Meelis Pärtel | Lightnews

Macroecology UT @macroecologyut.bsky.social · 11d

Here is the original Nature paper (open access), based on a global collaborative effort by the DarkDivNet consortium:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

#DarkDivNet #darkdiversity

Global impoverishment of natural vegetation revealed by dark diversity - Nature

A comparison of alpha diversity (number of plant species) and dark diversity (species that are currently absent from a site despite being ecologically suitable) demonstrates the negative effects of re...

www.nature.com

Macroecology UT @macroecologyut.bsky.social · 11d

From Nature to the classroom! Key findings from our paper on global dark diversity are now adapted for students via Science Journal for Kids and Teens — a nice example of knowledge transfer.
#DarkDivNet #darkdiversity
www.sciencejournalforkids.org/articles/whats-on-natures-secret-plant-list/

What's on Nature's secret plant list? - Science Journal for Kids and Teens

Scientists studied thousands of sites worldwide to discover that natural areas are missing many plant species that could live there, a hidden loss they call dark diversity.

www.sciencejournalforkids.org

Gabriel Ortega-Solís @gortegasolis.bsky.social · Jan 8

Dark diversity by Melissa Pärtel #TIBS2026

Macroecology UT @macroecologyut.bsky.social · Dec 23

Our global dark diversity study received the most public attention this past year among University of Tartu research! #DarkDivNet #darkdiversity

Study on the impact of human activity on biodiversity received the most public attention this past year among University of Tartu research

In 2025, the study that drew the most attention in public digital channels was led by Professor of Botany Meelis Pärtel and confirms the negative effect of human activity on wildlife biodiversity.

kestlikuarengukeskus.ut.ee

Macroecology UT @macroecologyut.bsky.social · Nov 13

We had our traditional workgroup autumn seminar in a beautiful countryside hotel in central Estonia. With the help of our guest speaker @aveliina.bsky.social we discussed the topic 'Macroecology in the Anthropocene'. macroecology.ut.ee/en/macroecol...

Pablo Garcia-Diaz @pablo-ecology.bsky.social · Nov 10

Observed and Dark Diversity of Alien Plants Across the World #bioinvasions 🌎🌐🧪 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

Observed and Dark Diversity of Alien Plants Across the World

Aim Biological invasions are one of the major threats to ecosystems worldwide and are expected to increase further in the future. Prevention and swift responses are crucial to mitigate this threat. .....

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Macroecology UT @macroecologyut.bsky.social · Oct 23

Happy to welcome three visitors this autumn! Elisa Jordan is a MSc student from Germany. Wengang Zhang is a PhD student from China working on #darkdiversity of #alienspecies. Gerard Martínez Devesa is a PhD student from Spain working on #darkdiversity of #arthropods in deadwood microhabitats.

The International Association for Vegetation Science @iavs5.bsky.social · Oct 22

📢 68th #IAVS Symposium: Understanding #Ecosystems through #Vegetation | 22-26 June 2026, Spain

Join us to explore how vegetation shapes #biodiversity and ecosystems worldwide!

📅 Call for Special Session proposals is now open: 15 Oct – 15 Nov 2025
👉 Details: gijon2026.iavs-meetings.org
#IAVS2026

IAVS Symposium 2026, Thematic 'Understanding Ecosystems Through Vegetation'.

Science Magazine @science.org · Oct 21

Although many ecosystems can weather several years of moderate drought, consecutive years of extreme dryness push them past a tipping point, resulting in dramatic declines in plant growth, researchers report in Science. https://scim.ag/4ogN9I8

Drought intensity and duration interact to magnify losses in primary productivity

As droughts become longer and more intense, impacts on terrestrial primary productivity are expected to increase progressively. Yet, some ecosystems appear to acclimate to multiyear drought, with cons...

scim.ag

Macroecology UT @macroecologyut.bsky.social · Oct 17

Proud that our workgroup contributed to this study

DroughtNet @droughtnet.bsky.social · Oct 16

The latest DroughtNet paper is out in Science today! Using coordinated experiments across six continents and 74 sites, the International Drought Experiment found differences between the effects of extreme droughts and more typical droughts... (1/3) www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Drought intensity and duration interact to magnify losses in primary productivity

