Yesterday, 14 undergraduate students from the Department of Botany defended their bachelor's theses. Five of them were supervised by researchers from the Landscape Biodiversity Workgroup.
- Sidney Remmer investigated the ecological restoration of sand dunes. In her thesis, lichens, mosses, and vascular plants were carefully mapped, and recommendations were developed for restoring the Surnumäe sand dune community. The thesis was supervised by Research Fellow in Restoration EcologyPolina Degtjarenko, with co-supervisor Inga Jüriado.
Read Sidney’s thesis here (in Estonian): “Ecological restoration of the sand dune community in the Surnumäe restoration site (Mustoja Landscape conservation area, Võru county)“ - Romet Haug studied the hermit beetle (Osmoderma barnabita), including the elusive emeriit beetle. He found a total of 57 individuals — 54 in the Koiva region and three on Abruka Island, where only one specimen had been recorded in 2023. He also discovered three new habitats! The thesis was supervised by Research Fellow in Restoration Ecology Polina Degtjarenko.
Read Romet’s thesis here (in Estonian): „Biology, research methods, conservation and distribution of the eastern hermit beetle (Osmoderma barnabita) in Estonia.” - Kadi Värnik compiled knowledge on urbanization, summarizing its various impacts and tools for assessing urban biodiversity. The thesis was supervised by Research Fellow in Restoration Ecology Polina Degtjarenko, with co-supervision by Junior Research Fellow in Urban Ecology Merle Karro-Kalberg.
Read Kadi’s thesis here (in Estonian): “The effects of urbanization on biodiversity and tools for assessing urban biodiversity.” - Roberta Leppik provided a literature-based overview of the history and current state of afforestation of open landscapes. She also explored the ecological significance of grasslands in European landscapes, and how their use for afforestation and climate goals affects their functioning, biodiversity, and the sustainable provision of ecosystem services. The thesis was supervised by PhD student Elisabeth Prangel and Professor for Restoration Ecology Aveliina Helm.
Read Roberta’s thesis here (in Estonian): “The history of grassland afforestation, the future and ecological impacts.” - Maria Kermani aimed to review the positive and negative impacts of various characteristics and management practices of hedgerows and shrub strips on ecosystem services based on literature. She also analyzed what types of hedgerows and shrub strips could be established in Estonia's agricultural landscapes to support biodiversity and ecosystem services, and how to best manage them. The thesis was supervised by Research Fellow Krista Takkis.
Read Maria’s thesis here (in Estonian): “Biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by hedges and hedgerows in agricultural landscapes.”
Congratulations to the new graduates and their supervisors!
