The montane rainforest on Mount Kilimanjaro harbours a rich epiphytic flora. Among it, Asplenium megalura, featured on our cover is one of the most conspicious species, due to the peculiar form of its leaves. Together with most other ferns, it survives low moisture levels through desiccation-tolerance, in contrast to orchids and other species relying on tissue for water storage. In general, epiphytic species were clearly separated from herbaceous and woody terrestrial species in terms of functional traits, reflecting differences microclimate and resource availability (see paper by Schellenberger et al.)

Also in this issue, Clark et al’s paper Life in the intertidal: Cellular responses, methylation and epigenetics is highlighted in our latest FE Spotlight “Winners” and “losers” in the Anthropocene: Understanding adaptation through phenotypic plasticity

Also in this issue, we publish two new Reviews: Koch and Hill ask Do carotenoid‐based ornaments entail resource trade‐offs? An evaluation of theory and data while Pamminger et al explore A mechanistic framework to explain the immunosuppressive effects of neurotoxic pesticides on bees as well as research papers on plant physiological ecology, plant‐animal interactions, animal physiological ecology, behavioural ecology and community ecology.

Read the articles here or the plain language summaries here.