Functional Ecology Lab is in the Division of Ecology, Department of Biology at Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye, and is supervised by Çağatay Tavşanoğlu (formerly, Fire Ecology and Seed Research Lab).

The lab’s main research field is functional ecology, with a major emphasis on fire ecology, plant ecology, and plant-animal interactions. We use functional trait-based approaches to understand the ecological and evolutionary dynamics in ecosystems. We are specifically interested in the dynamics of Mediterranean-type ecosystems and Anatolian steppe grasslands.

Plant response (populations, communities, and functional traits) to climatic and fire regime changes is among our current interests. We research post-disturbance recovery of species, communities, and ecosystems, as well as the ecology of seed germination and dormancy during these processes. We also study the role of animals in seed dispersal and pollination.