As droughts become longer and more intense, impacts on terrestrial primary productivity are expected to increase progressively. Yet, some ecosystems appear to acclimate to multiyear drought, with cons...

www.science.org

DroughtNet @droughtnet.bsky.social · Oct 16

The latest DroughtNet paper is out in Science today! Using coordinated experiments across six continents and 74 sites, the International Drought Experiment found differences between the effects of extreme droughts and more typical droughts... (1/3) www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Drought intensity and duration interact to magnify losses in primary productivity

As droughts become longer and more intense, impacts on terrestrial primary productivity are expected to increase progressively. Yet, some ecosystems appear to acclimate to multiyear drought, with cons...

www.science.org

Giacomo Puglielli @gpuglielli.bsky.social · Oct 1

Working with individual trait data and functional trait spaces and bored about means?

With @cpcarmona.bsky.social, Agnese Bissi and @etordoni.bsky.social, we put together a perspective to test the effect of individual observations on trait space properties 👇👇

www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Quantifying the influence of intraspecific variability in trait spaces - npj Biodiversity

npj Biodiversity - Quantifying the influence of intraspecific variability in trait spaces

www.nature.com

Plant ecology in České Budějovice @plantecolcb.bsky.social · Jul 24

After six years, Aleš, Eva, and @mariekonecna.bsky.social resampled their #DarkDivNet core plots in Novohradské hory. Relevés in pairs of mesic meadows, beech forests, and waterlogged spruce forests were done.

Carlos P Carmona @cpcarmona.bsky.social · Jun 25

For sauropsids lovers: Two fresh papers map trait spaces of birds, turtles and crocodiles to reveal what disappears when species go extinct

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

🧪🌐🪶 🧮➕📏

#trait, #traits, #FunctionalTraits

Threat reduction must be coupled with targeted recovery programmes to conserve global bird diversity - Nature Ecology & Evolution

Projections of extinctions of bird species and losses of functional diversity over the next 100 years suggest that even immediate and widespread threat abatement would be insufficient to prevent losse...

www.nature.com

Carlos P Carmona @cpcarmona.bsky.social · May 19

Excited to share our new open-access review led by Francesco de Bello in Ecological Monographs! With a fantastic international team, we identify key challenges (“Raunkiæran shortfalls”) in trait-based ecology.
esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

#FunctionalTraits 🌐

Raunkiæran shortfalls: Challenges and perspectives in trait‐based ecology

Trait-based ecology, a prominent research field identifying traits linked to the distribution and interactions of organisms and their impact on ecosystem functioning, has flourished in the last three...

esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Geekoo @handle.invalid · May 19

Even remote forests aren’t safe. New research shows human activity reduces biodiversity far beyond city limits. #BiodiversityLoss #DarkDiversity #ConservationScience

Invisible Loss: How Cities Empty Forests Afar

Even protected forests may be losing biodiversity due to human activity far away. A global study reveals the hidden erosion of nature’s potential.

geekoo.news

Anthony Ricciardi @ecoinvasions.bsky.social · May 15

Quote: "The problem is that over time, as we lose species due to human impact, we don’t see the number of species that are lost because we only see what we can perceive." www.ualberta.ca/en/folio/202... #darkdiversity

Uncovering ‘silent’ species losses key for conservation efforts: study

According to a recent study, accounting for dark diversity — the species that could be in a particular area but aren’t — could be the best way to identify and restore “silent losses” in plant diversit...

www.ualberta.ca

Macroecology UT @macroecologyut.bsky.social · Apr 28

Norwegian Research Contributes to Global 'Dark Diversity' Study, Offering New Insights into Biodiversity Loss

Photo credit: Robert Lewis, NINA Behind the study is a global research network of more than 200 researchers, called DarkDivNet, coordinated by the University of Tartu in Estonia, and advised by an i...

www.nina.no

Macroecology UT @macroecologyut.bsky.social · Apr 28

Using dark diversity to disentangle the effects of protection and habitat quality on species diversity across the Mediterranean Sea
* A new paper in Biol Cons by Tal Gavriel, Jonathan Belmaker and others www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Macroecology UT @macroecologyut.bsky.social · Apr 27

youtu.be/_sK4EAz_E6s?...
www.trentu.ca/news/story/4...

