News & Events
Schedule
- 13-16/05/2026 12th International Ecology Symposium, Gaziantep, Türkiye
- 22-26/06/2026 68th IAVS Annual Symposium, Gijon, Spain
- 07/2026 12th Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Symposium (EEBST2026), Mersin, Türkiye
- 20-24/07/2026 21st Eurasian Grassland Conference, Sofia, Bulgaria
- 24-26/08/2026 15th European Conference on Ecological Restoration, Brest, France
- 31/08 – 06/09/2026 Philosophy of Biology Summer Camp, Şirince, İzmir, Türkiye
- 31/10 – 06/11/2026 10th International Conference on Forest Fire Research, Coimbra, Portugal
- ?2027 7th International Conference on Mediterranean Pines (MEDPINE 7), Türkiye
Ruveyda’s Internship at the Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, METU Institute of Marine Sciences
Our lab member, Rüveyda Zehra Ögütverici, completed her internship in June 2025 at the Aquatic Ecology Laboratory of the METU Institute of Marine Sciences (Mersin), where she worked with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Korhan Özkan and his research team.
During her internship, she participated in ongoing mesocosm experiments designed to simulate warming and salinization scenarios under future climate change conditions. Her work included sample collection and the measurement of physicochemical variables such as pH, chlorophyll-a, and nutrients, as well as involvement in heatwave and salinization experiments.
Through this experience, she gained hands-on training in ecological measurements and developed insights into carbon cycling, the functional roles of sediments, zooplankton, and phytoplankton, and the ecological impacts of heatwaves and salinization in lake ecosystems.
We sincerely thank Assoc. Prof. Dr. Korhan Özkan and the Aquatic Ecology Laboratory team for their mentorship, support, and collaboration.
Cansu’s Internship at the Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment
Our undergraduate researcher, Cansu Baran, recently visited the Institute of Lowland Forestry and Environment (ILFE) in Novi Sad, Serbia, as an intern, where she worked with Dr. Srdjan Stojnić and his research team.
During her stay, she contributed to studies on Fagus sylvatica L., one of the most widespread tree species in Europe and a species known to be highly vulnerable to climatic stress. She gained hands-on experience in leaf anatomical analyses using cryosectioning and light microscopy, including measurements of leaf cross-sections. In addition, she participated in fieldwork conducted within the framework of the Horizon Europe project FRUITDIV.
We sincerely thank Dr. Stojnić and his team for their warm hospitality, productive collaboration, and inspiring scientific exchange.
Cansu successfully defended her Ph.D. thesis
Our researcher, Cansu Ülgen, successfully defended her PhD thesis entitled “Aboveground and Belowground Plant Traits and the Plant Economic Spectrum in Central Anatolian Steppe Vegetation” on December 18, 2025.
We congratulate her on this important academic milestone and wish her continued success in her future endeavors.
We congratulate her and wish her continued success in her career.
Nurbahar successfully defended her Ph.D. thesis
Our researcher, Nurbahar Usta, has successfully completed and defended her PhD thesis entitled “Dynamics of Trojan Fir Forests in Mount Ida and the Possible Effects of Climate Change on These Dynamics” and has officially graduated on December 18, 2025.
We congratulate her on this important academic milestone and wish her continued success in her future endeavors.
Tracing Ailanthus altissima: Fieldwork at Beytepe Campus
To identify the distribution of Ailanthus altissima, examine its changes over time, and predict its future dynamics, we conducted fieldwork at Hacettepe University’s Beytepe Campus.
Together with our intern team, we collected field data within the pilot study area of our research project.
Lab visit by Dr. Jalil Noroozi
On Monday, July 14, 2025, our lab had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Jalil Noroozi from the University of Vienna for a research article discussion session.
During the visit, we discussed his recent co-authored paper:
“Plant endemic diversity in the Irano-Anatolian global biodiversity hotspot is dramatically threatened by future climate change” (Moradi, Noroozi & Fourcade, 2025 – Biological Conservation).
We sincerely thank Dr. Noroozi for the inspiring discussion and generous knowledge sharing!
Fieldwork in the Alpine Habitats of Hasandağı
Our Principal Investigator, Prof. Dr. Çağatay Tavşanoğlu, conducted fieldwork in the alpine zone habitats of Hasandağı (~3250 m), Central Anatolia, together with Dr. Jalil Noroozi and Asst. Prof. Golshan Zare.
During this expedition, the team explored alpine plant communities and ecosystems, gaining valuable insights into species composition and ecological dynamics. We sincerely thank Dr. Noroozi and Dr. Zare for the inspiring collaboration and fruitful exchange of ideas.
EEBST 2025
Our lab members had the pleasure of presenting several talks and posters at the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Symposium Türkiye (Hacettepe University; 9-11 July 2025). We were excited to share our ongoing research with the community and engage in fruitful discussions.
Oral Presentations
- Pollinator Assemblages as Drivers of Plant Range: Evidence from a Marl Steppe in Central Anatolia – presented by Gülseli Kırgıl
- Effect of Crown Fires on Temperate Mixed Forests of Northeastern Anatolia: A Modeling Approach – presented by Anıl Bahar
- Community Composition and Resistance Levels of Soil Bacteria and Fungi in a Mediterranean Forest Under Varying Wildfire Severities – presented by Bedirhan Avdancı
- Trojan Fir under Climate Warming: A Facilitator Species Facing Regeneration Limits – presented by Nurbahar Usta
Poster Presentations
- Afforestation Alters Epigeic Beetle Community in Central Anatolian Steppes – Cansu Baran & Eylül Evrenosoğlu
- Variability in Germination and Dormancy in Steppe Plant Communities – Berna Yavuz
- Modelling Wildfire Occurrence in Türkiye: The Role of Productivity and Human Influence – Mehmet Göktuğ Öztürk
- Wisdom from Ashes: Exploring Traditional Fire Knowledge and Use in Anatolia – Rüveyda Zehra Öğütverici
- Comparative Analysis of Leaf Flammability Traits in Forest and Shrubland Plants of Western Türkiye – Nursema Aktepe
- Gastrointestinal Helminth Diversity in Captive and Free-Ranging Mountain Gazelles in Hatay, Türkiye – Mina Cansu Karaer
We are glad to have represented our lab with such diverse contributions and thank all participants for their inspiring presentations and discussions.
Awards at EEBST 2025
Our lab is proud to announce that two of our members received significant recognitions at the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Symposium Türkiye (EEBST 2025).
M.Sc. Thesis Award – Mehmet Göktuğ Öztürk
Göktuğ was recognized for his Master’s thesis focusing on wildfire ecology and the drivers of fire occurrence in Türkiye, highlighting the roles of productivity and human influence.
Best Oral Presentation Award – Nurbahar Usta
Nurbahar received this award for her talk on the regeneration limits of Trojan fir under climate warming, presenting valuable insights into how a key facilitator species may respond to future climate scenarios.
We sincerely congratulate both for their outstanding achievements and their contributions to advancing ecological and evolutionary research.
Oral Presentation at EEBST 2025 – Prof. Dr. Çağatay Tavşanoğlu
Our principal investigator, Prof. Dr. Çağatay Tavşanoğlu, delivered an oral presentation at the Philosophy of Biology mini-symposium within EEBST 2025, titled “The Intellectual Evolution of Ecology: Paradigm Shifts and Current Trends.”
The talk explored key conceptual shifts in ecology over time and discussed current perspectives shaping the field today.
Functional Ecology Lab 