Bianca Ott Andrade

 
Associate Professor in Biology

Research

My research focuses on biodiversity, its drivers of change, and how to apply that knowledge to tackle the biodiversity crisis through better conservation, management, and restoration. My research explores how human actions—such as peatland drainage, prescribed fire, grazing, and climate extremes—shape plant community patterns and processes. Using floristic, functional, and phylogenetic metrics with big data analytics, I track vegetation changes across space and time. These tools reveal the complex factors behind biodiversity loss and guide sustainable land use and restoration strategies.

Collaboration

  • Cooperation with Länsstyrelser (e.g., Värmland, Västra Götaland, Halland, Blekinge, Kronoberg, Jönköping), kommuner (e.g., Karlstad etc.), Sveriges Sportfiskarna, business sector (Stora Enso), with academia (University of Gothenburg; Lund University; Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil; Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil; Oviedo University, Spain).
  • Associate Editor in Scientific Journals: Flora. Editorial Board member: Vegetation Classification and Survey; Vegetation Ecology and Diversity.
  •  Grants:
    • EU grant: “Improve Aquatic LIFE” project (LIFE-2023-SAP-NAT-NATURE, 2024-2031); SPACEwetland project (Rymdstyrelsens 7200-6-3016).
    • International grants: CNPq/MCTI/FNDCT Nº 22/2024 - Support for Network Projects with Brazilian Researchers Abroad (2025-2026); FAPESC 21/2024 (2025-2026); FAPERGS ARD/ARC 08/23: biodiversity conservation (2024-2026).

Selected publications

Andrade B., Gamboa C.H., Ferreira G.W.D., Wiesmeier M., Assad E.D., Cerri C.E.P., ... & Tornquist C.G. (2025). The GrassSyn dataset: Soil organic carbon stocks in Brazilian grassy ecosystems. Journal of Environmental Quality, 54, p. 335-348.

Lázaro-Lobo A., Andrade B., Canavan K., Ervin G.N., Essl F., Fernández-Pascual E., Follak S., Richardson D.M., Moles A., Visser V., Wyse, S.V., 2024. Monographs on invasive plants in Europe N° 8: Cortaderia selloana (Schult. & Schult. f.) Asch. & Graebn. Botany Letters, pp.1-25.

Streit H., Bergamin R.S., Andrade B., Altesor A., Lezama F., Perelman S., Müller S.C., Overbeck G.E. 2024. Determinants of biogeographical distribution of grasses in grasslands of South America. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 63, p.125791.

Andrade B., Menezes L.S., Boldrini I., Pillar V.D., Overbeck G. 2024. Grassland plant community composition and dynamics: disturbance as determinants of grassland diversity. In: Overbeck G., Pillar V.D., Müller S., Bencke G.A. South Brazilian grasslands: Ecology and conservation of the Campos Sulinos. Springer.

Overbeck G., Andrade B., Vélez-Martin E, Pillar V.D. 2024. Beyond Protected Areas: Conservation of South Brazilian Grasslands. In: Overbeck G., Pillar V.D., Müller S., Bencke G.A. South Brazilian grasslands: Ecology and conservation of the Campos Sulinos. Springer.

Staude I., Segar J., Temperton V., Andrade B., de Sá Dechoum M., Weidlich E., Overbeck G. 2023. Prioritize grassland restoration to bend the curve of biodiversity loss. Restoration Ecology, v. 31, e13931.

Andrade B., Dröse W. Andrade B., Dröse W., Aguiar C.A. de, Aires E.T., Alvares D.J., Barbieri R.L., Carvalho C.J.B. de, Bartz M., Becker F.G., Bencke G.A., Beneduzi A., Bernardo-Silva J, Blochtein B., Boldrini I.I., (...), Overbeck G.E. et al. 2023. 12,500+ and counting: biodiversity of the Brazilian Pampa. Frontiers of Biogeography, v. 15, e95288.

Ferreira P.M.A., Andrade B., Podgaiski L.R., Dias A.C., Pillar V.D., Overbeck G.E., Mendonça M.S., Boldrini I.I. 2020 Long-term ecological research in southern Brazil grasslands: Effects of grazing exclusion and deferred grazing on plant and arthropod communities. PLoS One, v. 15, e0227706.

Andrade B., Bonilha C.L., Overbeck G.E, Velez-Martin E., Rolim R. G., Bordignon S.A.L., Schneider A.A., Vogel-Ely C., Lucas D.B., Garcia E.N., Santos E.D., Torchelsen F.P., Vieira M. S., Silva Filho P.J.S., Ferreira P.M.A., Trevisan R., Hollas R., Campestrini S., Pillar V.D., Boldrini I.I. 2019. Classification of South Brazilian grasslands: Implications for conservation. Applied Vegetation Science, v. 22, p. 168-184.

Andrade B., Boldrini I.I., Cadenazzi M., Pillar V.D., Overbeck G.E. 2019. Grassland vegetation sampling - a practical guide for sampling and data analysis. Acta Botanica Brasilica, v. 33, p. 786-795.

Andrade B., Marchesi E., Burkart S., Setubal R.B., Lezama F., Perelman S., Schneider A.A., Trevisan R, Overbeck G.E., Boldrini I.I. 2018. Vascular plant species richness and distribution in the Río de la Plata grasslands. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, v. 8, p. 250-256.

Andrade B., Koch C., Boldrini I.I., Vélez-Martin E., Hasenack H., Hermann J-M., Kollmann J., Pillar, V.D.P., Overbeck, G.E. 2015. Grassland degradation and restoration: a conceptual framework of stages and thresholds illustrated by southern Brazilian grasslands. Brazilian Journal of Nature Conservation, v. 13, p. 95-104. 

Publications