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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 17h

We were delighted to welcome Katja Sterflinger (Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna) as a guest talker at our Biology Colloquium. 🌿 This Tuesday, she gave a fascinating talk on the transience of art and cultural heritage under the influence of microorganisms. 🎨🦠

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

New paper from our group! 🎉 Congratulations to Ruilin Chen and co-authors on their new article in Remote Sensing of Environment: 🛰️ “Mapping rodent-induced disturbance of biological soil crusts using PlanetScope imagery and deep-learning-informed graph cut” www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Big news! 🎉 We are delighted to announce that the 7th International Workshop on Biological Soil Crusts will be taking place here in beautiful Graz. You can look forward to exciting talks and poster sessions next year from all over the world! 📋

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Minsu from our team recently had a new study published on extracellular polymeric substances and their effect on organic carbon in the soil. 🎊 Read up on it here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Ruilin from our group gave an exciting talk at Biocrust 6 🎤🌿 Great to see our work represented in this international biocrust community!

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Our Group was present at the Sixth International Workshop on Biological Soil Crusts convening in Yangling, China. Bettina held the opening talk covering climate change effects on biocrusts in various settings 🌱

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

and a stakeholder workshop led by Janne Creve, sparking rich discussions on alpine ecosystems, climate change, and how our research connects to the wider region. Two intense, rewarding days on the mountain that really brought the science — and the landscape — to life! 🏔️

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Our team of technical assistants had a great experience visiting Lab Supply at Messe Graz! 🧫🥼 We loved seeing the newest lab innovations and networking and connecting with fellow lab professionals and companies. Thanks to all the exhibitors for sharing their expertise in their talks! 💬

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Starting off field season with two successful days in the field for another year of our climate change experiment near Großglockner with Janne, Lisa and Hanna. 💪 Who wouldn’t love these views/biocrusts? 🏔️

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Friday was our big day at EGU, with Asma presenting a poster and Janne, Ruilin, Philipp and Carlos having talks 🗣️📃

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Yesterday, Minsu gave an excellent overview over her nitrogen modelling work at EGU26 🔊

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

We are very happy to announce that Bettina was awarded the Alina Kabata-Pendias Medal at EGU26. 🎉🏅

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Yesterday at EGU26, Luciano presented our new soilOFM measurement setup! There, we were able to simultaneously measure the concentration of nitrogen compounds in the wet and gaseous phase 🌍

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Back from an exciting trip to the Tabernas Desert and Cabo de Gata in Spain to sample biocrusts for the WinMicAct project, together with Bettina Weber from the University of Graz and Dagmar Woebken from the University of Vienna! 🏜️🌍

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Curious about climate change and system transformation? 🌍 EcoNights: Outgrow The System Join us for a free documentary screening about the limits of our planet and the need for system change! 🗓️ April 14th, 17:00–19:00 📍 HS15.02 (ReSoWi, EG), University of Graz

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

🌨️ Join us for a snow removal experiment in the Alps! We're looking for helping hands between April 15th and June 15th. Spend a day in the mountains, enjoy stunning views and help science! We provide transport, you bring the energy. Interested? Contact: janne.creve@uni-graz.at

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

🦠🌿 How do cryptogamic and microbial communities shape ecosystem processes? Session BG3.28 at #EGU26 invites contributions on biodiversity and functional roles of cryptogamic or microbial communities from local to global scales.

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

📢 Call for abstracts! Join us at #EGU26 in Vienna & online for session SSS6.3 on Next-Generation Soil Physics. We welcome contributions combining remote sensing, AI, and process-based modeling across scales. 🌍🛰️ 🗓️ Abstract deadline: 15 Jan 2026 #EGU26 #RemoteSensing #SoilPhysics #EarthSystemScience

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

🌿🛰️ Interested in dryland ecosystems? Session BG9: Dryland Remote Sensing – Applications, Challenges, and Opportunities invites studies on surface component mapping, monitoring, and integrating field & remote sensing data.

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Happy to announce that our newest article on "Image-based analysis of long-term biocrust degradation utilising joint energy-based deep learning" got published this week! 🎉📝 Read the whole article here: doi.org/10.1016/j.ec...

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Out last week for data collection in Unterpremstätten for our functional ecology field course 🌿🔬 Despite the cold weather the students were motivated as ever! Amazing to see classroom theory come to life in the field. 🍃🔍 #UniversityCourse #FunctionalEcology #FieldWork

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

We were very happy to be actively participating in the Symposium on Bacterial Genetics and Ecology, with great talks from Stefanie, Minsu, and Bettina. #BAGECO2025 #ScienceTalks #Biocrusts

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Maier presented 'In situ tracking of soil invisibles: Simultaneous monitoring of soil microbes, soil chemicals, and soil gases'.

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Pfingstl presented 'BIOMES: The Pillars of Soil – Monitoring and Documenting Arthropod Soil Biodiversity to Assess Soil Quality and Implement Measures for Soil Management and Renaturation'.

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

The research projects align with the EU mission ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’, which aims to establish sustainable soil management in urban and rural areas. 🔗 research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/fund...

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Soil for everyone — everyone for the soil! Tobias Pfingstl and Stefanie Maier from the Institute of Biology were invited to present their projects, which are funded by the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW), at the Soil Forum's spring conference. 🔗 www.umweltbundesamt.at/bodenforum/f...

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Our study, showing how deep learning can be applied to distinguish liverworts of the genus Riccia, has been published! Check it out here: doi.org/10.1016/j.ec... #NewPublication #DeepLearning #Liverworts

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 29/04/2025

Yesterday, Lina, Luciano, and @jannecreve.bsky.social had a successful day in the field, shovelling snow for a climate change experiment near the Großglockner! #Alpine #Fieldwork #SnowRemoval #ClimateChange #ScienceInAction

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 07/04/2025

Great day at Helsinki Day, our PhD symposium at the Institute of Biology - @uni-graz.at! Our PhD students @philophil89.bsky.social and @jannecreve.bsky.social presented their research, and Janne won Best Talk 🏆! Read more on our newspage: diversitaet-oekologie.uni-graz.at/en/news/hels...

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

After the talk by @panemma.bsky.social , we enjoyed a great dinner and inspiring discussions! Always great to connect with passionate researchers over good food. 👍

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

This week, our research group hosted Professor Emma Sayer (@panemma.bsky.social) from the University of Ulm, who shared insights from the Gigante Litter Manipulation Project on tropical tree growth, nutrient cycling, and greenhouse gases. #TropicalForests #Litterfall #Cryptogams #NutrientCycling

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

We are happy that Lina Clasen, Luciano Silva, and Ruilin Chen joined our team to support our research on microbial communities and their roles in biogeochemical cycling under the effects of global change!🌍

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

With the next field work, we’re excited to return to this stunning alpine environment - a breath-taking but challenging place to work. Stay tuned for updates, and feel free to reach out with questions! 👇 #Science #Ecology #ClimateChange #AlpineResearch #Biocrusts #Alps #PhDLife

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

🌍 Investigating Climate Change Effects on Alpine Biocrusts ❄️🌱 How do alpine biocrusts respond to rising temperatures and changing snow conditions?

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Functional Diversity and Ecology group - Uni Graz @fundivecol.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

🌿 Welcome to the Functional Diversity and Ecology Group (AG Bettina Weber) @uni-graz.at Graz on Bluesky! 🎉

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