Welcome!
NorEcoFun is a research group at University of Helsinki, Finland, studying biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in Northern ecosystems – boreal forest and tundra. We focus on plants and plant communities, which form the foundation of ecosystems. This foundation is changing especially in tundra and boreal forest due to climate and land use changes. For predicting the community changes and understanding their consequences for ecosystem functioning, we investigate
1) long-term changes in natural plant communities,
2) characteristics of plant communities, which regulate their sensitivity to a change, and their impacts on ecosystem functioning,
3) how species interactions and dispersal influence plant community structure and thereby ecosystem functioning under a changing environment.
As research methods, we combine field and greenhouse experiments together with long-term observations of natural species communities and mathematical modelling. This kind of theory-driven mechanism-oriented research provides knowledge on biodiversity changes and their consequences on ecosystem functioning.
Research
Examples of our research topics
Functional traits
Ecosystem functions are natural processes, such as nutrient cycling, carbon uptake and biomass production, on which our life is based on. Functioning of a system depends on abiotic environment, kinds of species and their interactions. Therefore, in our studies, we often describe diversity of communities with functional traits, which are related to performance of individuals and species. These characteristics, such as root length or seed weight, can reflect species’ responses to environment and other species, and their contribution to ecosystem functions.
Quantifying functional diversityMeet the team
Our newly established group is growing during the coming months – could you be our new colleague?
We are an independent group within Research Centre for Ecological Change (REC) affiliated with the Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme at University of Helsinki. If we are not in the forests or mountains, we work at Biocentre 3 at Viikki Campus.
Mutual respect and inclusion are our core values. We promote a supportive and creative working environment.
Elina Kaarlejärvi
Principal Investigator, Dr., Academy Research Fellow 2022 – 2027
I am a community ecologist studying the role of biodiversity for stability of plant communities and functions they provide under a changing environment. What makes communities sensitive to change in the abiotic or biotic environment? What enforces their stability? I am curious about the role of functional traits. Are functional dominance and diversity related to stability of communities and provision of ecosystem functions? As methods, I use long-term observational data to explore large-scale patterns, and combine them with field and greenhouse experiments to test specific hypothesis of possible drivers behind the large-scale patterns.
Research profileORCIDScholarDaniel Fernández Garcia
Doctoral Researcher
I am currently working as Doctoral Researcher in NorEcoFun exploring the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. I am interested in plant ecology, especially plant functional traits. How does community assembly processes affect tratis within communities? What impact does climate change have on theses relationships? With boreal forest and tundra communities as my research systems, my aim is to find answers to these questions.
Inka Tammisto
Master’s student
I am studying in the Master’s Programme in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at University of Helsinki. I am especially interested in the nutrient cycling in boreal forests, and in my Master’s thesis I concentrate on the effects of bryophyte layer and forest successional stage on nitrogen cycling.
inka.tammisto[at]helsinki.fi
Ella Hemming
Mater’s student
I’m a Master’s student in the Integrative Plant Sciences program at the University of Helsinki. In my Master’s thesis I study traits related to light and moisture in bryophyte communities.
ella.hemming[at]helsinki.fi
Teemu Häyrinen
Technical assistant
I am a third-year biology student at the University of Helsinki, specializing in ecology and evolution. I am interested in the functional traits of plants in forests of different ages and the changes in ecosystem services during succession.
teemu.hayrinen[at]helsinki.fi
Saga Kauniskangas
Technical assistant
I am a Master’s student studying biology at the University of Helsinki. In my studies I am specializing in ecology and evolution, and my interests are conservation biology, functions and interactions in plant communities, and the microbiome of the soil and its changes due to human impact.
saga.kauniskangas[at]helsinki.fi