Joakim Hjältén

I am an experimental ecologist with a focus on conservation biology, restoration ecology, dead wood decomposition and carbon balance, plant-herbivore interaction, chemical ecology, community and population ecology.  I am the founder of the restoration ecology group/subject area at SLU. 

Research grants/external funding/international collaboration last five years

1. 2023. Consequences of global biodiversity loss and climate change for decomposer communities and implications for forest carbon fluxes (BIOCOMP). ERC-Starting-Grant Project, PI Sebastian Seibold. Role: collaborating partners and responsible for sampling in Sweden.

2. 2023. The role of saprothropic metacommunities in wood decomposition and carbon dioxide flux in a large-scale field experiment. VR 4-year grant, total 4 million SEK. Co-applicant, main applicant Mari Jönsson.

3. 2022. Pros and cons with continuous cover forestry for biodiversity and ecosystem services. Formas 4 year grant, total 10 million SEK, Co-applicant, main applicant Jörgen Sjögren

4. 2022. Can translocation of deadwood help preserve wood-living metacommunities and ecosystem functions? Formas 3 year grant, total 3 million SEK, Co-applicant, main applicant Mari Jönsson

5. 2021. Systemic solutions for upscaling of urgent ecosystem restoration for forest-related biodiversity and ecosystem services (SUPERB). Horizon grant, Main applicant EFI. Total budget 20 MEuro of which 590000Euro to SLU/VFM. Role: collaborating partner providing expertise on ecological restoration. 

6. 2021. Tree cavities as indicators of nature conservation values in forest management. Skogssällskapet 3 year grant total budget 1 826 KSEK Co-applicant, main applicant Jari Kouki Univ. of Eastern Finland.

7. 2021. Impacts of mining dust deposition on forest biodiversity and ecosystem services (MINEDUST). Vinnova (SIP STRIM) 3 year grant total budget 5 million SEK (Vinnova 3.2 million and Boliden 1.8 Million).  Co-applicant, main applicant Jörgen Sjögren.

8. 2020. Effects of forest landscape management on the conservation and biodiversity of wood-decaying fungi. Lammska Stiftelse 467kSEK, co-applicant main applicant Anne-Maarit Hekkala.

9. 2020. Ecoparks: the importance of green infrastructure in the landscape. Research collaboration with Sveaskog. Joint project management with Anne-Maarit Hekkala and Johan Svensson (2021-2025, total budget 5 million SEK).

10. 2020. Biodiversity: Research collaboration with Stora Enso including two VFM subprojects “Uneven-aged forestry – effects on biodiversity and forest production” and “Restoration of set-asides and the consequences for target and non-target species”. Joint project management with Thomas Ranius, Joachim Strengbom, Jörgen Sjögren, Tomas Lundmark and Therese Löfroth (5 year grant preliminary total budget 6000KSEK (Stora Enso 4000kSEK and SLU 2000kSEK)). 

Albin Larsson Ekström, Deputy supervisor, Planned 2025.
Lukas Holmström (Licentiate), Deputy supervisor, Planned 2025.
Paulina Bergmark, Main supervisor2, Dissertation 2025.
Olle Tranberg, Main supervisor2, Dissertation 2024.
Martijn Versluijs, Main supervisor1, Dissertation 2019.
Klara Joelsson, Main supervisor, Dissertation 2017.
Rory Hägglund, Main supervisor, Dissertation 2016.
Andreas Tiselius, Deputy supervisor, Dissertation 2016.
Eliza Hasselquist, Deputy supervisor, Dissertation 2015.
David Bell (Licentiate), Main supervisor, Dissertation 2015.
David Tingström, (Licentiate) Main supervisor, Dissertation 2012.
Jon Andersson, Main supervisor, Dissertation 2012.
Petter Axelsson, Main supervisor, Dissertation 2011.
Fredrik Stenbacka, Main supervisor, Dissertation 2009.
Patrik Blomberg, Deputy supervisor, Dissertation 2007.
Therese Johansson, Main supervisor, Dissertation 2006.
Gert Olsson, Main supervisor1, Dissertation 2003.
Mats Nilson (Licentiate), Main supervisor, Dissertation 2002.
Per Hallgren, Main supervisor, Dissertation 2002.
Benedicte Albrectsen, Main supervisor1, Dissertation 2000.

