Assistant professor, Vegetation Science Group
Office: bldg. D32/207
Kamenice 753/5
625 00 Brno
| Phone: | +420 549 49 8395 |
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| Web: | https://www.sci.muni.cz/o-nas/zamestnanci-fakulty/78388-irena-axmanova |
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During my PhD, I focused on factors that affect the diversity of forest herb-layer across different regions and scales (see the main papers below). I tested the relative importance of productivity, soil pH, light availability, moisture, and other environmental factors. To answer my questions, I used my own vegetation records, data from my bioassay experiments and additional data compiled from previously conducted studies.
I undertook a stay at the University of Bremen, in the research group of Prof. Martin Diekmann. I also gained valuable experience with vegetation sampling in the Czech Republic, Yakutia, Crete and Bulgaria. For my PhD thesis, I was awarded a Prize of the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences.
Main papers of the PhD thesis
Diversity in Europe Comparison: boreal zone Bioassay experiment Biomass estimation
Even nowadays, I am still fascinated by different aspects of plant diversity.
Plant characteristics (traits) reflect the adaptations of plants to the environment and their evolutionary history. We suggested decoupled patterns to challenge the expected positive relationship between functional and phylogenetic diversity. In another study, we asked how the environment affects the traits and abundance of plants.
Effect of the environment on the plant traits Distribution of plant families in Europe
Alien species, especially those invasive, significantly contribute to the current biodiversity crisis. Therefore, studying their traits, distribution and invasion potential is essential. Together with other colleagues, I prepare overviews of alien species in different vegetation types in Europe and their biogeographical patterns (EVA project 116).
Together with Veronika Kalusová, we showed the need for updated alien species lists for individual countries. We prepare a revised and gap-filled database of European alien species, which will become available in our FloraVeg.EU database.
My team
