Category: Behind the paper

Behind the paper

María Natalia Lescano: The complex role of bottom-up cascading effects: Excess nutrients make aphids less attractive to mutualistic ants

In our latest post, María Natalia Lescano, researcher at CONICET and University of Comahue, discusses their paper ‘Excessive nutrient input induces an ecological cost for aphids by modifying their attractiveness towards mutualist ants’, whilst also showcasing their fantastic tri-trophic study system and discussing the importance of cascading effects in ecosystems. About the paper Ecological stoichiometry considers the balance of energy and elements on organisms and … Continue reading María Natalia Lescano: The complex role of bottom-up cascading effects: Excess nutrients make aphids less attractive to mutualistic ants

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Behind the paper

Natalie K. Rideout: Sifting through the wetland muck to examine links between habitat, disturbance and biodiversity

In our new post, Natalie Rideout from the Canadian River Institute at the University of New Brunswick, presents her MsC research in the paper ‘Environmental filtering of macroinvertebrate traits influences ecosystem functioning in a large river floodplain’. She highlights the importance of floodplains for ecological research, emphasises the need for teamwork to answer research questions, and shares her passion for the natural world. About the … Continue reading Natalie K. Rideout: Sifting through the wetland muck to examine links between habitat, disturbance and biodiversity

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Behind the paper

Frugivorous birds adjust their diet to achieve their nutritional goals

In our latest post, Dr. Pedro Blendinger, a professor at the National University of Tucumán, Argentina, discusses their paper: “Nutrient balance and energy-acquisition effectiveness: do birds adjust fruit diet to achieve intake targets?”. A Spanish version of this blogpost is available here. About the paper This work was inspired by cross-collaboration between colleagues with whom we share a common interest in plant-animal interactions. Almost a … Continue reading Frugivorous birds adjust their diet to achieve their nutritional goals

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Behind the paper, Translation

Las aves frugívoras ajustan su dieta para alcanzar sus objetivos nutricionales

En nuestra publicación más reciente, el Dr. Pedro Blendinger, profesor de la Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Argentina, analiza su artículo: “Equilibrio de nutrientes y efectividad en la adquisición de energía: ¿las aves ajustan la dieta de frutas para lograr los objetivos de consumo?“. Una versión en inglés de esta entrada de blog está disponible aquí. Acerca del artículo Este es un trabajo inspirado en la … Continue reading Las aves frugívoras ajustan su dieta para alcanzar sus objetivos nutricionales

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Behind the paper

Felipe de Vargas Ribeiro: Kelps As Gatekeepers Of Temperate Reefs

In our latest post, Felipe de Vargas Ribeiro presents his latest article “Shield wall: Kelps are the last stand against corals in tropicalized reefs.” He discusses his group’s results from studying Australian Kelp forests, the importance of biotic interactions in novel communities, and encourages his Brazilian fellows to endure in science. About the paper Coastal ecosystems provide food and shelter to many species, along with … Continue reading Felipe de Vargas Ribeiro: Kelps As Gatekeepers Of Temperate Reefs

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Behind the paper

Wei Xue: Born with a silver spoon? How light condition experienced by parent plants influences the response of offspring to light

In this new post, Wei Xue from Taizhou University, China, presents his latest work ‘Light condition experienced by parent plants influences the response of offspring to light via both parental effects and soil legacy effects’. He discusses the importance of parental effects, soil legacy effects, and current light availability in driving clonal plant population growth. About the paper It is a common notion in humans, … Continue reading Wei Xue: Born with a silver spoon? How light condition experienced by parent plants influences the response of offspring to light

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Behind the paper

Pieter Arnold: How an alpine plant species responds to temperature stress depends on the type of trait and life stage

In this new post, Pieter Arnold, Research Fellow at The Australian National University (ANU), presents his latest work ‘Patterns of phenotypic plasticity along a thermal gradient differ by trait type in an alpine plant’. Pieter discusses the challenges of his group’s experimental design, highlights the importance of looking at plants along their entire life cycle, and also advises everyone to expand their horizons when looking … Continue reading Pieter Arnold: How an alpine plant species responds to temperature stress depends on the type of trait and life stage

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Behind the paper, Translation

Mario Blanco-Sánchez: La selección natural favorece de manera consistente a las plantas con una estrategia adquisitiva de recursos en el semiárido mediterráneo

En esta nueva publicación, Mario Blanco-Sánchez, estudiante de doctorado en la Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, España, presenta su última publicación ‘La selección natural favorece el escape de la sequía y una estrategia adquisitiva de uso de recursos en arbustos mediterráneos semiáridos‘. Habla de cómo lidió con un resultado sorprendente y alienta a los jóvenes ecologistas a perseguir sus propios intereses en el campo. Una traducción … Continue reading Mario Blanco-Sánchez: La selección natural favorece de manera consistente a las plantas con una estrategia adquisitiva de recursos en el semiárido mediterráneo

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Behind the paper

Mario Blanco-Sánchez: Natural selection consistently favours an acquisitive resource-use strategy in Mediterranean semiarid plants

In this new post, Mario Blanco-Sánchez, Ph.D student at University Rey Juan Carlos, Spain, presents his latest publication ‘Natural selection favours drought escape and an acquisitive resource-use strategy in semiarid Mediterranean shrubs’. He discusses how he dealt with a striking result and encourages young ecologists to pursue their own interests in the field! A Spanish translation of this blogpost is available to read here! About … Continue reading Mario Blanco-Sánchez: Natural selection consistently favours an acquisitive resource-use strategy in Mediterranean semiarid plants

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Behind the paper

Simon Haberstroh: Cork oaks under shrub invasion behave differently 

In this new post, Simon Haberstroh from Freiburg University, Germany, presents his latest work ‘Plant invasion modifies isohydricity in Mediterranean tree species’. He discusses the capacity of plants to regulate their hydraulic strategies and remembers his long survey nights in Portuguese oak forests.  About the paper  Our publication in Functional Ecology deals with plant hydraulic strategies, i.e. how plants regulate their water consumption during different … Continue reading Simon Haberstroh: Cork oaks under shrub invasion behave differently 

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