Category: Behind the paper
Jennifer Rudgers: answers from long-term data in the drylands
In this post, Jennifer Rudgers, Professor of Biology at University of New Mexico and the current Director of the Sevilleta Long-Term Ecological Research Program in New Mexico, talks about her recent paper, Sensitivity of dryland plant allometry to climate, and the importance of long-term data.
Continue reading “Jennifer Rudgers: answers from long-term data in the drylands”
Anna Abrahão: rocks, roots and resiliance
In this post, Anna Abrahão, of the Universität Hohenheim, Germany, talks about how plants – and people – set roots on rocky terrain. About the paper Our paper is about plants that grow on rock outcrops in a very nutrient-poor ecosystem in mountaintops of Brazil called campos rupestres. Theseplantshave incredible roots that allow them to dissolve rock and mine phosphorus. We called these roots vellozioid … Continue reading Anna Abrahão: rocks, roots and resiliance
Sam Bashevkin: Defense trade-offs for tiny plankton in the big sea

Sam Bashevkin, a marine ecologist in the Graduate Group in Ecology at UC Davis talks about looking at (mostly) transparent plankton, getting a lift with the Policía Ecológica and accepting imperfect studies.
Continue reading “Sam Bashevkin: Defense trade-offs for tiny plankton in the big sea”
Ari Friedlaender: feeding behaviour and energetic gains of fin whales
In this insight, Dr. Ari Friedlaender, Associate Researcher at University of California, Santa Cruz discusses his latest publication in Functional Ecology “The advantages of diving deep: fin whales quadruple their energy intake when targeting deep krill patches”, and more broadly discusses his research interests and path to becoming an ecologist.
Continue reading “Ari Friedlaender: feeding behaviour and energetic gains of fin whales”
Carlos Martínez-Núñez: Interaction networks, agricultural management and landscape

Carlos Martínez-Núñez, a PhD candidate at the University of Jaen, tells us about his paper “Interacting effects of landscape and management on plant–solitary bee networks in olive orchard”, why this paper is potentially important for policy makers, and why working with others is one of the best things you can do as an ecologist.
Continue reading “Carlos Martínez-Núñez: Interaction networks, agricultural management and landscape”
Kristen Ellis: Cause-specific mortality of avian nests
Dr. Kristen Ellis, a postdoctoral researcher at Colorado State University and USGS, tells us about her paper “The importance of functional responses among competing predators for avian nesting success”, how she got involved in ecology, as well as the pros and cons of being an ecologist.
Continue reading “Kristen Ellis: Cause-specific mortality of avian nests”
Abigail Kimmitt – Seasonal sympatry and timing of reproduction in dark-eyed juncos.

Dr. Abigail Kimmitt, a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M University, tells us about her paper “Migratory strategy explains differences in timing of female reproductive development in seasonally sympatric songbirds”, as well as her current projects and her journey in becoming an ecologist.
Continue reading “Abigail Kimmitt – Seasonal sympatry and timing of reproduction in dark-eyed juncos.”
Ruben E. Roos & Kristel van Zuijlen: different drivers for plants on mountain slopes
Dr Benjamin Delory: when history matters
In this Insight, Benjamin Delory, a Postdoctoral research associate at Leuphana University Lüneburg, talks about his recent paper on when history matters: The overlooked role of priority effects in grassland overyielding
Continue reading “Dr Benjamin Delory: when history matters”