Jonas Lembrechts
jlembrechts.bsky.social
Jonas Lembrechts
@jlembrechts.bsky.social
Assistant professor at @UtrechtUniversity

Microclimate @MEB-network
Mountains @MIREN
Citizen science @CurieuzeNeuzen and @DeOorzaak
Ecological scaling @EcoFracNet
Reposted by Jonas Lembrechts
Thanks @jlembrechts.bsky.social for this blog post about our new Oikos paper! Love your blog. :-)
How to not be swamped by your microclimate data?

The rise of microclimate data may have opened Pandora’s box. Gone are the days of simple bioclimatic variables — now heads spin trying to summarize these timeseries.

A much-needed paper by @krystofchytry.bsky.social:

🔗 the3dlab.org/2025/11/11/h...
How to not be swamped by your microclimate data
Microclimate data are finally finding their way more routineously into ecological models – and rightly so. Hooray for that! The growing availability of in-situ measurements is helping us brid…
the3dlab.org
November 12, 2025 at 10:56 AM
**Help!**

Are you working with environmental or biodiversity data and willing to help us out?

We have a questionnaire for you -->

the3dlab.org/2025/11/11/s...
November 11, 2025 at 8:46 PM
How to not be swamped by your microclimate data?

The rise of microclimate data may have opened Pandora’s box. Gone are the days of simple bioclimatic variables — now heads spin trying to summarize these timeseries.

A much-needed paper by @krystofchytry.bsky.social:

🔗 the3dlab.org/2025/11/11/h...
How to not be swamped by your microclimate data
Microclimate data are finally finding their way more routineously into ecological models – and rightly so. Hooray for that! The growing availability of in-situ measurements is helping us brid…
the3dlab.org
November 11, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Little brain-teaser:

Would you expect non-native plant species to make mountain floras more diverse (more heterogeneous) or less so (more homogenised)?

Find the answer in my latest blog, where I dive into a new global paper from the Mountain Invasion Research Network:

the3dlab.org/2025/10/22/a...
A tale of homogenisation
I’ve always been intrigued by ecological scaling – it’s literally in my title: Assistant Professor in Ecological Scaling. One of the main reasons we care so much about scaling is that ecologi…
the3dlab.org
October 24, 2025 at 7:50 AM
New paper from the MIREN network!

We tested how homogenisation (ecosystems becoming more alike through invasions) changes with scale.

Global = clear pattern
Local = not so simple

Read more: the3dlab.org/2025/10/22/a...

Paper, led by @mbuhaly.bsky.social: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
A tale of homogenisation
I’ve always been intrigued by ecological scaling – it’s literally in my title: Assistant Professor in Ecological Scaling. One of the main reasons we care so much about scaling is that ecologi…
the3dlab.org
October 22, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Cliffhanger: Am I, as a climber, a threat or a treasure for plant diversity on rock cliffs?

In her Vlaamse Scriptieprijs story, Sarane Coen finds that a bit of climbing would rather boost than harm diversity.

Read more👉 the3dlab.org/2025/10/21/c...

#Ecology #Biodiversity #Climbing
Cliffhanger: Am I, as a climber, a threat or a treasure for plant diversity on rock cliffs?
Translation of  the submission for the pop-sci writing competition ‘Vlaamse Scriptiepijs’ by team member Sarane Coen With the River Meuse flowing far below, I search for the way up to the top. With…
the3dlab.org
October 21, 2025 at 6:39 PM
So here’s a question for you: would species that have historically experienced strong climate fluctuations not be better equipped to handle contemporary climate change than those from stable climates?

Our new paper, led by Yuheng Chen, suggests they are!

🔗 the3dlab.org/2025/09/30/m...
Mapping the past to predict the future
Long-term followers of this blog know I’ve always been fascinated by species distribution changes. We’ve tracked non-native species moving into mountains and cities, studied how mountain plants tra…
the3dlab.org
September 30, 2025 at 11:34 AM
New for all microclimate enthusiasts!

A step-by-step workflow to build your own sensor network - with awesome R code for site selection + tips on engagement, fieldwork & outreach.

