We mourn the loss of Dr Daniel Prati, who died completely unexpectedly in March 2026, five months before his sixtieth birthday, from heart failure. We are shocked by Dani’s sudden death and deeply saddened. We try to take comfort in the thought that death took him whilst he was engaged in activities he loved very much. We are very grateful for the many years we spent with him and miss Dani and his kind and warm-hearted nature deeply.
After completing his undergraduate studies and doctoral degree in Basel and Zurich, and holding scientific positions in Birmensdorf, Halle/Saale, and Potsdam, Dani had been a scientific associate in the Department of Plant Ecology since 2007. Dani loved plants and had a keen interest in evolution, which is why he trained as a plant population biologist and evolutionary ecologist in his hometown of Basel. In his subsequent positions, he initially focused primarily on the life cycles, adaptations, and biotic interactions of clonal and invasive plant species. In recent years, he has also increasingly focused on issues of plant species diversity and species coexistence, particularly within the Biodiversity Exploratories research program, in which he has been involved since its inception in 2006 and to which he contributed enormously in terms of concept, organization, and personal involvement.
In his work, he combined comparative field studies with experiments in the field, garden, and greenhouse. He was a skilled experimenter and an experienced field biologist—a very rare and valuable combination. He always paid close attention to well-designed study designs and careful data analysis. Dani leaves behind an extensive body of publications and is highly regarded in population biology circles and in biodiversity research for his contributions, his integration of fieldwork and experiments, his extensive knowledge, and his numerous inspiring and fruitful collaborations.
During his years at the IPS, he also devoted himself increasingly to teaching. Countless students benefited from his in-depth, engaging, and humorous lectures and courses on plant ecology, global change ecology, and experimental design and analysis, as well as from his field excursions around Bern and to the Alps. He also served as supervisor or co-supervisor to numerous BSc, MSc, and PhD students, whom he supported and guided with his extensive scientific and methodological expertise, his keen interest in their concerns, and his willingness to help.
For many years, whenever there were questions, big or small, the motto in the Plant Ecology Division and beyond has been, “Ask Dani!”. We can’t believe this is no longer possible.
P.S.: If anyone would like to share their thoughts about Dani with us, we’d love to hear from you. Just write to markus.fischer@unibe.ch or judith.hinderling@unibe.ch