Getting Out of the Dark about Global Biodiversity

YouTube video by Trent University

youtu.be

Nature Reviews Biodiversity @natrevbiodiv.nature.com · Apr 16

April issue: Perspective led by Mari Moora describing how plant reliance on their mycorrhizal symbionts varies across ecological scales 🧪🌎
Web link: go.nature.com/4h1Rpre
Readcube: rdcu.be/eh0uC

Map showing mycorrhizal profiles of selected ecoregions

Macroecology UT @macroecologyut.bsky.social · Apr 16

Norwegian Research Contributes to Global 'Dark Diversity' Study

Norwegian Research Contributes to Global 'Dark Diversity' Study, Offering New Insights into Biodiversity Loss

Photo credit: Robert Lewis, NINA Behind the study is a global research network of more than 200 researchers, called DarkDivNet, coordinated by the University of Tartu in Estonia, and advised by an i...

www.nina.no

Macroecology UT @macroecologyut.bsky.social · Apr 12

The Invisible Biodiversity Crisis

The Invisible Biodiversity Crisis: Global Study Reveals

Brno and Průhonice, 10. 04. 2025 – According to a new study by a team of more than 200 botanists from around the world, published in the prestigious journal Nature, the vegetation of natural areas is ...

www.sci.muni.cz

Macroecology UT @macroecologyut.bsky.social · Apr 3

The first paper from #darkdivnet is out now! Huge thank you to all our >200 co-authors who helped to reveal dark diversity in different parts of the world! www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Diego Trindade @diego-trindade.bsky.social · Apr 4

Dark diversity made its way to Nature!🥳🥳

Led by Meelis Pärtel (@MacroecologyUT), we show that dark diversity - species locally absent but suitable - can reveal hidden effects of human impact on plant biodiversity, opening new pathways for conservation.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Global impoverishment of natural vegetation revealed by dark diversity - Nature

A comparison of alpha diversity (number of plant species) and dark diversity (species that are currently absent from a site despite being ecologically suitable) demonstrates the negative effects of re...

www.nature.com

iDiv Biodiversity Research @idiv-research.bsky.social · Apr 4

New @nature.com study: the negative effect of human activities on wildlife biodiversity may be notable hundreds of kilometres away ⚠️

For the study, @ufz.de's and iDiv's @lottekorell.bsky.social recorded plant species and so-called dark diversity in the Lüneburg Heath.
www.idiv.de/nature-study...

Dark diversity reveals global impoverishment of natural vegetation

Nature study shows that the potential occurrence of plant species is significantly higher

www.idiv.de

Jesper Erenskjold Moeslund @jespermoeslund.bsky.social · Apr 4

Important new study in @nature.com on how #darkdiversity can give insights on the diversity in local #plant communities that observed #diversity can't. With contributions from me, my two @au.dk colleagues @tokehoye.bsky.social & Signe Normand and many others. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Global impoverishment of natural vegetation revealed by dark diversity - Nature

A comparison of alpha diversity (number of plant species) and dark diversity (species that are currently absent from a site despite being ecologically suitable) demonstrates the negative effects of re...

www.nature.com

Miriam Muñoz-Rojas @mirimunro.bsky.social · Apr 3

Very excited to see our paper just published in @nature.com (open access)!

Massive collaborative effort led by Meelis Pärtel @macroecologyut.bsky.social and team

#darkdiversity – is crucial in the context of #ecologicalrestoration and habitat conservation 🌿

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Global impoverishment of natural vegetation revealed by dark diversity - Nature

A comparison of alpha diversity (number of plant species) and dark diversity (species that are currently absent from a site despite being ecologically suitable) demonstrates the negative effects of re...

www.nature.com

Jonas Lembrechts @jlembrechts.bsky.social · Apr 3

New study in @nature.com: we focus on the diversity that's missing - “dark diversity.” Human impact means only 1 in 5 species persist in disturbed areas versus 1 in 3 in pristine ones. My summary of the project & its implications: the3dlab.org/2025/04/03/g...