Michael Kessler

Michael Kessler is a Researcher at the University of Zurich, affiliated with the Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany and Botanical Garden. His work focuses on tropical plant biodiversity and biogeography, investigating the interplay of biotic and abiotic factors with evolutionary processes in regions such as the Andes, Central America, Africa, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

• Key research areas include fern flora systematics, epiphytic plant ecology, and climate-vegetation interactions in alpine and tropical ecosystems.
• He employs GIS modeling to analyze plant distribution-climate relationships and explores functional diversity drivers in fern communities.
• His recent publications highlight global patterns in fern phylogenetics, conservation challenges in tropical cloud forests, and elevational biodiversity dynamics.
• Collaborations span institutions in the USA (A.R. Smith, J. Grant), Germany (A. Widmer), and Switzerland (G. Zotz, D. Croll).