title: Directional changes in flora of managed natural areas: population and production biology, horology, genetic variability, conservation.
reg no: SF0362481s03
project type: targeted financing
subject: 1.10-1.16. Bio-Geo Sciences
4. Agricultural Sciences
status: accepted
institution: Institute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciences
head of project: Tiiu Kull
duration: 01.01.2003 - 31.12.2007
description: The aim of the project is a quantitative analysis of the irreversible changes in flora of managed natural areas, including the decrease and extinction of species, and naturalisation and invasion of species.
We will compare the species characterised by different time of entering the area, in relation to their distribution speed, invasiveness, genetic variability, clonality, and productivity. On this basis, the distribution potential of the species will be estimated.
The project includes a series of studies: a quantitative analysis of changes in species distribution during the last century (on the basis of the database of the Atlas of Estonian Flora); a review of invasive species in Estonian area; analysis of mechanisms of distribution and population dynamics of some invasive species; relationship between the parameters of clonal growth and the invasion efficiency into natural and semi-natural communities; a review on the naturalisation of woody species in Estonia; the changes in the relationship between the local and non-local species in aerobiological data; a comparative research of local and introduced taxa (genuses Bromus, Lathyrus, Vicia) in genetic variability, microevolution and systematics, using both molecular and morphological characteristics; a comparison of local and introduced taxa (Salix, Alnus, Populus) in their growth potential and productivity in short-rotation forest plantations and water purification systems; finally, the first diacronic classification of Estonian flora will be compiled.

project group
no name institution position  
1.Katrin HeinsooInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesvantead. 
2.Bert HolmInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesmagistrant 
3.Vello JaaskaInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesvantead 
4.Kaili KattaiInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesmagistrant, lab 
5.Toomas KukkInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesteadur 
6.Kalevi KullInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesdots. 
7.Thea KullInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesvanlab 
8.Tiiu KullInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesosak.juh 
9.Kaire LannoTUmagistrant 
10.Malle LehtInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesvantead. 
11.Kai LuikInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesvanlab 
12.Vivika MeltsovInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesmagistrant, lab 
13.Ebe MeriloInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesvantead. 
14.Meeli MesipuuInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesmagistrant 
15.Merle MägiInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesdoktorant 
16.Tatjana OjaInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesvantead. 
17.Maret SaarInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesteadur 
18.Marek SammulInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesteadur 
19.Heldur SanderInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesdoktorant 
20.Kadri TaliInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesteadur 
21.Anneli TammZBI+SLUdoktorant 
22.Triin TilgerKKImagistrant 
23.Kai VellakInstitute of Zoology and Botany at Estonian University of Life Sciencesvantead.