1 (initially deputy supervisor), 2(after retirement 2022, deputy supervisor) 

1.  Adam Ekholm 2020-2022

2. Miguel Montoro Girona  2017-2019

3. Andreas Karlsson Tiselius 2017-2019

4. Anne-Maarit Hekkala 2016-2017

5. Simon Kärvemo 2015-2016

6.  Anouchka Hof 24 months 2011-2015

7.  Torbjörn Josefsson 2011-2013

8. Jörgen Olsson, 2010-2012

9.  Mats Dynesius 2006-2008

10. Jacek Hilszanzki, 2004

11.  Heloise Gibb, 2003-2004

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS in refereed journals. Total number of citation 24 may 2025: 7158, h-index 43, I10 index 115 according to Google scholar: ‪‪Joakim Hjältén - ‪Google Scholar

Publication the last five year 

128. Tranberg O, Löfroth, T, Hekkala A-M, Jönsson M, Work T, Gibb H, Holmström L, Sjögren J, Hjältén J, 2025. Translocating deadwood in ecological compensation benefit saproxylic beetles, but effects are dependent on substrate density. Journal of Environmental Management 383:125448. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125448

127. Tranberg, O., Löfroth, T., Jönsson, M., Hekkala, A-M., Sjögren, J. & Hjältén, J. 2025. Enhanced bryophyte communities, but challenges for lichens following translocation of deadwood in ecological compensation. Journal of Environmental Management 381:125161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125161  

126. Nathan R. De Jager, Wiebke Neumann, Miguel M. Girona, Joakim Hjältén, Anouschka R. Hof. 2025. Identifying strategies to manage boreal forests: Simulating moose and timber management scenarios at a landscape scale in the face of changing environmental conditions European Journal of Forest Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-025-01775-4 

125. Wiebke Neumann, Joakim Hjältén, Nathan R. De Jager, Miguel Montoro Girona, Anouschka Hof 2025. Balancing conflicting goals in ungulate management and forestry in the light of climate change in hemiboreal and boreal forests: insights from Europe and Northern America. Environmental Reviews 33: .  https://doi.org/10.1139/er-2024-0068 

124. Albin Larsson Ekström, Line Boberg Djupström, Joakim Hjältén, Jörgen Sjögren, Mari Jönsson, Therese Löfroth 2024. Deadwood manipulation and type determines assemblage composition of saproxylic beetles and fungi after a decade. Journal of Environmental Management, 372-123416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123416

123. Bergmark P, Hjältén J, Svensson J, Neuman, W and Hekkala A-M. 2024 Trait-environment interactions of saproxylic beetles as a guide to biodiversity conservation strategies. Journal of Environmental Management. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121080

122. Larsson Ekström, A., Hjältén, J., & Löfroth, T. 2024. A decadal study reveals that restoration guided by an umbrella species does not reach target levels. Journal of Applied Ecology, 00, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14586  

121. Timo Pakkala, Anna Peltonen, Henrik Lindberg, Joakim Hjältén & Jari Kouki 2024. The intensity of forest management affects the nest cavity production of woodpeckers and tits in mature boreal forests. European Journal of Forest Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-023-01645-x

120. Tranberg O., Hekkala A-M, Lindroos O, Löfroth T, Jönsson M, Sjögren J, Hjältén, J. 2023. Translocation of deadwood in ecological compensation, a novel way to compensate for habitat loss. Ambio. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-023-01934-0 

119. Kriegel P, Vogel S, Angeleri R, Baldrian P, Borken W, Bussler H, Bouget C, Brin A, Cocciufa, C, Feldmann B, Gossner M, Haeler E, Hagge J, Hardersen S, Hartmann H, Hjältén J, Kotowska M, Lachat T, Larrieu L, Leverkus A, Macagno A, Mitesser O, Müller J, Obermaier E, Parisi F, Pelz S, Schuldt B, Seibold S, Stengel E, Sverdrup-Thygeson A, Weisser W, Thorn S. 2023. Ambient and substrate energy influence decomposer community diversity differentially across trophic levels. Ecology Letters. 2023;00:1–17. http://doi.org/10.1111/ele.14227. 

