Links
Areas of expertise
Research
The main focus in my research is bryophyte taxonomy and evolutionary biology of epiphytism. Most of my research concentrates on tropical pleurocarps, especially those in the order Hypnales and in families Meteoriaceae, Brachytheciaceae, Lembophyllaceae and Neckeraceae. These families are species-rich and very visible component in humid tropical and warm temperate forests occurring often in areas where flora is still poorly studied. Besides morphological evolution and taxonomy, I also use molecular systematic methods for studying biogeography.
Because of shared interest in tropical epiphytes and their morphological characteristics, I am involved in project on functional ecology of epiphytes in tropical mountain cloud forests in Peru. In addition, I work as an expert in the project funded by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) aiming to confirm identifications and to mobilize data on bryophyte collections held in the Herbarium of the University of Science, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (PHH) (see link below). (see link blow). Collections in PHH provides an excellent material for taxonomic and floristics studies on Vietnamese mosses, and therefore we also aim to produce electronic identification keys for mosses in Vietnam.
I am a member of the Finnish bryophyte expert group that evaluates the conservation status of all Finnish bryophyte species at every ten-year intervals. This task also includes updating the Finnish bryophyte checklist maintained by Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility (FinBIF; https://laji.fi/en) and taxonomic work on Finnish bryophytes.
BIFA project funded by GBIF: https://www.gbif.org/project/5joJ2AYB8QMwaosayIoMeU/data-mobilization-of-vietnamese-herbarium-cryptogam-collections
Species expert groups in Finland: http://www.ymparisto.fi/en-US/Nature/Species/Species_protection_work/The_species_expert_groups_in_Finland
Finnish bryophyte expert group: https://www.facebook.com/sammaltyoryhma/