Taxon Expeditions

21/06/2025

Insect? Not exactly…
On a fungi? Not quite…
In the hidden micro-world of Litohoro, Greece, a tiny springtail roams across the fruiting bodies of a slime mold (likely from the Arcyria genus). Though only millimeters in size, this scene reveals a whole ecosystem in action. Springtails (Collembola) aren’t insects but hexapods, crucial players in breaking down organic matter. Slime molds, on the other hand, are not true fungi but protists that live part of their life as amoebas before forming these stunning spore-bearing structures.
We will be exploring these well hidden microhabitats during our fungi expedition with on the mythic Olympus region.

Litohoro, Greece 2025

21/06/2025

Divine Fungi Expedition, Greece 🍄
1 - 8 November

Discover the hidden world of fungi on the slopes of Greece’s legendary Mt. Olympus, the home of the gods!

Are you ready for an adventure blending science, nature, and a touch of mythology? Then join us in Greece and explore the breathtaking landscapes of Mt. Olympus while uncovering the hidden wonders of fungi and insects.

Led by the mycologist Dr. Danny Haelewaters, our expedition will take you on an unforgettable journey of science and discovery. From daily outdoor excursions to engaging lab sessions and lectures, there’s something for everyone—whether you’re a seasoned naturalist or a curious beginner.

Photo:

20/06/2025

Documenting fungal life in the field, one specimen at a time.
This bright mushroom was found during a survey deep in Olympus forests, growing from decaying wood. Fungi like this play a vital role in nutrient cycling and forest health, yet many species remain undescribed or poorly understood.

Mushroom hunting isn’t just a pastime, it’s a tool for ecological research, species mapping, and understanding the hidden networks that sustain life beneath our feet.
We are preparing for the ultimate fungi hunt for science next autumn with and you can be part of the team! Join us!

Litohoro, Greece 2025

20/06/2025

Proud moment! Our project in Komarnica has received an Honorary Mention at the European Citizen Science Award 2025, selected from among 409 entries across Europe! 🇪🇺✨

This recognition celebrates the power of citizen science and the importance of involving local communities in the exploration and protection of biodiversity.

We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together! , , , and a team of colleagues from the Biodiversity Survey.

Huge thanks to everyone who joined us in the field, contributed their knowledge and curiosity, and made this work possible!

Grateful to the European Commission , and the jury for this recognition.

20/06/2025

Proud moment! Our project in Komarnica has received an Honorary Mention at the European Citizen Science Award 2025, selected from among 409 entries across Europe! 🇪🇺✨

This recognition celebrates the power of citizen science and the importance of involving local communities in the exploration and protection of biodiversity.

We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together! Taxon Foundation , Crnogorsko Društvo Ekologa/Montenegrin Ecologists Society , Taxon Expeditions , Spasimo Komarnicu / Save Komarnica and a team of colleagues from the Biodiversity Survey.

Huge thanks to everyone who joined us in the field, contributed their knowledge and curiosity, and made this work possible!

Grateful to the European Commission , Ars Electronica and the jury for this recognition.

The rapid development of hydropower projects across the Balkans is a regional and European concern. While clean energy is needed, many proposed dam sites are areas of high natural value, often lacking biodiversity data. In countries like Montenegro, there are too few local scientists to provide the....

16/06/2025

[English below.]

Hoe zorg je ervoor dat leerlingen kriebelbeestjes leuk gaan vinden?

Die vraag probeerden we te beantwoorden in een schoolproject met biologiedocent Lisette Hemelaar en haar klassen van Gymnasium Novum.

Maaike de Voogd, Leen Jammalieh, Iva Njunjić en Menno Schilthuizen namen ze mee naar een park in de buurt om om , , , en te zoeken en onder de microscoop te bestuderen, en hielpen hen met het schrijven van mooie rapporten over hun ontdekkingen.

Zijn we in onze missie geslaagd? Oordeel zelf!

En wil je ook dat wij op jullie school langs komen? Neem dan contact met ons op!

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How to get high school students care about “bugs”? That was the question that we tried to answer in our project with biology teacher and her class of .

Our team of Maaike de Voogd, Leen Jammalieh, Iva Njunjić en Menno Schilthuizen took them to a neighborhood park to find , , , , and and to study them under the microscope. We also guided them write up their results in creative, free-form reports.

Did we succeed? Let their work speak for itself! (We think we made some converts.)

Contact us if you'd like us to drop by on your school too.

14/06/2025

Only now we have learned that our good friend Ruud Maarschall passed away earlier this year, on February 17th. Ruud was a participant on our Taxon Expeditions to Borneo and the urban expeditions to The Vondelpark and the Wilmkebreekpolder, and he was such a wonderful vibrant person that he seemed to have eternal youth. His playfulness, endless curiosity, and energy made him such a lovable character. And yet his life came, prematurely, to an end.

We visited him at his home in Petten late last year. With that sweetest smile of his, he told us he hoped to hear the nightingales one more time -- it was not to be. His last record on waarneming.nl was of an oyster mushroom, just three weeks before he died: https://waarneming.nl/observation/337252230/

We will always remember him and we are happy and grateful that we shared a few more big adventures with him in the last years of his life.

An obituary of Ruud can be found here, which tells you more about the energy, innovation, and joie de vivre: https://vereniginggdo.nl/in-memoriam-ruud-maarschall.../

08/06/2025

Today, Sunday June 7th, from 10.00 AM until 15.30 PM, you can find us again in the upstairs exhibit of the Boswinkel in the Amsterdamse Bos, with our special microscopy lab. Bring your mini finds and dive into the wonderful world of the small and tiny.

03/06/2025

28/05/2025

Ever wondered what’s really crawling, growing, or floating around you? 🐜🍄🔎
Join Taxon Expeditions for a weekend of discovery as we transform the Boswinkel into a pop-up microscopy lab! 🌿👩‍🔬

Bring your samples from the forest and dive into a hidden universe of tiny creatures. Meet real scientists, learn to observe like a pro, and help map the biodiversity of Amsterdamse Bos as part of the 2025 BioBlitz.

👧🧓 For all ages & experience levels
🔍 Microscopes, specimens & experts provided
🧭 Explore, collect, identify, be amazed!

Come see the microworld like you’ve never seen it before!
📸 Don’t forget your curiosity – and your camera!

26/05/2025