My research is interdisciplinary and problem-driven. This means that as I am interested in trying to find solutions for nature conservation, the main questions of my research are often inspired by practical problems and gaps in knowledge. To find optimal solutions one usually needs a holistic approach to understand the ecosystem. Furthermore, in order to apply research results in conservation, different fields of science are often needed to understand the human society, i.e. it’s values, decision making, juridical barriers etc. For collaborations, research inquiries, and dissertations, please feel free to contact me by sending an email.
My research interests include the responses of invertebrate and plant communities to urbanisation. To this end I concentrate on the effects of various urban features, such as habitat edges, trampling intensity, and greenspace fragmentation in general, on communities in remnant urban forests, meadow habitats, vegetated roofs and mires. Additionally, during the past years I have become interested in using urban soils as in situ laboratories to investigate decomposition and soil quality, and to involve students and citizen scientists to learn about the importance of soil biodiversity and ecological processes. Feel free to contact me via email.
Plant symbiotic microbes
Green roof research has been gaining its popularity and importance in academia more and more. However, if plants could not survive on vegetated roofs, none of the researches could be conducted at all. So my researches focus on growth and survival of vegetated roof plants since my Master’s thesis, specifically applying plant-growth-promoting-microbes in the soil to achieve or partially achieve the goal. I focused on two commonly used beneficial microbes: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (bacterium) and Rhizophagus irregularis (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, formerly known as Glomus intraradices) on vascular plants (berry plants, ornamental plants, and grass). I have been working both in greenhouse and vegetated roof conditions for different experimental layouts. Contact me via email.
Landscape Architecture
My research focus on how to increase biodiversity in human-dominated landscape, which consists of three parts. The first one is quantitative analysis of human’s needs especially on those who don’t have a strong voice in the society. The second part considers how to use native plants to create habitats for non-human species in human-created landscape -vegetated roofs and walls. The third part aims to balance human and non-human species’ needs in a design programme. Contact me via email (xi.shu@helsinki.fi)
Policy instruments (MSc)
Taina is an environmental biologist, landscape designer and horticulturist. She holds a BSc in Environmental Biology and a Masters degree in Environmental Change and Policy from the University of Helsinki. Her research concentrates particularly on the environmental change and policy with regard to green roofs in urban areas. She is currently working as chairperson on the Green Roof Strategy of the City of Vantaa, Finland’s fourth largest city, located in the greater Helsinki region. Taina is considered a leading pioneer in Finland on green roofs, and she takes pride in the work in this field. She sees it as improving the quality of our lives but also as an absolute necessity in the face of the megatrend of urbanisation, with a view of preserving and supporting the biodiversity our natural environment.
Rita Hakola
Renan Benicke: outdoor spaces for children (University of Münster)
Iiris Lettojärvi
Kirsi Kuoppamäki, Runoff quality and quantity (PhD, Adjunct Prof.)
Kukka Kyrö, Invertebrates (MSc, Doctoral Researcher)
Marja Mesimäki
Juhamatti Niemi-Kapee, Moss roofs (MSc, Doctoral Researcher)
Miia Jauni, Vegetation (PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher)
Marleena Hagner, Substrate properties and soil animals (PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher)