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Biological Literature Reviews
ECOSTAT does not only offers statistical analysis but also literature studies. In performing these studies, Nelly van der Hoeven of ECOSTAT will use her broad experience in a wide range of biological fields such as
- Ecotoxicology (experimental research in laboratory and field, toxicological models, the relationship between species sensitivity and ecosystem effects, bioaccumulation and accumulation in the food chain, ...)
- Ecology (ecosystem models, parasite-host interaction, ...)
- Population Genetics (models, population genetics of plasmids, genetical modification, ... )
Some examples of ECOSTAT's experience
Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria produce a range of proteins with specific toxicity to a limited number of species. Proteins toxic to plague insects are used for their control, and some of the genes coding for these proteins are incorporated in the sensitive crop plants.
Due to the increasing number of crop developed to produce not just one but several of these Bt toxins, the question was raised whether the combination toxicity of these toxins, both for target organisms as for the rest of the ecosystem, can be predicted from the toxicity data of each of the toxins separately. To answer this question, the Netherlands Commission on Genetic Modification (COGEM) has commisioned ECOSTAT to perform a literature study to evaluate the potential interaction between Bt toxins. The report of this study can be obtained here.
 As background for her research into the effects of toxicants on daphnid populations, Nelly van der Hoeven has reviewed the literature on the dynamics of Daphnia populations.
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