Profile
Halassy, Melinda, PhD
Head of the Restoration Ecology Group
senior research fellow
Contact:
halassy.melinda@ecolres.hu
+36 28 360-122, 360-147 / 123
Restoration Ecology Group Hungary
Restoration Ecology Group Blue Sky
restoration ecology, dry grasslands, seed bank, plant traits, invasive plant species
Melinda Halassy, PhD is a senior research fellow at the HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, leading the Restoration Ecology Group. She has been engaged in the ecological restoration of grassland ecosystems since 1995, working extensively understanding the recovery and community assembly of Pannonian sand grasslands, including seed dispersal limitation, plant traits and the role of invasive species in restoration. She has participated in several restoration projects, mostly at the Kiskun LTER site network in the Kiskunság region, applying and evaluating a range of restoration techniques. Her work focuses on the effects of restoration interventions and landscape context on restoration outcomes, using long-term experimental and monitoring datasets to understand the mechanisms that support resilient native plant communities and limit biological invasions. She currently studies seed-based restoration methods to enhance the invasion resistance of restored grasslands.
She is a founding member of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) Europe chapter, where she served as its first secretary and continues to contribute as a board member. In this capacity, she aims to provide scientific insight that can inform and guide discussions surrounding the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation.
Selected publications
Kövendi-Jakó Anna; Reis Bruna Paolinelli; Szitár Katalin; Török Katalin; Sáradi Nóra; Halász Krisztián; Mojzes Andrea; Halassy Melinda. Short-term seed banking enables adaptive, multi-year seeding strategies in grassland restoration GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION, 67. Paper: e04156 (2026)
2026
Csecserits Anikó; Berki Boglárka; Csákvári Edina; Halassy Melinda; Mártonffy András; Rédei Tamás; Szitár Katalin; Botta‐Dukát Zoltán. Similarity in Persistence Traits Is Important for CoExistence With Perennial Invasive Asclepias syriaca but Not Annual Invasive Conyza canadensis JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, 36 : 6. Paper: e70081 (2025)
2025
Sáradi Nóra; Reis Bruna Paolinelli; Csákvári Edina; Csonka Anna Cseperke; Vörös Márton; Verbényiné Krisztina Neumann; Török Katalin; Halassy Melinda. Restorative seeding controls annual invasive species, but perennials can thrive in the long term despite treatments in sand grassland restoration BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS, 27 : 6. Paper: 154 (2025)
2025
Halassy Melinda; Krpán Emese; Csákvári Edina; Török Katalin. Mowing increases the vulnerability of sand grassland restoration to secondary invasion despite the sensitivity of invasive species to drought GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION, 60. Paper: e03588 (2025)
2025
Vörös Márton; Somodi Imelda; Csákvári Edina; Csonka Anna Cseperke; Reis Bruna Paolinelli; Sáradi Nóra; Török Katalin; Halassy Melinda. Towards harmonised monitoring of grassland restoration: a review of ecological indicators used in the temperate region JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS, 230. Paper: 105426 (2025)
2025
Vörös Márton; Bede‐Fazekas Ákos; Crecco Lorenzo; Deák Balázs; Gyalus Adrienn; Schmotzer András; Valkó Orsolya; Halassy Melinda; Somodi Imelda. Potential vegetation estimations help to assess feasibility and expected effort needed in grassland restoration by shrub removal RESTORATION ECOLOGY, Paper: e70037 (2025)
2025
Gyalus, A., Bertalan, L., Csonka, A. C., Halassy, M., Kertész, M., Kröel-Dulay, G., ... & Csecserits, A. Nearby woody patches and microtopography reduce grass dieback during extreme drought. Global Ecology and Conservation, 60, e03596.