118. Adam Ekholm, Lars Lundqvist, Petter Axelsson, Gustaf Egnell, Joakim Hjältén, Tomas Lundmark, Jörgen Sjögren 2023. Long-term yield and biodiversity in stands managed with the selection system and the rotation forestry system: A qualitative review. Forest Ecology and Management 537:120920. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2023.120920 

117. Adam Ekholm, Petter Axelsson, Joakim Hjältén, Tomas Lundmark, Jörgen Sjögren 2022. Short-term effects of continuous cover forestry on forest biomass production and biodiversity - applying selection system in forests dominated by Picea abies. Ambio 51:2478-2495. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-022-01749-5   

116. Seibold S, Rammer W, Hothorn T, Seidl R, Ulyshen MD, Lorz J, Cadotte MW, Lindenmayer DB, Adhikari YP, Aragon R, Bae S, Baldrian P, Varandi HB, Barlow J, Bassler C, Beauchene J, Berenguer E, Bergamin RS, Birkemoe T, Boros G, Brandl R, Brustel H, Burton PJ, Cakpo-Tossou YT, Castro J, Cateau E, Cobb TP, Farwig N, Fernandez RD, Firn J, Gan KS, Gonzalez G, Gossner MM, Habel JC, Hebert C, Heibl C, Heikkala O, Hemp A, Hemp C, Hjältén J, Hotes S, Kouki J, Lachat T, Liu J, Liu Y, Luo YH, Macandog DM, Martina PE, Mukul SA, Nachin B, Nisbet K, O'Halloran J, Oxbrough A, Pandey JN, Pavlicek T, Pawson SM, Rakotondranary JS, Ramanamanjato JB, Rossi L, Schmidl J, Schulze M, Seaton S, Stone MJ, Stork NE, Suran B, Sverdrup-Thygeson A, Thorn S, Thyagarajan G, Wardlaw TJ, Weisser WW, Yoon S, Zhang NL, Muller J. 2021. Deadwood decomposition mediated by insects influences global carbon fluxes. Nature 597, 77–81. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03740-8

115. Lindroos O, Söderlind M, Jensen J, Hjältén J, 2021.Cost Analysis of a Novel Method for Ecological Compensation-A Study of the Translocation of Dead Wood. Sustainability 13, 6075https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116075

114. Espinosa del Alba C, Hjältén J and Sjögren J. 2021. Differing field and ground layer response to ecological restoration by burning and gap cutting. Forest Ecology and Management 494: 119357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119357 

113. Eliza Maher Hasselquist, Lenka Kuglerová, Ryan A. Sponseller, Jörgen Sjögren, Joakim Hjältén, Eva Ring, Elisabet Andersson, Johanna Lundström, Irina Mancheva, Annika Nordin, Hjalmar Laudon 2021. Moving towards multi-layered, mixed-species forests in riparian buffers will enhance their long-term function. Forest Ecology and Management 493: 119254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119254

112. Dynesius M, Olsson J, Hjältén J, Löfroth T, Roberge J-M. 2021. Bryophyte species composition at the stand scale (1 ha) – Differences between secondary stands half a century after clear-cutting and older semi-natural boreal forests. Forest Ecology and Management 482: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118883 

111. Hekkala A-M, Kärvemo S, Versluijs M, Weslien J-O, Löfroth T, Björkman C, Hjältén J. 2021. Ecological restoration for biodiversity conservation triggers response of bark beetle pests and their natural predators. Forestry 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1093/forestry/cpaa016

110. Versluijs M, Hekkala A-M, Lindberg E, Lämås T, and Hjältén J, 2020. Comparing the effects of even-aged thinning and selective felling on boreal forest birds. Forest Ecology and Management 475, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118404   

109. Versluijs, M., Eggers, S., Mikusinski, G., Roberge, J-M., Hjältén, J. 2020. Foraging ecology of Eurasian three-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus) and its implications for ecological restoration and sustainable boreal forest management. Avian Conservation and Ecology 15 (1):6. https://doi.org/10.5751/ACE-01477-150106 

108. Hägglund R, Dynesius M, Löfroth T, Olsson J, Roberge J-M and Hjältén J. 2020. Restoration measures emulating natural disturbances alter saproxylic beetle assemblages. Forest Ecology and Management 462 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.117934.

107. Adam Felton, Thomas Ranius, Therese Löfroth, Per Angelstam, Lena Gustafsson, Joakim Hjältén, Annika M. Felton, Per Simonsson, Anders Dahlberg, Matts Lindbladh, Johan Svensson, Urban Nilsson, Isak Lodin, PO Hedwall, Anna Sténs, Tomas Lämås, Jörg Brunet, Christer Kalén, Bengt Kriström, Pelle Gemmel. 2020. Keeping pace with forestry: Multi-scale conservation efforts in a changing matrix. Ambio 49: 1050–1064. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-019-01248-0