Igor Zelnik (SI)

Igor Zelnik (University of Ljubljana) is a plant ecologist whose research focuses on wetland and freshwater ecosystems, particularly the role of aquatic vegetation (macrophytes) in shaping biodiversity and ecological status. His work combines vegetation science with environmental gradients, analysing how factors such as nutrient availability and hydrology influence plant community composition in wetlands and wet grasslands.

He has contributed to studies on long-term changes in macrophyte communities in rivers, as well as their use as indicators of ecological condition, linking vegetation patterns with environmental assessment methods.

More recently, his research also addresses the impacts of invasive aquatic plant species and global environmental change on freshwater ecosystems, including their spread, ecological effects, and management challenges.