Liis Kasari-Toussaint
My research has focused on the biodiversity of semi-natural grasslands and strategies for their conservation and restoration. European semi-natural meadows are exceptionally species-rich, and my PhD studies showed that both large-scale factors—such as historical habitat size, connectivity, and moderate management—and local conditions like light availability and shrub cover influence plant species richness. I also found that even heavily degraded grasslands can support characteristic species, suggesting they could be managed as hybrid communities, though the priority should remain on restoring natural and semi-natural habitats (Gazol et al., 2012; Kasari et al., 2013, 2016).
My recent scientific activities have been focused on the best management practices of semi-natural grassland. I have been developing and testing the results-based support system for Estonian semi-natural grasslands as part of the LIFE IP project ForEst&FarmLand. I have an increasing interest in expanding my scientific research to urban landscapes, as it becomes more evident that biodiversity-friendly planning and management practices must extend beyond protected areas to preserve sustainable natural and semi-natural habitat networks in the landscape.
- Prangel, E.; Reitalu, T.; Neuenkamp, L.; Kasari-Toussaint, L.; Karise, R.; Tiitsaar, A.; Soon, V.; Kupper, T.; Meriste, M.; Ingerpuu, N.; Helm, A. (2024). Restoration of semi-natural grasslands boosts biodiversity and re-creates hotspots for ecosystem services. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 374. DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2024.109139.
- Riibak, K.; Noreika, N.; Helm, A.; Opik, M.; Kook, E.; Kasari-Toussaint, L.; Joks, M.; Paganeli, B.; Zarate Martinez, O.; Tullus, H.; Tullus, T.; Lutter, R.; Oja, E.; Saag, A.; Randlane, T.; Pärtel, M. (2024). Plants, fungi, and carabid beetles in temperate forests: both observed and dark diversity depend on habitat availability in space and time. Landscape Ecology, 39 (8), ARTN 158. DOI: 10.1007/s10980-024-01960-7.
- Prangel, E., Kasari‐Toussaint, L., Neuenkamp, L., Noreika, N., Karise, R., Marja, R., Ingerpuu, N., Kupper, T., Keerberg, L., Oja, E., Meriste, M., Tiitsaar, A., Ivask, M. & Helm, A. 2023. Afforestation and abandonment of semi‐natural grasslands lead to biodiversity loss and a decline in ecosystem services and functions. Journal of Applied Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14375
- Vahter, T., Bueno, C. G., Davison, J., Herodes, K., Hiiesalu, I., Kasari‐Toussaint, L., Oja, J., Olsson, P. A., Sepp, S‐K., Zobel, M., Vasar, M. & Öpik, M. 2020. Co‐introduction of native mycorrhizal fungi and plant seeds accelerates restoration of post‐mining landscapes. Journal of Applied Ecology, 57 (9), 1741−1751. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13663.
- Ceulemans, T., Van Geel, M., Jacquemyn, H., Boeraeve, M., Plue, J., Saar, L., Kasari, L., Peeters, G., van Acker, K., Crauwels, S., Lievens, B. & Honnay, O. 2019. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in European grasslands under nutrient pollution. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 28 (12), 1796-1805.
- Noreika, N., Helm, A., Öpik, M., Jairus, T., Vasar, M., Reier, Ü., Kook, E., Riibak, K., Kasari, L., Tullus, H., Tullus, T., Lutter, R., Oja, E., Saag, A., Randlane, T. & Pärtel, M. 2019. Forest biomass, soil and biodiversity relationships originate from biogeographic affinity and direct ecological effects. Oikos, 128 (11), 1653−1665. DOI: 10.1111/oik.06693.
- Van Geel, M., Ceulemans, T., Plue, J., Takkis, K., Saar, L., Kasari, L., Peeters, G., van Acker, K., Jacquemyn, H. & Honnay, O. 2018. Environmental filtering rather than host plant specificity shapes the arbuscular mycorrhizal communities of European semi-natural grasslands. New Phytologist 220: 1262–1272.