Led with @thenaturedave.bsky.social and @rebeccasenior.bsky.social

🔗 the3dlab.org/2025/08/16/h...
How to set up your own microclimate network
Back in 2021, we had an important thought: maybe we should start treating microclimate the same way we treat macroclimate. Weather and climate are monitored by national governments through organize…
the3dlab.org
August 16, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Seen loads of monocultures on our #EcoFracNet trips across the Netherlands - but not all are the same. One even hosted a rare, shiny green surprise! 🐸💚

Where in our flat little country do you think the highest plant diversity hides? Suggestions welcome!

👉 the3dlab.org/2025/08/11/monocultures/
Monocultures
Our EcoFracNet biodiversity monitoring project is gathering momentum. Over the past months, we’ve been roaming the Netherlands, clipboards in hand, from endless heathlands to city parks, to record …
the3dlab.org
August 11, 2025 at 8:00 PM
We suspected it: soil microbes don’t care much about our neat climate gradients. 🌱🦠

Across 7 Chinese mountains, their biogeography is messy - but not without patterns.

I unpack it here 👉 the3dlab.org/2025/08/05/s...

Paper by Kunwei Wang et al. in GEB 👉 authorservices.wiley.com/api/pdf/full...
Soil microbes care little about your climate gradients
We had a hunch: the biogeography of soil microbial communities was going to be messy. Even less than plants or animals, microbes aren’t paying attention to the broad-brush macroclimatic gradients t…
the3dlab.org
August 5, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Reposted by Jonas Lembrechts
“Most biodiversity studies still rely on coarse, long-term averages or climate station data far away from where organisms actually live. But extreme events are short-lived and highly local – meaning we need fine-scale data in both space and time to catch them”
July 20, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Climate change hits fast and erratic - through extremes, not slow trends. In our new TREE paper (led by @lysoifer.bsky.social), we discuss what's needed for us to deal with the resulting unpredictable range shifts.

Summary: the3dlab.org/2025/07/20/e...

Paper: sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Extremes
I’ve just returned from a field visit to northern Sweden – above the Arctic Circle. It was close to thirty degrees Celsius this week. We nearly got burned off the mountain. This kind of heat …
the3dlab.org
July 20, 2025 at 4:51 AM
A forest, a heatland/raised bog, a farm, two school yards and the university campus, our own data collecting for #EcoFracNet has been very successful so far!

Now looking forward to the data from all over the world to come in - everyone still welcome to join!

the3dlab.org/2025/02/10/m...
July 12, 2025 at 11:16 AM
SERVICE MESSAGE: The MEB-network (www.meb-network.com) is cleaning out its mailing list! If you did not receive todays' email but would want to receive cool microclimate updates, please sign up here!

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
MEB mailing list sign-up
docs.google.com
July 11, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Thinking of joining EcoFracNet or MicroFracNet? Now’s a great time - we can finally offer you free second-hand TOMST TMS4 sensors to support your fieldwork!

🛰️ Limited sensors available, so act fast.

📍 Details + how to join:

the3dlab.org/2025/07/04/j...

@willpearse.bsky.social
Join EcoFracNet – we’ve got sensors!
Whether you’re already knee-deep in site planning for EcoFracNet or MicroFracnet, or just hearing about it for the first time, we’ve got some exciting news to share—and maybe even a little in…
the3dlab.org
July 4, 2025 at 8:21 PM
The Belgian king - and our @uantwerpen.be rector - visited Chile!

As the universities' longest collaboration with Chile, we (and especially @anibalpauchard.bsky.social got to highlight our long-standing collaboration with @iebchile.bsky.social on (micro)climate, invasive species, and biodiversity!
🌍🌱Esta mañana, nuestro director @anibalpauchard.bsky.social, participó como panelista en el Seminario "Innovation Together" sobre materias primas, valorización de residuos y acción climática.
June 30, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Bog appreciation post!

We have started an #EcoFracNet site in the Fochteloerveen, one of the Netherlands' last remaining active raised bogs and a landscape that truly absorbs you.

