Trait co-variation: structural and functional relationships in plant ecology at the 39th New Phytologist Symposium.

At the end of June, about 125 ecologists from all over the world got together at the University of Exeter Streatham Campus for a 3-day symposium on trait-based ecology, organized by the New Phytologist Trust. Continue reading “Trait co-variation: structural and functional relationships in plant ecology at the 39th New Phytologist Symposium.”

Tuesday taster: 11/07/2017

The low volume of emails in my inbox indicates that summer holidays are approaching– time to think of buying your summer-reads. The financial times may help you make this choice a bit easier. They have compiled a list of science books that they consider worth reading. If you’re heading to the mountains and already thinking of those challenging uphills, check out this podcast by the … Continue reading Tuesday taster: 11/07/2017

A last glimpse before they burrow themselves in. Goodbye little worms, go and geoengineer!

Ecologist’s Diary with Gesche Blume-Werry: Earthworms on the loose

Lately, I have been working on setting up a new (and really fun!) experiment. There is something to say about setting up a new experiment, while one is moving to a new job (‘don’t do it’, for example), but it has been really exciting despite the logistic puzzle.

Continue reading “Ecologist’s Diary with Gesche Blume-Werry: Earthworms on the loose”

Tuesday taster: 04/07/2017

Last week, I was at a conference (Trait covariation: structural and functional relationships in plant ecology) organised by the New Phytologist Trust. I liked it very much; I especially liked the versatility of the ecological community in approaching big open ecological questions. I will soon give a more elaborate update about the symposium, but if you cannot wait click here to see the abstract book. … Continue reading Tuesday taster: 04/07/2017

Tuesday taster: 27/06/2017

Today’s post is largely focused on sustainability and conservation, but first two papers that caught my eye last week: Functional Ecology published a very interesting paper describing the use of drones to record turtle demography and breeding behaviour. In Nature Ecology & Evolution, Lars Gamfeld and Fabian Roger (University of Göteborg), published a perspective paper that counters current consensus on biodiversity-multifunctionality relationships. A very interesting … Continue reading Tuesday taster: 27/06/2017

Ecologist’s Diary: In the field for the TeaComposition H2O Initiative 1

I have to confess – I don’t like tea.

Well, maybe herbal tea every once in a while. You know, the ginger and lemongrass type.

However, when out in the field, at 30°C and in knee-deep in mangrove hydrogensulphidemudstink, one begins to appreciate the refreshing aroma of green and rooibos tea. Continue reading “Ecologist’s Diary: In the field for the TeaComposition H2O Initiative 1”

Plant Physiology with a view: A different kind of gathering

Going to a symposium usually means days of talks in meeting rooms or conference centres, but Alexandra Townsend, an Early Career Researcher from Queen Mary University of London, recently attended a symposium that was a little more unusual: the Early Career Scientist Symposium run by the Plant Environmental Physiology Group (PEPG).

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