- Price, J., Tamme, R., Gazol, A., de Bello, F., Takkis, K., Uria Diez, J., Kasari, L. & Pärtel, M. 2017. Within-community environmental variability drives trait variability in species-rich grasslands. Journal of Vegetation Science 28: 303–312.
- Lewis, R.J., de Bello, F., Bennett, J.A., Fibich, P., Finerty, G.E., Götzenberger, L., Hiiesalu, I., Kasari, L., Lepš, J., Májeková, M., Mudrák, O., Riibak, K., Ronk, A., Rychtecká, T., Vitová, A. & Pärtel, M. 2017. Applying the dark diversity concept to nature conservation. Conservation Biology 31: 40–47.
- Kasari, L., Saar, L., de Bello, F., Takkis, K. & Helm, A. 2016. Hybrid ecosystems can contribute to local biodiversity conservation. Biodiversity and Conservation 25: 3023–3041.
- Májeková, M., Paal, T., Plowman, N.S., Bryndová, M., Kasari, L., Norberg, A., Weiss, M., Bishop, T.R., Luke, S.H., Sam, K., Le Bagousse-Pinguet, Y., Lepš, J., Götzenberger, L. & de Bello, F. 2016. Evaluating functional diversity: Missing trait data and the importance of species abundance structure and data transformation. PLoSOne 11: e0152532.
- Kasari, L., Gazol, A., Kalwij, J.M. & Helm, A. 2013. Low shrub cover in alvar grasslands increases small-scale diversity by promoting the occurrence of generalist species. Tuexenia 33: 293–308.
- Gazol, A., Tamme, R., Takkis, K., Kasari, L., Saar, L., Helm, A. & Pärtel, M. 2012. Landscape- and small-scale determinants of grassland species diversity: direct and indirect influences. Ecography 35: 944–951.
Conference presentations:
- Kasari, L., Holm, A. & Helm, A. Grassland restoration in Estonia: aims, methods and implications for biodiversity. Society of Ecological Restoration Europe Conference, 9–13 September 2018, Reykjavik, Iceland. Oral presentation.
- Kasari, L., Holm, A., Prangel, E., Hernández-Agramonte, I.M. & Helm, A. LIFE to Alvars - large-scale grassland restoration in Estonia. Best practice and socio-economic implications. 5th European Congress of Conservation Biology, 12–15 June, Jyväskylä, Finland. Oral presentation.
- Kasari, L., Zobel, M., Pärtel, M., Bommarco, R., Bruun, H.H., Gustiņa, L., Heikkinen, R., Honnay, O., Krauss, J., Lindborg, R., Raatikainen, K., Rūsiņa, S. & Helm, A. Plants with good dispersal abilities disappear from European semi-natural grasslands following the payment of extinction debt. 60th Symposium of the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS), 20–24 June 2017, Palermo, Italy. Poster presentation.
- Kasari, L., et al. & Helm, A. Does habitat size influences the functional diversity similarly to species richness? 58th Symposium of the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS), 19–24 July 2015, Brno, Czech Republic. Oral presentation.
- Kasari, L., Takkis, K., Saar, L. & Helm, A. Increase in species richness and functional diversity after habitat degradation and fragmentation. 57th Symposium of the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS), 1–5 September 2014, Perth, Australia. Oral presentation.
- Kasari, L., Takkis, K., Saar, L. & Helm, A. Which plant species are ‘winners’ in degraded grassland habitats? 56th Symposium of the International Association for Vegetation Science (IAVS), 26–30 June 2013, Tartu, Estonia. Poster presentation.
- Kasari, L., Takkis, K., Saar, L. & Helm, A. Which plant species are ‘winners’ in degraded grassland habitats? 2nd International Conference of Doctoral School of Earth Sciences and Ecology, 16–17 May 2013, Tallinn, Estonia. Oral presentation.
- Kasari, L., Takkis, K., Saar, L. & Helm, A. Which plant species are ‘winners’ in degraded grassland habitats? 26th Conference of the Plant Population Biology Section of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (GfÖ), 9–11 May 2013, Tartu, Estonia. Poster presentation.