Throwback photo shoot from end of April, when summer was still far away :
the3dlab.org/2025/06/28/b...
Boots in the bog
Far in the north of the Netherlands, on the border of Friesland and Drenthe, lies an endless sea of moor-grass, heather, and rushes – spread out across one of the last active raised bogs in t…
the3dlab.org
June 28, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Reposted by Jonas Lembrechts
Are you an ecologist interested in spatial scaling? Of course you are, we all are! So join this new fractal network! I can say, with absolutely no bias or impartiality at all, that it's amazing!
e're kicking off a new EcoFracNet study, exploring how biodiversity varies across agricultural landscapes. As such an integral part of our landscape, it’s essential to understand at what scales biodiversity patterns play out on our farms!

the3dlab.org/2025/06/21/e...
EcoFracNet at the farm
Our EcoFracNet project aims to uncover patterns of biodiversity across all kinds of landscapes — including those where biodiversity isn’t necessary a priority, like agricultural areas. Even these l…
the3dlab.org
June 21, 2025 at 8:59 AM
e're kicking off a new EcoFracNet study, exploring how biodiversity varies across agricultural landscapes. As such an integral part of our landscape, it’s essential to understand at what scales biodiversity patterns play out on our farms!

the3dlab.org/2025/06/21/e...
EcoFracNet at the farm
Our EcoFracNet project aims to uncover patterns of biodiversity across all kinds of landscapes — including those where biodiversity isn’t necessary a priority, like agricultural areas. Even these l…
the3dlab.org
June 21, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Great class idea: a Bioblitz!

Nearly 400 first-year biology students at Utrecht University recorded 1100+ species on campus in just one month.
A hands-on crash course in ecology, conservation & fieldwork — and yes, it was a lot of fun.

Blog here 👇
the3dlab.org/2025/06/17/a...
An army of scientists
This year, I had the joy (and challenge) of teaching Ecology to first-year biology students at Utrecht University for the very first time. Nearly 400 students, fresh into their academic journey, di…
the3dlab.org
June 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Reposted by Jonas Lembrechts
Another reason to increase green spaces in our cities: they provide pleasant soundscapes!
June 17, 2025 at 5:26 AM
What makes a place sound pleasant?

In #DeOorzaak, 4,465 people told us: natural sounds made soundscapes sound better, even with traffic.

📝 Blog: the3dlab.org/2025/06/17/w...
📄 Paper: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We just love hearing the sound of nature
In a region like Flanders – dense, busy, and full of human activities of all shapes and sizes – the problem of noise pollution is increasingly recognized. We often think of that noise a…
the3dlab.org
June 17, 2025 at 4:16 AM
New global study! 🏔️🌱 Non-native plants don’t just follow mountain roads—they spread along hiking trails too, even off-trail.

MIREN data from 9 regions shows trails are key invasion pathways.

Full story & findings: the3dlab.org/2025/06/02/n... #InvasionEcology #MIREN #Mountains #Biodiversity
Non-native plants along mountain trails
We had been studying the role of mountain roads as drivers of non-native plant invasions in mountains all the way back till 2007. Heck, we just published a first manuscript on the decadal dynamics …
the3dlab.org
June 2, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Reposted by Jonas Lembrechts
The word is out officially, now: SoilTemp has finished its transformation into 'The MEB-network' - a fully-fledged research network that goes far beyond just being a database. And boy, does that make me proud!

Let me show you all the ways you can get involved here:

the3dlab.org/2025/05/31/s...
SoilTemp is now MEB!
Over the past six years, I’ve poured my heart into SoilTemp. What started as a vision for a global soil temperature database quickly grew into something much more: a living, breathing community of …
the3dlab.org
May 31, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Reposted by Jonas Lembrechts
🚨 To all #microclimate aficionados, this is a major update of the #SoilTemp initiative which has just metamorphosed into the beautiful #MEB network for #microclimate #ecology & #biogeography #network

The #SoilTemp initiative 🐛 turns to #MEB network 🦋

⬇️ Check it out ⬇️
The word is out officially, now: SoilTemp has finished its transformation into 'The MEB-network' - a fully-fledged research network that goes far beyond just being a database. And boy, does that make me proud!

Let me show you all the ways you can get involved here:

the3dlab.org/2025/05/31/s...
SoilTemp is now MEB!
Over the past six years, I’ve poured my heart into SoilTemp. What started as a vision for a global soil temperature database quickly grew into something much more: a living, breathing community of …
the3dlab.org
May 31, 2025 at 11:50 AM