2025
Szitár Katalin; Bánhidai András; Csecserits Anikó; Csőszi Mónika; Halassy Melinda; Kertész Miklós; Kollányi László; Schneller. Krisztián; Teleki Mónika; Vaszócsik Vilja; Török Katalin The zone cube model – A tool to operationalise green infrastructure prioritisation LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING, 243. Paper: 104976 , 11 p. (2024)
2024
Paolinelli Reis, Bruna; Branquinho, Cristina; Török, Katalin; Řehounková, Klára; Nunes, Alice; Halassy, Melinda. The added value of the long-term ecological research network to upscale restoration in Europe JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
2024
Knollová Ilona; Chytrý Milan; Bruelheide Helge; Dullinger Stefan; Jandt Ute; Bernhardt‐Römermann Markus; Biurrun Idoia; de Bello Francesco; Glaser Michael; Hennekens Stephan; Jansen Florian; Jiménez‐Alfaro Borja; Kadaš Daniel; Kaplan Ekin; Klinkovská Klára; Lenzner Bernd; Pauli Harald; Sperandii Marta Gaia; Verheyen Kris; Winkler Manuela; Abdaladze Otar; Aćić Svetlana; Acosta Alicia T. R.; Alignier Audrey; Andrews Christopher; Arlettaz Raphaël; Attorre Fabio; Axmanová Irena; Babbi Manuel; Baeten Lander; Baran Jakub; Barni Elena; Benito‐Alonso José‐Luis; Berg Christian; Bergamini Ariel; Berki Imre; Boch Steffen; Bock Barbara; Bode Frank; Bonari Gianmaria; Boublík Karel; Britton Andrea J.; Brunet Jörg; Bruzzaniti Vanessa; Buholzer Serge; Burrascano Sabina; Campos Juan A.; Carlsson Bengt‐Göran; Carranza Maria Laura; Černý Tomáš; Charmillot Kévin; Chiarucci Alessandro; Choler Philippe; Chytrý Kryštof; Corcket Emmanuel; Csecserits Anikó; Cutini Maurizio; Czarniecka‐Wiera Marta; Danihelka Jiří; de Francesco Maria Carla; De Frenne Pieter; Di Musciano Michele; De Sanctis Michele; Deák Balázs; Decocq Guillaume; Dembicz Iwona; Dengler Jürgen; Di Cecco Valter; Dick Jan; Diekmann Martin; Dierschke Hartmut; Dirnböck Thomas; Doerfler Inken; Doležal Jiří; Döring Ute; Durak Tomasz; Dwyer Ciara; Ejrnæs Rasmus; Ermakova Inna; Erschbamer Brigitta; Fanelli Giuliano; Fernández‐Calzado María‐Rosa; Fickert Thomas; Fischer Andrea; Fischer Markus; Foremnik Kacper; Frouz Jan; García‐González Ricardo; García‐Magro Daniel; García‐Mijangos Itziar; Gavilán Rosario G.; Germ Mateja; Ghosn Dany; Gigauri Khatuna; Gizela Jaroslav; Golob Aleksandra; Golub Valentin; Gómez‐García Daniel; Gowing David; Grytnes John‐Arvid; Güler Behlül; Gutiérrez‐Girón Alba; Haase Peter; Haider Sylvia; Hájek Michal; Halassy Melinda; Harásek Martin; Härdtle Werner; Heinken Thilo; Hester Alison; Humbert Jean‐Yves; Ibáñez Ricardo; Illa Estela; Jaroszewicz Bogdan; Jensen Kai; Jentsch Anke; Jiroušek Martin; Kalníková Veronika; Kanka Róbert; Kapfer Jutta; Kazakis George; Kermavnar Janez; Kesting Stefan; Khanina Larisa; Kindermann Elisabeth; Kotrík Marek; Koutecký Tomáš; Kozub Łukasz; Kuhn Gisbert; Kutnar Lado; La Montagna Dario; Lamprecht Andrea; Lenoir Jonathan; Lepš Jan; Leuschner Christoph; Lorite Juan; Madsen Bjarke; Ugarte Rosina Magaña; Malicki Marek; Maliniemi Tuija; Máliš František; Maringer Alexander; Marrs Robert; Matesanz Silvia; Metze Katrin; Meyer Stefan; Millett Jonathan; Mitchell Ruth J.; Moeslund Jesper Erenskjold; Moiseev Pavel; di Cella Umberto Morra; Mudrák Ondřej; Müller Frank; Müller Norbert; Naaf Tobias; Nagy Laszlo; Napoleone Francesca; Nascimbene Juri; Navrátilová Jana; Ninot Josep M.; Niu Yujie; Normand Signe; Ogaya Romá; Onipchenko Vladimir; Orczewska Anna; Ortmann‐Ajkai Adrienne; Pakeman Robin J.; Pardo Iker; Pätsch Ricarda; Peet Robert K.; Penuelas Josep; Peppler‐Lisbach Cord; Pérez‐Hernández Javier; Pérez‐Haase Aaron; Petraglia Alessandro; Petřík Petr; Pielech Remigiusz; Piórkowski Hubert; Pladevall‐Izard Eulàlia; Poschlod Peter; Prach Karel; Praleskouskaya Safiya; Prokhorov Vadim; Provoost Sam; Pușcaș Mihai; Pustková Štěpánka; Randin Christophe François; Rašomavičius Valerijus; Reczyńska Kamila; Rédei Tamás; Řehounková Klára; Richner Nina; Risch Anita C.; Rixen Christian; Rosbakh Sergey; Roscher Christiane; Rosenthal Gert; Rossi Graziano; Rötzer Harald; Roux Camille; Rumpf Sabine B.; Ruprecht Eszter; Rūsiņa Solvita; Sanz‐Zubizarreta Irati; Schindler Meret; Schmidt Wolfgang; Schories Dirk; Schrautzer Joachim; Schubert Hendrik; Schuetz Martin; Schwabe Angelika; Schwaiger Helena; Schwartze Peter; Šebesta Jan; Seiler Hallie; Šilc Urban; Silva Vasco; Šmilauer Petr; Šmilauerová