Category: Behind the paper

Behind the paper

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, 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?  

Unknown's avatarFunctional EcologyLeave a comment
Behind the paper

Simon Bahrndorff: Acclimation to moderate temperatures can have strong negative impacts on heat tolerance of arctic arthropods

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

Unknown's avatarFunctional EcologyLeave a comment
Behind the paper

Noah Leith: Understanding how thermoregulation affects insect survival and reproduction in the face of climate change 

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 

Unknown's avatarFunctional EcologyLeave a comment
Behind the paper

Zhenlong Xing: Plants may exploit herbivore-induced flavonoids to regulate AM fungal symbiosis 

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 

Unknown's avatarFunctional EcologyLeave a comment
Behind the paper

Wayne Dawson: Unearthing the ‘hidden half’ of plant trait variation in a globally widespread herb.

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.

Unknown's avatarFunctional EcologyLeave a comment
Behind the paper

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 

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 

Unknown's avatarFunctional EcologyLeave a comment
Behind the paper

Pablo Castro Sánchez-Bermejo: Tree and mycorrhizal fungal diversity affect leaf functional traits in trees 

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 

Unknown's avatarFunctional EcologyLeave a comment
Behind the paper

Tim Herkenrath: Hungry herbivores and thirsty plants: How does wildlife shape tree transpiration in a Namibian savanna?

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?

Unknown's avatarFunctional EcologyLeave a comment
Behind the paper

Guangqi Zhang: A whole-tree perspective on the role of non-structural carbohydrates in resource allocation trade-offs along the tree economics spectrum 

In our latest blog post, Guangqi Zhang, postdoc at INRAE (France), presents his paper “Not all sweetness and light: non-structural carbohydrate storage capacity in tree stems is decoupled from leaf but not root economics”. He discusses the importance of considering multiple traits, shares his happiness for the publication of his research, and encourages ecologists to keep moving with eastern philosophy.  About the paper  Plant functional … Continue reading Guangqi Zhang: A whole-tree perspective on the role of non-structural carbohydrates in resource allocation trade-offs along the tree economics spectrum 

Unknown's avatarFunctional EcologyLeave a comment
Behind the paper

Guoming Qin: Unlocking the Secrets of Soil Carbon Storage in Mangrove Ecosystems 

In this post, Guoming Qin—a postdoc at the South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences—share his recently published paper: “Contributions of Plant- and Microbial-Derived Residues to Mangrove Soil Carbon Stocks: Implications for Blue Carbon Sequestration”. He underscores the importance of this research in advancing our understanding of carbon accumulation in mangrove ecosystems, shares his initial experiences with mangrove sampling, and expresses gratitude to his … Continue reading Guoming Qin: Unlocking the Secrets of Soil Carbon Storage in Mangrove Ecosystems 

Unknown's avatarFunctional EcologyLeave a comment