Happy Pride Month! Join the British Ecological Society in this annual, global celebration as we share stories from STEM researchers who belong to the LGBTQ+ community. This post is by Kelsey Byers (any/all pronouns), an evolutionary chemical ecology researcher studying floral scent and pollination at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK. [author note: I use the term ‘queer’ repeatedly in this post to refer … Continue reading Pride Month 2024: Kelsey Byers
In this new post, Oriana Sánchez-Mahecha – a PhD student from the Technical University of Munich, Germany – presents her work “Microbe-induced plant resistance against insect pests depends on timing of inoculation but is consistent across climatic conditions”. Here, she discusses the importance of including extreme abiotic factors associated to climate change scenarios when studying bacteria-plant-insect interactions, shows how they might influence microbe-plant associations and … Continue reading Oriana Sánchez-Mahecha: What are the potential single and combined effects of heatwaves and extremes in water availability on microbe-plant interactions and the consequences that may leave on posterior plant-insect interactions?
In this new post, Simon Bahrndorff of Aalborg University in Denmark presents his work ‘Acclimation to moderate temperatures can have strong negative impacts on heat tolerance of arctic arthropods‘. Simon discusses his research on the effects of prolonged exposure to moderate temperatures on terrestrial Arctic ectotherms and shares his thoughts on the importance of uncovering challenges and solutions for a changing world. About the Paper … Continue reading Simon Bahrndorff: Acclimation to moderate temperatures can have strong negative impacts on heat tolerance of arctic arthropods
In this ‘Behind the Paper’ blog post, Noah Leith – a PhD candidate in the Fowler-Finn Lab at Saint Louis University – discusses his research article Thermoregulation enhances survival but not reproduction in a plant-feeding insect, which was recently published in Functional Ecology. Noah discusses the impacts of thermoregulation on treehopper survival and reproduction, the joys of temperature models, and how his interest in animal … Continue reading Noah Leith: Understanding how thermoregulation affects insect survival and reproduction in the face of climate change
In our latest post, Zhenlong Xing—a researcher at Henan University, Kaifeng, China—presents his work ‘Foliar herbivory modifies arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal colonization likely through altering root flavonoids’. He discusses the inspiration behind this paper and the path he took to become an ecologist. About the paper In June 2018, I obtained my PhD degree and I was lucky to start my new research career in Jianqing … Continue reading Zhenlong Xing: Plants may exploit herbivore-induced flavonoids to regulate AM fungal symbiosis
In our new post, Professor Wayne Dawson from the University of Liverpool presents his work ‘Root traits vary as much as leaf traits and have consistent phenotypic plasticity among 14 populations of a globally widespread herb’. He highlights the importance of belowground traits, discusses the role of AMF on plants, and shares the relaxing power of greenhouse and lab work. About the paper Our study … Continue reading Wayne Dawson: Unearthing the ‘hidden half’ of plant trait variation in a globally widespread herb.
In this new post, Professor Fuqiang Song of Heilongjiang University presents his work ‘Nitrogen addition suppresses soil positive priming effect in temperate plantations: evidence from an 8-year in situ field experiment’. He shows the effects of long-term in situ N addition on temperate plantation soil microbes and their regulation of soil priming effect. About the paper The rate of soil organic carbon decomposition is altered … Continue reading Fuqiang Song: The effects of long-term in situ N addition on the Korean pine plantation soil microbes and their regulation of soil priming effect
Functional Ecology is seeking a new Editor to help run its highly successful blog site, Functional Ecologists We are currently looking for a new Blog Editor, with a broad interest in animal ecology, to continue delivering high-quality content on the blog. As well as highlighting journal content, the blog is a platform for discussing topics of more general interest to our readership and ecologists in general. … Continue reading Associate Editor (Blog) – Functional Ecology
In this blog post, Pablo Castro Sánchez-Bermejo presents his work ‘Tree and mycorrhizal fungal diversity drive intraspecific and intraindividual trait variation in temperate forests: Evidence from a tree diversity experiment’. He discusses the effects of tree and mycorrhizal fungal diversity on leaf functional traits, the challenges of leaf sampling in tall trees, and how his love for the outdoors has led to an interest in … Continue reading Pablo Castro Sánchez-Bermejo: Tree and mycorrhizal fungal diversity affect leaf functional traits in trees
In our latest post Tim Herkenrath, PhD candidate at Potsdam University, presents his work ‘Hungry Herbivores and Thirsty Plants: Browsing Wildlife Shape Savanna Tree Transpiration Independently of Water Use Strategies’. He explains the connection between biotic interactions and physiology, shares the pain and pleasure of fieldwork in Namibia, and shows his path from northern woodlands to southern savannas. About the paper Since their first encounter … Continue reading Tim Herkenrath: Hungry herbivores and thirsty plants: How does wildlife shape tree transpiration in a Namibian savanna?
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