Henrik is an ecologist and ecotoxicologist focusing on identifying how pollution moves through and impacts ecosystems.

More information about Henrik Barmentlo

Professional experience

Since late 2022, Henrik is an Assistant Professor at CML – Environmental Biology. Henrik explores the spread and effects of pollution in and on ecosystems. His work does not entail one specific ecosystem, but there is a profound interest in the freshwater ecosystem. Similarly, his work also does not necessarily focus on specific species or organism groups, but he specializes in macroinvertebrates such as insects. For example, in the Horizon project Terrachem he researches what impacts chemicals can have on functional diversity and ecosystem services.

Henrik is also lead of the Water Program that focusses on researching water quality and developing methods of investigating water quality. If you have inquiries about the CML Water Program or want come in contact with its researchers, you can contact him directly or via the CML office management.

Henrik received his BSc degree in Biology in 2013 and MSc degree in Biological Sciences (Cum Laude) in 2015 at the University of Amsterdam. He performed internships on 1) PFAS ecotoxicity in daphnids, 2) Genomics in endangered Primroses and 3) effects of climate change on metal(loid) toxicity to soil dwelling enchytraeids. During this time, Henrik specialized in Ecology, Evolution and Ecotoxicology.

Henrik completed his PhD research at the Environmental Biology department of CML in 2020. During this time, he and CML colleagues worked in the outdoor research facility the Living Lab where he researched the effects that pesticides can have on natural invertebrate communities and their roles in ecosystem functionality.

From 202o to 2022, Henrik was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Amsterdam working on nitrogen deposition originating from dairy farms using various techniques such biomonitoring, flux chamber techniques and stable isotopes.

Research topic

Henrik’s research is focused on describing, quantifying the influence of environmental pollution in the environment. He has a keen interest in chemicals coming from agriculture, but also work on other forms of environmental stress such nitrogen and light pollution.

His overall aim is to distinguish the effects of chemical stressors from all other abiotic and biotic factors that occur in the field so that the risks of chemical to natural ecosystems can be identified. For this he uses a combination of both field and statistical techniques.

Teaching

Henrik teaches in several courses of both the Biology programs and the MSc program Governance of Sustainability. He coordinates the courses Veldonderzoek Milieubiologie and Water and Toxicity. He is also a member of the Governance of Sustainability program committee.

Activities