My passion for biodiversity, particularly birds, since adolescence has led me to study biology and pursue an academic career. Over the past 15 years, I have devoted most of my research effort on untangling the response of wildlife communities to anthropogenic ecological disturbances, mainly urbanization, as well as the ecology of invasive bird species and drivers of bird diversity.
I am highly committed to filling knowledge gaps regarding the ecology of cities, and am keen on generating evidence-based urban ecology knowledge available to promote systemic decision making. As an Advisory Board member of the International Network Urban Biodiversity & Design (URBIO), I seek to promote the implementation of the United Nations ‘Convention on Biological Diversity’ (CBD) in urban areas.
I am currently Editor-in-Chief at Animal Biodiversity and Conservation, and am an appointed Associate Editor at Ecology, Urban Ecosystems, and Journal of Urban Ecology (Oxford University Press).
I am confident that the use of evidence-based knowledge from the physical, ecological, and social components of human-modified systems can result in the development of biodiverse and healthier landscapes, for which willingness of all implied stakeholders is a keystone.
I’m in the Doctoral Programme in Wildlife Biology Research (LUOVA) at the University of Helsinki. I completed my Master’s degree at the Instituto de Ecología, A.C. (INECOL) in Mexico, focusing on the House Sparrow and its role in shaping native bird communities in small human settlements. In my Ph.D. project, I proposed an integrative conceptual framework for understanding avian urban filtering. I then explored the relationship between bird diversity and various elements of urbanization using a city-wide survey approach in the city of Lahti. Finally, I studied how urban birds respond behaviorally to human-generated resources across six Finnish cities. My research goal is to provide evidence-based knowledge to better support decision-making in urban planning, aiming to improve urban environments for both birds and people.
E-mail: michelle.garciaarroyo@helsinki.fi
Academic profiles: Google Scholar, Research Gate, ORCiD
I am about to complete my doctoral studies in Ecology at the National University of Colombia. However, meeting Professor MacGregor-Fors and visiting the University of Helsinki were pivotal moments in my academic journey. Since my Bachelor's degree in Biology, I have focused my research on avian ecology. Over time, my specific interests have shifted from nesting biology to urban bird diversity, a transition that began during my Master in Environment and Sustainable Development. My doctoral thesis explores urban environmental filtering and the drivers of bird diversity in Medellín, Colombia, across a highly urbanized landscape within the Tropical Andes biodiversity hotspot.
E-mail: jgarizabal@unal.edu.co
Academic profiles: Google Scholar, Research Gate, ORCiD
My academic and research interests are based on the ecology, conservation, and evolution of Neotropical bird populations and communities. In my academic career, I have had a special interest in vulnerable bird species; for my Master's, I evaluated the population density of the Cozumel Curassow (Crax rubra) and its response to different biotic, abiotic, and anthropic factors. In my Ph.D., I'm assessing the diversity, composition, and abundance of birds in different cities in central and southern Mexico to understand how various factors related to urbanization affect bird communities with the aim that the information generated can be useful for forming cities that are resilient and sustainable from a socio-ecological context.
E-mail: jonathan.morales@estudianteposgrado.ecosur.mx
Academic profiles: Google Scholar, Research Gate, ORCiD
I hold a Master of Science in Evolution and Ecology, with a focus on urban ecology and ornithology. My main interest is applying research to address real-world issues like habitat changes and biodiversity loss. I am also interested in animal behaviour, especially how animals change their behaviours in response to human-altered habitats. In my doctoral research, I am monitoring bird and butterfly diversity in urban green spaces. I aim to understand the relative ecological role of private green spaces. By studying these spaces, I want to assess their contribution to the composition of biodiversity in urban environments.
E-mail: mina.nesenhoner@helsinki.fi
Academic profiles: Research Gate, ORCiD
My doctoral research explores how compact versus green city designs in Finnish cities impact bird diversity, aiming to inform urban development that is biodiversity and people-friendly. I hold a Master’s in Environmental Science and Technology, where my interest in urban ecology began with a thesis on bird distribution in my hometown’s green spaces. To better understand my interests, I first gained field experience in forests, as a research biologist in the Tiger Estimation project in the tropical forests of India. Observing ecological interactions in these forests deepened my curiosity about how they are modified in urban environments. Now, I focus on urban biodiversity patterns through field research. Outside academia, I enjoy birding and hiking.
E-mail: swaroop.patankar@helsinki.fi
Academic profiles: Google Scholar, Research Gate, ORCiD
I did my bachelor’s in environmental sciences, continuing to the Master's Programme in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability here at the University of Helsinki. In my bachelor’s thesis, I reviewed the field of fear ecology in birds, its key findings and some potential practical applications. With my master’s thesis, I am tipping my own toes into fear ecology: I am studying our beloved bird, the white wagtail (Motacilla alba) and its fear response in Lahti and Helsinki. Additionally, I am widely interested in urban environments, be it the coexistence of us and other biota, urban planning, or other urban challenges.
I study in the Master’s program in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability at the University of Helsinki, where I also completed my Bachelor’s in environmental science. My main interests include urban biodiversity, ecology and green space connectivity. For my Master’s thesis I am exploring biodiversity value of pocket parks in Helsinki city center, using bird diversity as an indicator. I hope my findings will contribute to more informed urban planning, especially when it comes to green spaces in highly urbanized areas.
I am studying in the Environmental Change and Global Sustainability master’s program at the University of Helsinki. My bachelor’s degree is in International Studies with a concentration in Development and Sustainability and Spanish. During my bachelor’s, I had the opportunity to contribute to research about urban agroecological farming in Rosario, Argentina. I am interested in bringing a “social” dimension to urban ecology research. In my master’s thesis, I will explore the relationship between socioeconomic factors and urban biodiversity, and am excited to constantly learn more about urban ecology with the research group.
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