High plant diversity is often found in the smallest of areas

The steppes of Eastern Europe are home to a similar number of plant species as the regions of the Amazon rainforest. However, this is only apparent when species are counted in small sampling areas, rather than hectares of land.

An international team of researchers, including researchers from the Institute of Botany, has now shown how much estimates of plant diversity change when the sampling area ranges from a few square metres to hectares. Their results have been published in the journal “Nature Communications” and could be utilised in new, more tailored nature conservation concepts.

Article in Nature Communications (EN).

Press release: 08092022_NatureComms-5.docx [docx, 122 KB]