currently, I am doing my PhD on the recognition and search behaviour of hemipteran species in vibrational communication. I am interested whether hemipteran insects can select strong females on basis of vibrational communication. Furthermore, I investigate the influence of the female vibratory signal on the search initiation and choice of males.

For my MSc thesis I worked on two theses on the ecology of plant-insect interactions: First, I investigated the influence of an invasive plant species, Solidago canadensis, on the diversity of pollinators and predator insects (carabid beetles). Secondly, I tested the influence of two plant species on the larval development and adult preferences of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella.

Other research interests lay in the field of conservation biology, on habitat use of insects and birds in a changing landscape. During my BSc thesis I investigated in the Philippines the effect of logging on the diversity of butterflies. Nowadays, I focus on the changes in land use and its effect on insect and bird distributions.

Selected publications:

• De Groot, M. & Govedic, M. 2008. Checklist of hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) of Slovenia. Acta Entomologica Slovenica. Acta Entomologica Slovenica. Acta Entomologica Slovenica 16(1): 67-87 (pdf)
• De Groot, M. & Bordjan, D. 2007. Possibilities of fire as a management tool on Kras (SW Slovenia): A bird's perspective. Acrocephalus 28 (132): 3-16 (pdf)
• De Groot, M., Kleijn, D. & Jogan, N. 2007. Species groups occupying different trophic levels respond differently to the invasion of semi-natural vegetation by Solidago canadensis. Biological Conservation 136: 612-617 (abstract)
• Groot, M. de, Winkler, K. & Potting R.P.J. 2005. Testing the potential of White mustard (Sinapis alba) and Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima) as trap crops for the Diamondback moth Plutella xylostella. Proceeding of the Netherlands Entomological Society meeting 16: 117-123
• Groot, M. de, F. Rebuešek, V. Grobelnik, M. Govedič, A. Šalamun & R. Verovnik. 2009. Distribution modelling as an approach to the conservation of a threatened alpine endemic butterfly (Lepidoptera: Satyridae). European Journal of Entomology 106: 77-84 (pdf)

Bibliography (COBISS)