Berber Meulepas | High nitrogen loading impacts the temperature-size rule and heat tolerance in a nettle-feeding butterfly

In this blog post, we’re getting stung with knowledge on the fascinating responses to temperature shifts in the Map butterfly (Araschnia levana). From their new paper: “High Nitrogen loading impacts the temperature-size rule and heat tolerance in a nettle-feeding butterfly”, author Berber Meulepas shares insights behind their project work with the Map butterfly and its associations with the common stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). Berber discusses … Continue reading Berber Meulepas | High nitrogen loading impacts the temperature-size rule and heat tolerance in a nettle-feeding butterfly

Félix P. Leiva: Cell Size is More Important in Conditions of Low Oxygen

In this post, Félix P. Leiva, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Germany, discusses his article “The role of cell size in shaping responses to oxygen and temperature in fruit flies“, which has been shortlisted for the Haldane Prize, Functional Ecology´s prize for Early Career Researchers. About the paper Our paper makes a significant contribution by unveiling that temperature and oxygen can explain responses … Continue reading Félix P. Leiva: Cell Size is More Important in Conditions of Low Oxygen

How do rapid shifts in body size influence population dynamics?

In this new post, Dr. Jean-Philippe Gibert, an Assistant Professor of Biology at Duke University, USA, discusses with us his recently accepted paper, “Feedbacks between size and density determine rapid eco-phenotypic dynamics.” About the paper This paper was born out of serendipity and was a true team effort. Our goal was to quantify possible changes in protist traits over a short period of time as … Continue reading How do rapid shifts in body size influence population dynamics?