Dr. Tsipe Aavik

[img_assist|nid=553|title=|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=260|height=386]Researcher
tsipe.aavik[at]ut.ee

The focus of my research is examining the impact of habitat fragmentation on the gene- to species-level aspects of biodiversity and related ecosystem benefits. The major steps of my research path can be divided as following.

Biodiversity and related ecosystem services in intensively managed agricultural landscapes. In my earlier research, I studied the effect of landscape structure and agricultural land use intensification on the species diversity of plants in fragmented natural and semi-natural habitats in contemporary agricultural landscapes. Together with colleagues from other European countries, we examined how the same factors affect benefits or services to people, e.g. biocontrol potential.

Plant dispersal in changing landscapes. To acquire a better understanding of processes governing landscape-scale dispersal processes, I have started to apply landscape genetic tools as a next step. In particular, I examine the impact of different landscape elements on patterns of genetic diversity and gene flow between fragmented plant populations. In addition, I am also interested in the effects of habitat restoration on the gene flow and genetic diversity of wild and restored plant populations.

Adaptive genetic variation in fragmented plant populations. Whilst aforementioned studies have relied on selectively neutral genetic variation, recent advances in genetic tools have encouraged me to shift my research interest also towards assessing the adaptive genetic variation of fragmented plant populations, i.e. variation, which is directly under natural selection. In particular, together with my colleagues I examine whether the overgrowth of Estonian calcareous grasslands accompanied by reduced area and connectivity of these valuable habitats has brought along changes in the adaptive genetic variation of wild plant populations and what could be the conservation implications of this process.

The list of my publications can be found in ETIS.

I participate in the following projects:
Genetic diversity of grassland plants: the effect of spatiotemporal landscape changes
Ecology of global change: natural and managed ecosystems

[img_assist|nid=553|title=|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=260|height=386]Researcher
tsipe.aavik[at]ut.ee

The focus of my research is examining the impact of habitat fragmentation on the gene- to species-level aspects of biodiversity and related ecosystem benefits. The major steps of my research path can be divided as following.

Biodiversity and related ecosystem services in intensively managed agricultural landscapes. In my earlier research, I studied the effect of landscape structure and agricultural land use intensification on the species diversity of plants in fragmented natural and semi-natural habitats in contemporary agricultural landscapes. Together with colleagues from other European countries, we examined how the same factors affect benefits or services to people, e.g. biocontrol potential.

Plant dispersal in changing landscapes. To acquire a better understanding of processes governing landscape-scale dispersal processes, I have started to apply landscape genetic tools as a next step. In particular, I examine the impact of different landscape elements on patterns of genetic diversity and gene flow between fragmented plant populations. In addition, I am also interested in the effects of habitat restoration on the gene flow and genetic diversity of wild and restored plant populations.

Adaptive genetic variation in fragmented plant populations. Whilst aforementioned studies have relied on selectively neutral genetic variation, recent advances in genetic tools have encouraged me to shift my research interest also towards assessing the adaptive genetic variation of fragmented plant populations, i.e. variation, which is directly under natural selection. In particular, together with my colleagues I examine whether the overgrowth of Estonian calcareous grasslands accompanied by reduced area and connectivity of these valuable habitats has brought along changes in the adaptive genetic variation of wild plant populations and what could be the conservation implications of this process.

The list of my publications can be found in ETIS.

I participate in the following projects:
Genetic diversity of grassland plants: the effect of spatiotemporal landscape changes
Ecology of global change: natural and managed ecosystems