Category: Behind the paper

Behind the paper

Caicai Zhang: Growth-mortality trade-off in tropical tree seedlings is determined by stem elongation and soil fertility.

In this new post Caicai Zhang, from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Institute of Eastern-Himalaya Biodiversity Research at Dali University, shares insights from her recently published paper, ‘Functional traits and ecological niches as correlates of the interspecific growth–mortality trade-off among seedlings of 14 tropical tree species‘. She emphasizes the importance of biomass allocation traits, particularly specific stem length (SSL) and … Continue reading Caicai Zhang: Growth-mortality trade-off in tropical tree seedlings is determined by stem elongation and soil fertility.

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Black History Month, Community+Ecology, Translation

BHM 2024: Dra. Daniela Boanares (Español)

Ciencia, Resiliencia y Conservación: El Viaje de una Ecóloga Negra How did you get into ecology? Soy una mujer negra de piel clara, nacida en la periferia de una ciudad brasileña. A lo largo de toda mi trayectoria académica, necesité el apoyo financiero del gobierno brasileño para continuar con mis estudios. Durante mi licenciatura, las diversas disciplinas de ecología despertaron en mí un profundo interés … Continue reading BHM 2024: Dra. Daniela Boanares (Español)

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Black History Month, Community+Ecology, Translation

BHM 2024: Dra. Daniela Boanares (Português)

Ciência, Resiliência e Conservação: A Jornada de uma Ecóloga Negra Sou uma mulher negra de pele clara, nascida na periferia de uma cidade brasileira. Ao longo de toda a minha trajetória acadêmica, precisei de apoio financeiro do governo brasileiro para prosseguir nos estudos. Durante a graduação, as diversas disciplinas de ecologia despertaram em mim um profundo interesse pela área, o que me levou a realizar … Continue reading BHM 2024: Dra. Daniela Boanares (Português)

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Behind the paper

Seraina Cappelli: Is identity or diversity key to managing disease in crops?

In this post, Seraina Cappelli – postdoctoral fellow at University of Minnesota – presents her work ‘The potential of undersown species identity vs. diversity to manage disease in crops’. She discusses the role of diversity in agriculture, the value of interdisciplinary research platforms and the importance of supportive colleagues for a successful career in science. About the paperOur paper is about whether adding extra species … Continue reading Seraina Cappelli: Is identity or diversity key to managing disease in crops?

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Behind the paper

Tamara Burgos: Thinking about seed dispersal patterns of mammal carnivores

In this blog post, Tamara Burgos, a postdoc at University of Cádiz, presents her paper “Apex predators can structure ecosystems through trophic cascades: Linking the frugivorous behaviour and seed dispersal patterns of mesocarnivores”.  Tamara explains how rewilding apex predators can affect key ecosystem functions such as seed dispersal and asks: why are mammal carnivores the main actors involved in this story? About the paper and … Continue reading Tamara Burgos: Thinking about seed dispersal patterns of mammal carnivores

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Behind the paper

Gisele Biem: Amazonian tree species differently invest in stem and twig wood depending on their environment 

In this new post Gisele Biem, postdoc researcher at National Institute for Amazon Research and State University of Mato Grosso, presets her work ‘Ecosystem type affects how Amazonian tree species invest in stem and twig wood’. She talks about the importance of wood density for trees, discusses how traits can upscale to global C models, and shares the beauty of her study sites.   About the … Continue reading Gisele Biem: Amazonian tree species differently invest in stem and twig wood depending on their environment 

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Behind the paper

Emily Holden: Plants prefer similar neighbours: increasing competition with higher trait dissimilarity.  

In our new post Emily Holden, PhD candidate at University of Alberta (Canada), presents her work ‘Plant trait dissimilarity increases competitive interactions among co-occurring plants’. She talks about confronting contrasting hypotheses, shares how she overcame COVID-19 to do her experiment, and celebrates her grandmother’s gardening skills.  About the paper  A foundational theory in ecology is that similar species will compete strongly as they share niche … Continue reading Emily Holden: Plants prefer similar neighbours: increasing competition with higher trait dissimilarity.  

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Behind the paper

Tom Martin and Penn Lloyd: What makes songbirds different in their breeding cycles?

In our latest post, authors Tom Martin and Penn Lloyd explore what makes songbirds different in their breeding cycles. Tom, a retired scientist of the University of Montana, and Penn, an ecological consultant in Queensland Australia, share insight behind their paper: “Potential drivers of differences in breeding phenology as a component of life history strategies among coexisting species”. They help explain the causes and consequences … Continue reading Tom Martin and Penn Lloyd: What makes songbirds different in their breeding cycles?

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Behind the paper

Tuğcan Alınç: Exploring multitrophic interactions: How beneficial soil microbes boost indirect plant defenses against herbivores

In our new post, Tuğcan Alınç, postdoctoral research at University of Palermo, presents his work ‘Root inoculation with beneficial soil microbes enhances indirect plant defenses induced by insect feeding and egg deposition’. He unveils the wonderful complexity of biotic interactions, discusses the importance of indirect paths for sustainable agriculture, and shares his inspiring visits to his grandfather’s farm.  About the paper  Plants have evolved various … Continue reading Tuğcan Alınç: Exploring multitrophic interactions: How beneficial soil microbes boost indirect plant defenses against herbivores

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