World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!
Award Badge
Ecology and Evolution
Estonia
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
60
Citations
15317
World Ranking
2275
National Ranking
7

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Ecology and Evolution in Estonia Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Ecology and Evolution in Estonia Leader Award

Overview

Maarja Öpik is affiliated with the University of Tartu in Estonia and specializes in research concentrated mainly within agricultural and biological sciences, alongside environmental science. Their work spans multiple interconnected subfields, including plant science, insect science, ecology, cell biology, and ecology, evolution, behavior, and systematics.

The scientist's research topics cover diverse areas related to fungi and plant interactions, forest ecology, and ecosystem dynamics. The main subjects include:

  • Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
  • Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
  • Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
  • Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
  • Fungal Biology and Applications
  • Plant and Animal Studies
  • Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology

Several frequent coauthors are associated with Maarja Öpik's work, identifying a collaborative network in related fields:

  • Martti Vasar
  • Mari Moora
  • Martin Zobel
  • Inga Hiiesalu
  • Tanel Vahter

Publication venues regularly featuring their research include:

  • New Phytologist
  • Mycorrhiza
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • Ecology Letters
  • Global Ecology and Biogeography

Key recent publications by Maarja Öpik demonstrate a focus on fungal biology, taxonomy, and environmental microbiology:

  • "FungalTraits: a user-friendly traits database of fungi and fungus-like stramenopiles" (2020) published in Fungal Diversity
  • "Unambiguous identification of fungi: where do we stand and how accurate and precise is fungal DNA barcoding?" (2020) published in IMA Fungus
  • "Temperature and pH define the realised niche space of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi" (2021) published in New Phytologist
  • "Fungal taxonomy and sequence-based nomenclature" (2021) published in Nature Microbiology
  • "Structure and function of the soil microbiome underlying N2O emissions from global wetlands" (2022) published in Nature Communications

Best Publications

  • The online database MaarjAM reveals global and ecosystemic distribution patterns in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota)

    Maarja Öpik;Alo Vanatoa;Elise Vanatoa;Mari Moora

  • FungalTraits: a user-friendly traits database of fungi and fungus-like stramenopiles

    Sergei Põlme;Sergei Põlme;Kessy Abarenkov;R. Henrik Nilsson;Björn D. Lindahl

  • Global assessment of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus diversity reveals very low endemism

    J. Davison;M. Moora;M. Öpik;A. Adholeya

  • Composition of root-colonizing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in different ecosystems around the globe

    Maarja Öpik;Mari Moora;Jaan Liira;Martin Zobel

  • Large-scale parallel 454 sequencing reveals host ecological group specificity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a boreonemoral forest.

    M. Öpik;M. Öpik;M. Metsis;T. J. Daniell;M. Zobel

  • Unambiguous identification of fungi: where do we stand and how accurate and precise is fungal DNA barcoding?

    Robert Lücking;M. Catherine Aime;Barbara Robbertse;Andrew N. Miller

  • Global sampling of plant roots expands the described molecular diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

    Maarja Öpik;Martin Zobel;Juan J. Cantero;John Davison

  • Species richness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: associations with grassland plant richness and biomass

    Inga Hiiesalu;Inga Hiiesalu;Meelis Pärtel;John Davison;Pille Gerhold

  • Responses of wheat to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: A meta-analysis of field studies from 1975 to 2013

    Elisa Pellegrino;Maarja Öpik;Enrico Bonari;Laura Ercoli

  • Structure and function of the soil microbiome underlying N2O emissions from global wetlands

    Unknown

  • Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in plant roots are not random assemblages

    John Davison;Maarja Öpik;Tim J. Daniell;Mari Moora

  • Sequence-based classification and identification of Fungi

    David Hibbett;Kessy Abarenkov;Urmas Koljalg;Maarja Opik

  • Temperature and pH define the realised niche space of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

    John Davison;Mari Moora;Marina Semchenko;Marina Semchenko;Sakeenah Binte Adenan

  • Divergent arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities colonize roots of Pulsatilla spp. in boreal Scots pine forest and grassland soils

    Maarja Öpik;Maarja Öpik;Mari Moora;Jaan Liira;Urmas Kõljalg

  • Species abundance distributions and richness estimations in fungal metagenomics--lessons learned from community ecology.

    Martin Unterseher;Ari Jumpponen;Maarja Öpik;Leho Tedersoo

  • High diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a boreal herb‐rich coniferous forest

    Maarja Öpik;Maarja Öpik;Mari Moora;Martin Zobel;Ülle Saks

  • Fungal taxonomy and sequence-based nomenclature.

    Robert Lücking;M. Catherine Aime;Barbara Robbertse;Andrew N. Miller

  • Communities of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Detected in Forest Soil Are Spatially Heterogeneous but Do Not Vary throughout the Growing Season

    John Davison;Maarja Öpik;Martin Zobel;Martti Vasar

  • Millions of reads, thousands of taxa: microbial community structure and associations analyzed via marker genes

    Miklós Bálint;Mohammad Bahram;Mohammad Bahram;A. Murat Eren;A. Murat Eren;Karoline Faust

  • Alien plants associate with widespread generalist arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal taxa: evidence from a continental‐scale study using massively parallel 454 sequencing

    Mari Moora;Silje Berger;John Davison;Maarja Öpik

  • Anthropogenic land use shapes the composition and phylogenetic structure of soil arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities

    Mari Moora;John Davison;Maarja Öpik;Madis Metsis

  • Plant and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities – which drives which?

    Martin Zobel;Maarja Öpik

Frequent Co-Authors

Mari Moora
Mari Moora University of Tartu
Martin Zobel
Martin Zobel University of Tartu
Martti Vasar
Martti Vasar University of Tartu
John Davison
John Davison University of Tartu
Leho Tedersoo
Leho Tedersoo University of Tartu
Marc-André Selosse
Marc-André Selosse University of Gdańsk
Meelis Pärtel
Meelis Pärtel University of Tartu
Urmas Kõljalg
Urmas Kõljalg University of Tartu
Mohammad Bahram
Mohammad Bahram Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
C. Guillermo Bueno
C. Guillermo Bueno Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología

If you think any of the details on this page are incorrect, let us know.

Report an issue

We appreciate your kind effort to assist us to improve this page, it would be helpful providing us with as much detail as possible in the text box below:

Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Many students interested in Ecology and Evolution also consider careers in fields that value scientific thinking, analytical skills, and research ability. One fast-growing option is advanced nursing, where biology backgrounds are especially valued in specialties like public health, genetics, or environmental medicine. If you're exploring online education options, several pathways stand out.

For current registered nurses, rn to np bridge programs allow seamless transitions to advanced practice roles without having to repeat coursework. Non-nurses with a strong science background may consider msn direct entry programs online to fast-track into nursing at the master's level—even if their undergraduate degree isn’t in nursing.

When comparing online programs, balancing value, flexibility, and accreditation is crucial. For those seeking the best value nursing education online wgu and similar well-reputed universities are popular choices. Students looking to minimize out-of-pocket costs can review the cheapest bsn to msn online programs for quality options that won’t break the bank.

Whether your goal is to integrate ecology with healthcare or fully shift focus, these programs offer flexible pathways for continued growth and diverse career opportunities.

Best Scientists Citing Maarja Öpik

Trending Scientists

Recently Published Articles