Research at the Department of Botany

Research in the Department of Botany concerns the biodiversity of plants, algae and fungi, and their functioning throughout the molecular, individual, community, ecosystem and global scale. The department conducts both theoretical and applied research, the latter focusing largely on the protection of natural habitats and on the optimal management of communities and populations.

Workgroups in the Department of Botany are divided among the following four Chairs:

Chair of Botany

Prof. Meelis Pärtel

• Macroecology (Prof. Meelis Pärtel)
• Landscape biodiversity (Prof. Aveliina Helm and Assoc. Prof. Tsipe Aavik)

Chair of Plant Ecology

Prof. Martin Zobel

• Evolutionary Ecology (Prof. Kristjan Zobel and Assoc. Prof. Jaan Liira)
• Plant Evolutionary Ecology (Prof. Marina Semchenko)
• Community Ecology (Prof. Martin Zobel)
• Soil Ecology (Prof. Maarja Öpik)
• Plant Ecology (Assoc. Prof. Kadri Koorem)

Chair of Mycology

Prof. Urmas Kõljalg

• Lichenology (Assoc. Prof. Tiina Randlane)
• Taxonomy and Biodiversity (Prof. Urmas Kõljalg)
• Ecology of Biological Interactions (Prof. Leho Tedersoo)

Chair of Ecophysiology

Prof. Arne Sellin

• Ecophysiology (Prof. Arne Sellin)
• Applied Ecology (Assoc. Prof. Arvo Tullus)