On Saturday, August 23, the first-ever Biosphere Science Day was held, initiated by TalTech’s Kuressaare College and the West Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve. The event, which took place around Kuressaare Episcopal Castle, brought scientists, experts, and nature enthusiasts together to discover the biodiversity of plants and animals as well as the sounds of the night.
From the Landscape Biodiversity Workgroup, restoration ecology researcher Krista Takkis, entomologist Jelle Devalez, and junior researcher Oliver Kalda, who spoke about bats, presented their research areas.
“During the day, the event enjoyed beautiful weather, but the evening bat observation was affected by rainfall. Luckily, it subsided in between. Around 30 participants joined the evening bat walk, and they did not leave empty-eared – between showers, we managed to hear bats flying. Despite the poor weather, the discussions went on for quite a while,” said Oliver Kalda.
In the workshop led by Krista Takkis and Jelle Devalez, participants learned how plants and insects support each other and how biodiversity can be encouraged in simple ways.
A photo gallery of the Science Day can be found in Saarte Hääl, the county newspaper of Postimees.
Photo: Karl Jakob Toplaan
