Metapopulation biology gives hints how to preserve biodiversity
The University of Helsinki’s Professor of Zoology was acknowledged for his research on metapopulations. The research is important in decreasing the threat of extinction and biodiversity decline.
The Professor of Zoology Ilkka Hanski does pioneering research on metapopulation. Photo: Tapio Vanhatalo.
Professor of Zoology, Ilkka Hanski, from the University of Helsinki’s Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences received 17 November the 74,000 Euro Latsis Prize from the European Science Foundation.
The prize is awarded every year in a different discipline for outstanding and innovative contributions in European research. To celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity 2010, this year the prize was given for contributions to interdisciplinary research on biodiversity.
Hanski, who got his PhD from Oxford University in 1979, has done a long career in the Academy of Finland and the University of Helsinki, and conducted pioneering research on ecology and metapopulation biology.
Metapopulation describes a group of spatially separated populations of the same species which interact at some level. Metapopulations appear after habitat fragmentation that is known to be a significant factor in reduction of biodiversity and increased threat of species becoming endangered. Therefore studying metapopulations is important.
The prize committee of top scientists valued Hanski’s pioneering theories that have helped metapopulation biology to become a focal field of research. His researches have changed the perspective within the field.
The University of Helsinki’s Metapopulation Research Group, directed by Hanski, is one of the best theoretical and experimental research centre’s on population biology in the world.
Ilkka Hanski has studied the Glanville Fritillary butterflies in Aland Islands. Photo: Niclas Fritzén / Wikimedia Commons.
The research on metapopulations can provide answers to questions regarding habitats and nature conservation. More and more habitats are fragmented, and accommodating the needs of humans and other species is often difficult.
“With metapopulation modelling we can find out how much a certain habitat can become fragmented before the situation becomes so critical that the species won’t make it in the long run. We have gained new information on how and why local extinction happens. We also know how a species can thrive in fragmented habitat,” Hanski clarifies.
His best know research has been on Glanville Fritillary (Melitaea cinxia) butterflies on Aland Islands. The research has continued almost 20 years.
“The research on Glanville Fritillary has brought answers to several important research questions. We have used it as a model species for studying the effects of fragmented habitat on population fluctuation and microevolution.”
Elisa Lautala works as web editor for University of Helsinki's Faculty of Science. Elisa likes all kinds of cultural events, good books, warm weather, and aqua-jogging.