Nolan James Rappa

Postdoctoral researcher in the Restoration Ecology group at SLU Umeå, specializing in forest biodiversity with a focus on insects. My research examines how land-use decisions shape biodiversity and ecological functions, with an emphasis on mechanistic understanding that informs conservation and restoration. I combine field based biodiversity assessment with quantitative analysis to develop robust indicators and management relevant ecological insights.

My work investigates how land management decisions affect insect biodiversity, with a focus on ecologically important groups such as deadwood dependent (saproxylic) species and pollinators. I am currently examining the potential effects of mining on pollinating insect communities in Sweden's far north, and assessing the role of fire and gap-cutting in maintaining disturbance reliant forest pollinator communities. This research integrates field-based biodiversity assessment with ecological indicators to inform conservation and restoration in boreal forest ecosystems.

Rappa, N.J., Sjögren, J., Löfroth, T., Jönsson, M., Hekkala, A.M., (Under revision). The potential of emulating forest disturbance to promote boreal insect pollinators. J. Appl. Ecol.

Schwegemann, S., Pereira, JMC, Basile, M., Jonker, M., Rappa, N.J., Fardiansah, R., Storch, I., Bhardwaj, M., (Under revision). Testing the intermediate-disturbance hypothesis – managed roe deer populations are not disrupting forest faunal communities.

Ruppert, L.S., Staab, M., Rappa, N.J., Frey, J., Segelbacher, G., 2025. Gene flow across large distances in the cavity-nesting wasp Deuteragenia subintermedia in a central European forest. Ecol. Evol. 15(4):e71294. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71294.

Fardiansah, R., Rehling, F., Rappa, N.J., Dormann, C., Klein, A.M., 2025. Host identity, nest quality, and parasitism strategy: influences on body size variation in parasitoid bees and wasps. Oikos. 2025(6):e011052. https://doi.org/10.22541/au.172512539.92170005/v1.

Rappa, N.J., Staab, M., Ruppert, L.S., Frey, J., Mello, M.A.R., Klein, A.M., 2024. Forest structure and heterogeneity increase diversity and alter composition of host-parasitoid networks. Ecol. Entomol. 49(2):257-271. https://doi.org/10.1111/een.13301.

Ruppert, L.S., Staab, M., Klingenfuß, S., Rappa, N.J., Frey, J., Segelbacher, G., 2023. Leaf litter arthropods show little response to structural retention in a Central European forest. Biodivers. Conserv. 32(12): 3973-3990. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-023-02677-w.

Burrascano, S., Chianucci, F., Trentanovi, G., Kepfer-Rojas, S., Sitzia, T., Tinya, F., Doerfler, I., Paillet, Y., Nagel, T.A., Mitic, B., Morillas, L., Munzi, S., Van der Sluis, T., Alterio, E., Balducci, L., Andrade, R.B., Bouget, C., Giordani, P., Lachat, T., Matosevic, D., Napoleone, F., Nascimbene, J., Paniccia, C., Roth, N., Aszalós, R., Brazaitis, G., Cutini, A., D’Andrea, E., De Smedt, P., Heilmann-Clausen, J., Janssen, P., Kozák, D., Mårell, A., Mikoláš, M., Nordén, B., Matula, R., Schall, P., Svoboda, M., Ujhazyova, M., Vandekerkhove, K., Wohlwend, M., Xystrakis, F., Aleffi, M., Ammer, C., Archaux, F., Asbeck, T., Avtzis, D., Ayasse, M., Bagella, S., Balestrieri, R., Barbati, A., Basile, M., Bergamini, A., Bertini, G., Biscaccianti, A.B., Boch, S., Bölöni, J., Bombi, P., Boscardin, Y., Brunialti, G., Bruun, H.H., Buscot, F., Byriel, D.B., Campagnaro, T., Campanaro, A., Chauvat, M., Ciach, M., Čiliak, M., Cistrone, L., Pereira, J.M.C., Daniel, R., De Cinti, B., De Filippo, G., Dekoninck, W., Di Salvatore, U., Dumas, Y., Elek, Z., Ferretti, F., Fotakis, D., Frank, T., Frey, J., Giancola, C., Gomoryová, E., Gosselin, M., Gosselin, F., Gossner, M.M., Götmark, F., Haeler, E., Hansen, A.K., Hertzog, L., Hofmeister, J., Hošek, J., Johanssen, V.K., Justensen, M.J., Korboulewsky, N., Kovács, B., Lakatos, F., Landivar, C.M., Lens, L., Lingua, E., Lombardi, F., Máliš, F., Marchino, L., Marozas, V., Matteucci, G., Mattioli, W., Møller, P.F., Müller, J., Németh, C., Ónodi, G., Parisi, F., Perot, T., Perret, S., Persiani, A.M., Portaccio, A., Posillico, M., Preikša, Ž., Rahbek, C., Rappa, N.J., Ravera, S., Romano, A., Samu, F., Scheidegger, C., Schmidt, I.K., Schwegmann, S., Sicuriello, F., Spinu, A.P., Spyroglou, G., Stillhard, J., Topalidou, E., Tøttrup, A.P., Ujházy, K., Veres, K., Verheyen, K., Weisser, W.W., Zapponi, L., Ódor, P., 2023. Where are we now with European forest multi-taxon biodiversity and where can we head to? Biol. Conserv. 284:e110176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2023.110176.

Chaves, J.E., Acuña, M.C.A., Rodríguez‑Souilla, J., Cellini, J.M., Rappa, N.J., Lencinas, M.V., Peri, P.L., Martínez Pastur, G., 2023. Carbon pool dynamics after variable retention harvesting in Nothofagus pumilio forests of Tierra del Fuego. Ecol. Process. 12:5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-023-00418-z.

Rappa, N.J., Staab, M., Ruppert, L.S., Frey, J., Bauhus, J., Klein, A.M., 2023. Structural elements enhanced by retention forestry promote forest and non-forest specialist bees and wasps. For. Ecol. Manag. 529:e120709. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120709.

Rappa, N.J., Staab, M., Frey, J., Winiger, N., Klein, A.M. 2022. Multiple forest structural elements are needed to promote beetle biomass, diversity and abundance. For. Ecosyst. 9:e100056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fecs.2022.100056.

July 2019-May 2023 Dr. rerum naturalium, University of Freiburg, Germany

Thesis: "Influences of retention forestry structural elements on insect communities and ecosystem functions"

October 2015-December 2018 M.Sc. Ecology, University of Bremen, Germany

Thesis: "Evaluating the use of the entomopathogenic fungus  Beauveria bassiana against the Anromeda Lacebug on Rhododendron"

August 2010-May 2014 B.A. Aquatic Biology, Buffalo State University, U.S.A.

October 2025 (planned) - Lecturer, Ecosystem Restoration and Rewilding (BI1446)

September 2025 - Lecturer, Forest Ecology and Conservation Biology (BI1434)

September 2025 - Lecturer, Census Methods for Biodiversity (BI1447)

October 2024 - Lecturer, Forest Ecology and Conservation Biology (BI1434)

April-May 2023 - Acting Module coordinator, Introduction to Ornithology

October 2022-February 2023 - Acting Module coordinator, Introduction to Hymenoptera

July 2022 - Lecturer, Heimische Arten

November 2021-February 2022 - Acting Module coordinator, Introduction to Hymenoptera

July 2021/2022/2023 - Lecturer, Forest Entomology/Invasive Species (within ConFoBi module)

May-June 2020/2021/2022 - Tutor, Field Ecology