Lars Båstrup-Spohr

Lars Båstrup-Spohr is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Science, specializing in Freshwater Biology. His research focuses on aquatic plant biodiversity, community assembly processes, and freshwater ecosystem restoration. With a PhD from the University of Copenhagen (2009-2013), he has established himself as a leading researcher in freshwater ecology with particular expertise in lake macrophytes, charophytes, and functional traits.

His research interests center on understanding how natural aquatic communities are assembled and how they can be restored following anthropogenic impacts. Key areas include historical changes in aquatic plant diversity due to global change, biodiversity and distribution patterns of aquatic plants in relation to environmental conditions, plant functional traits and community assembly mechanisms, and the restoration and re-establishment of freshwater ecosystems. His work spans multiple spatial scales from local lake ecosystems to global comparative studies across continents.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on cross-continental comparative studies of freshwater plant communities, long-term monitoring of ecosystem recovery following restoration, greenhouse gas emissions from restored wetlands, and the impacts of environmental stressors on aquatic biodiversity. His research combines field observations with experimental approaches to understand both fundamental ecological processes and applied conservation questions.

Lars is actively involved in collaborative research networks across Europe and internationally, with recent work spanning seven metacommunities across three continents. His research has received attention from news outlets, social media platforms, and scientific communities, with several of his publications being highlighted by multiple news outlets and shared widely on professional networks.

Within the Department of Biology, he contributes to research and likely teaching in freshwater ecology and biodiversity. His work connects with broader efforts in ecological restoration and conservation biology at the University of Copenhagen, particularly through collaborations with researchers studying lake ecosystems, plant ecology, and environmental change.