Marie; Sperle Thomas; Stachurska‐Swakoń Alina; Stanik Nils; Stanisci Angela; Steffen Kristina; Storm Christian; Stroh Hans Georg; Sugorkina Nadezhda; Świerkosz Krzysztof; Świerszcz Sebastian; Szymura Magdalena; Teleki Balázs; Thébaud Gilles; Theurillat Jean‐Paul; Tichý Lubomír; Treier Urs A.; Turtureanu Pavel Dan; Ujházy Karol; Ujházyová Mariana; Ursu Tudor Mihai; Uziębło Aldona K.; Valkó Orsolya; Van Calster Hans; Van Meerbeek Koenraad; Vandevoorde Bart; Vandvik Vigdis; Varricchione Marco; Vassilev Kiril; Villar Luis; Virtanen Risto; Vittoz Pascal; Voigt Winfried; von Hessberg Andreas; von Oheimb Goddert; Wagner Eva; Walther Gian‐Reto; Wellstein Camilla; Wesche Karsten; Wilhelm Markus; Willner Wolfgang; Wipf Sonja; Wittig Burghard; Wohlgemuth Thomas; Woodcock Ben A.; Wulf Monika; Essl Franz. ReSurveyEurope : A database of resurveyed vegetation plots in Europe JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, 35 : 2. Paper: e13235 (2024)
2024
Halassy Melinda; Batary Peter; Csecserits Aniko; Torok Katalin; Valko Orsolya. Meta-analysis identifies native priority as a mechanism that supports the restoration of invasion-resistant plant communities COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY, 6 : 1 Paper: 1100 , 12 p. (2023)
2023
Valkó Orsolya; Fekete Réka; Molnár V Attila; Halassy Melinda; Deák Balázs. Roadside grassland restoration: Challenges and opportunities in the UN decade on ecosystem restoration CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & HEALTH, 34. Paper: 100490 (2023)
2023
Edina Csákvári; Nóra Sáradi; Boglárka Berki; Anikó Csecserits; Anna Cseperke Csonka; Paolinelli Reis Bruna; Katalin Török; Orsolya Valkó; Márton Vörös; Melinda Halassy. Native species can reduce the establishment of invasive alien species if sown in high density and using competitive species RESTORATION ECOLOGY 31 : 5 Paper: e13901 (2023)
2023
Csonka Anna Cseperke; Török Katalin; Csecserits Anikó; Halassy Melinda. Grassland reconstruction in a factory yard increases biodiversity and reduces costs of installation and maintenance APPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE, 26 : 4, Paper: e12752 (2023)
2023
Reis Bruna Paolinelli; Kövendi-Jakó Anna; Csákvári Edina; Szitár Katalin; Török Katalin; Sáradi Nóra; Llumiquinga Yesenia Belén; Halassy Melinda. Early sowing is more effective in the long-term for restoring sandy grassland than six years of mowing or carbon amendment ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING, 186 Paper: 106824 (2023)
2023
Csákvári Edina; Molnár Zsolt; Halassy Melinda. Estimates of regeneration potential in the Pannonian sand region help prioritize ecological restoration interventions COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY, 5, Paper: 1136 (2022)
2022
Reis, Bruna Paolinelli; Szitár, Katalin; Kövendi-Jakó, Anna; Török, Katalin; Sáradi, Nóra; Csákvári, Edina; Halassy, Melinda. The long-term effect of initial restoration intervention, landscape composition, and time on the progress of Pannonic sand grassland restoration LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING. 2022: -
2022
Csecserits, Anikó; Halassy, Melinda; Lhotsky, Barbara; Rédei, Tamás; Somay, László; Botta-Dukát, Zoltán. Changing assembly rules during secondary succession: evidence for non-random patterns BASIC AND APPLIED ECOLOGY. 52: 46-56
2021
Csákvári, Edina; Bede-Fazekas, Ákos; Horváth, Ferenc; Molnár, Zsolt; Halassy, Melinda. Do environmental predictors affect the regeneration capacity of sandy habitats? A country-wide survey from Hungary GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION. 27: -
2021
Reis Paolinelli, Bruna; Kövendi‐Jakó, Anna; Szitár, Katalin; Török, Katalin; Halassy, Melinda. Long‐term effect of mowing on the restoration of Pannonian sand grassland to replace invasive black locust plantation RESTORATION ECOLOGY. 29: -
2021
Halassy, Melinda; Kövendi‐Jakó, Anna; Reis, Bruna; Szitár, Katalin; Seyidova, Zeynab; Török, Katalin. N immobilization treatment revisited: A retarded and temporary effect unfolded in old-field restoration APPLIED VEGETATION SCIENCE. 24: -
2021
Llumiquinga, Y.B.; Reis, B. P.; Sáradi, N.; Török, K.; Szitár, K.; Halassy, M. Long-term results of initial seeding, mowing and carbon amendment on the restoration of Pannonian sand grassland on old-fields TUEXENIA. 41: 361-379
2021
