^2026-09-15

Open PhD Position 

We are seeking a highly motivated Predoctoral Researcher / PhD Candidate in quantitative agroecology, data integration and biodiversity modelling for the FWF-funded project EU-OLIVES(“Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in EU Olive Farming”) at the University of Vienna, for a 36-month position from 1 February 2027 to 31 January 2030 (30 hours/week).

Please find the full job description in the attached PDF

Hausharter, J., Wessely, J., Helm, N., Chytrý, K., Hülber, K., Moser, D., García Lino, M.C., Kagerl, K., Lamprecht, A., Lenoir, J., Kollert, A., Mayr, A., Rutzinger, M., Choler, P., De Frenne, P., Lembrechts, J.J., Abdaladze, O., Andrews, C., Barančok, P., Benito-Alonso, J.-L., Cañadas, E.M., Carbognani, M., Carnicero, P., Corcket, E., Di Musciano, M., Dick, J., Gigauri, K., Hilpold, A., Jiménez, J.J., Lorite, J., Morra Di Cella, U., Nyktas, P., Orsenigo, S., Palaj, A., Petey, M., Pușcaș, M., Randin, C., Remoundou, I., Rixen, C., Saccone, P., Stanisci, A., Theurillat, J.-P., Ursu, T.-M., Vanneste, T., Von Büren, R.S., Wipf, S., Winkler, M., Pauli, H. & Dullinger, S.

Widespread thermophilization but weak link to climate warming in Europe’s summit plant communities

In this study we investigated whether warming temperatures drive the increasing dominance of warmth-associated species in alpine plant communities across Europe. Although thermophilization and warming occurred concurrently and were related at broad regional scales, local vegetation changes were more strongly influenced by abiotic site conditions and the availability of potential colonizing species than by temperature trends alone.

Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2026 
doi.org/10.1038/s41559-026-03150-x

Johannes Wessely, Kryštof Chytrý, Andreas Gattringer, Johannes Hausharter, Norbert Helm, Karl Hülber, Dietmar Moser, Otar Abdaladze, Christopher Andrews, Elena Barni, Debora Barolin, José-Luis Benito-Alonso, Raphael S. von Büren, Michele Carbognani, Pau Carnicero, Valter Di Cecco, Philippe Choler, Jan Dick, Rosa Fernández-Calzado, Pieter De Frenne, Mary Carolina García Lino, Dany Ghosn, Khatuna Gigauri, Bente J. Graae, Andreas Hilpold, Juan J. Jiménez, Katharina Kagerl, Róbert Kanka, Jozef Kollár, Andrea Lamprecht, Jonas Lembrechts, Jonathan Lenoir, Juan Lorite, Panagiotis Nyktas, Mihai Pușcaș, Christophe F. Randin, Christian Rixen, Graziano Rossi, Patrick Saccone, Tudor Mihai Ursu, Thomas Vanneste, Marco Varricchione, Pascal Vittoz, Manuela Winkler, Sonja Wipf, Harald Pauli, Stefan Dullinger

Rising plant extinction rates on European mountain summits

Climate change increases plant species richness in alpine ecosystems. However, to what extent this diversity enrichment masks extinction dynamics of resident species remains elusive. In this study, we used floristic resurvey data from 896 permanent vegetation plots across 62 European mountain summits to show that local extinctions have increased over the past 21 years. Extinction rates rose with the magnitude of warming, and species were more likely to go extinct toward their low-elevation range margins and in communities undergoing stronger thermophilization. Moreover, local extinctions were significantly related to preceding abundance declines, which can serve as an early warning signal. These findings suggest that despite increasing plant species richness, plant assemblages above the treeline face an accelerating but so far neglected loss of their most characteristic species.

Science Volume 393, Issue 6815, 3. September 2026
DOI: 10.1126/science.aed2974

Giliba RA, Loos J, Fiedler K (2026)

Protection status and environmental gradients shape butterfly assemblages in an East African tropical ecosystem

Insect Conservation and Diversity doi.org/10.1111/icad.70125

Kropik, M., Zechmeister, H.G. 2026

Shifting urban baselines limit the abundance-based resolution of a classical lichen indicator

Ecological Indicators, Volume 189, August 2026, 115071https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2026.115071

Kachali RN, Loos J (2026)

Navigating equity in protected and conserved areas: a literature map of conceptualizations and practical applications.

Local Environment. doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2026.2615020.

Berg, C., Köckinger, H., Kropik, M., Pöltl, M., Schröck, C. & Zechmeister, H. G. [Hrsg.] 2025.

Moosflora von Österreich. Band 1 bis 3.

Verlag des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins für Kärnten, Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, 1182 + LXXXVI S. im Anhang.