Mario Pesendorfer

Mario Pesendorfer is a Full Professor in Forest Ecology at BOKU University, Vienna, starting in 2025. He is affiliated with the Institute of Forest Ecology and holds an ongoing position as a Research Associate at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute since 2016. Previously, he served as a Postdoc/Senior Scientist at BOKU from 2019 to 2025 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (2014–2019).

• Mag.rer.nat. in Biology (Zoology), University of Vienna, 2007
• Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2014

His research focuses on forest ecological processes, particularly masting behavior—the synchronized, interannual variation in tree seed production—and its implications for seed dispersal, plant-animal interactions, and forest regeneration. He integrates ecological modeling with long-term field observations to understand population and community dynamics in forest ecosystems.

Mario Pesendorfer's scientific work centers on the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms driving synchronized seed production in trees, a phenomenon with wide-ranging impacts on food webs, wildlife management, and forest conservation. His research bridges theoretical ecology with applied conservation, often leveraging large-scale datasets and collaborative networks.

He has been involved in public scientific engagement, including the CSH Talk titled Taking the Pulse of the Forest: Explaining and Predicting Synchronized Interannual Variation in Seed Production of Trees, highlighting his commitment to communicating complex ecological dynamics to broader audiences.

Mario Pesendorfer has mentored students and early-career researchers through his roles at Cornell and BOKU, though specific advisees are not listed. He has likely secured research grants supporting his work in forest ecology and conservation, particularly through his affiliations with the Smithsonian and BOKU, though explicit funding details are not provided.

He is associated with the Institute of Forest Ecology at BOKU University and collaborates with the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, contributing to interdisciplinary research on ecosystem dynamics and biodiversity conservation.