Tag: climate change

Behind the paper

Erick González-Medina | When heatwaves keep coming: the hidden physiological cost for small birds

In this week’s blog post, we’re trying (and failing) to escape the heat this summer! Read about the fascinating findings from Erick González-Medina’s paper “Cumulative heatwave stress disrupts thermal homeostasis and plumage structure in a Mediterranean passerine”. In his blog post, Erick shares insights into the delicate physiological balance that birds must maintain to stay cool, and the oxidative and morphological costs thermal regulations can have on our feathered friends. Outside of research, Erick also shares his … Continue reading Erick González-Medina | When heatwaves keep coming: the hidden physiological cost for small birds

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Behind the paper, Translation

Erick González-Medina | Cuando el calor no da tregua: el coste oculto para las aves pequeñas

En la entrada de blog de esta semana, ¡intentamos, sin mucho éxito, escapar del calor veraniego! Descubre los fascinantes hallazgos del artículo de Erick González-Medina: «El estrés acumulado por las olas de calor altera la homeostasis térmica y la estructura del plumaje en un ave paseriforme mediterránea». En esta entrada, Erick explica el delicado equilibrio fisiológico que las aves deben mantener para evitar el sobrecalentamiento. Además, muestra los costes oxidativos y estructurales que la termorregulación puede imponer a nuestros amigos emplumados. Más allá de la investigación, Erick comparte su … Continue reading Erick González-Medina | Cuando el calor no da tregua: el coste oculto para las aves pequeñas

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Behind the paper

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

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Behind the paper

Collins Ogbeide | Artificial light at night and invasive signal crayfish alter aquatic-terrestrial food webs

In this week’s blog post, fall into a web of knowledge with Collins Ogbeide, as he discusses his research article: “Artificial light at night and invasive signal crayfish alter aquatic-terrestrial food webs”. Collins explores predator-prey dynamics within riparian streams in a clever and unique way: artificial light! Collins also reflects on a crucial piece of advice: Adaptability matters more than having everything figured out! About … Continue reading Collins Ogbeide | Artificial light at night and invasive signal crayfish alter aquatic-terrestrial food webs

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Behind the paper

Erliang Gao | Nitrogen enrichment in soil interrupts the ‘rhythms’ of plan-pollinator interactions in Tibetan alpine meadows

In our latest ‘Behind the Paper’ blog post, author Erliang Gao shares insights into the article “Anthropogenic nitrogen addition interrupts seasonal connectivity and structures of plant–pollinator networks“, which was published in Functional Ecology in April 2026. Erliang Gao discusses the impacts of anthropogenic nitrogen enrichment on plant-pollinator networks, the joys of conducting curiosity-driven research, and the importance of establishing a work-life balance. About the paper … Continue reading Erliang Gao | Nitrogen enrichment in soil interrupts the ‘rhythms’ of plan-pollinator interactions in Tibetan alpine meadows

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Behind the paper

Caitlin Terry | Forest type and leaf habit mediate thermal and drought tolerance across a tropical elevational gradient

In this ‘Behind the Paper’ blog post, we’re dealing with drought! Author Caitlin Terry – a PhD student at Cornell University – delves into their research article “Forest type and leaf habit mediate thermal and drought tolerance across a tropical elevational gradient“. Caitlin discusses drought and thermal tolerances in tropical tree species, freezing leaf samples in a bedroom transformed into a lab, and their love … Continue reading Caitlin Terry | Forest type and leaf habit mediate thermal and drought tolerance across a tropical elevational gradient

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Journal content, Meet the Editor

Meet the (Senior) Editor: Sandra Varga

In this blog post, we hear from our newest Senior Editor, Sandra Varga! Sandra – an Associate Professor at the University of Lincoln, UK – is an evolutionary ecologist interested in understanding how plants interact with their environment. She is particularly fascinated by how plants and soil microbes interact, especially arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. What’s the best thing about your particular area of research? The best … Continue reading Meet the (Senior) Editor: Sandra Varga

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Behind the Special Feature

Vision in Challenging Environments – from Darkness to Dazzling Light

Zuzana Musilova and Sara Mae Stieb When animals look out into their world, they don’t all see the same thing. For some, light is abundant, even overwhelming. For others, it is vanishingly scarce. Vision is one of the most adaptable sensory systems, and in this Special Feature we explore how it is shaped and challenged by environments at their most extreme. Too little light From … Continue reading Vision in Challenging Environments – from Darkness to Dazzling Light

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Behind the paper

Mary Woodruff: How do nestling birds cope with heat?

In this new blog post, Mary Woodruff presents her recent work ‘Heat alters diverse thermal tolerance mechanisms: An organismal framework for studying climate change effects in a wild bird‘. She explains the importance of understanding thermal tolerance for conservation decision-making in the face of climate change, discusses the challenges of collecting data from nestling birds, and shares the factors she believes contribute to excellent research. … Continue reading Mary Woodruff: How do nestling birds cope with heat?

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Behind the paper

Frederick Lubbe: survivability of herbs in the winter

In this blog post Frederick Lubbe, postdoc at Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, presents his work ‘New opportunities for grassland species in warming temperate winters’. He talks about the importance of winter for plants, shows how plants cope with winter conditions and shares how he enjoys working in unusual ecological topics.   About the paper Climate change is happening everywhere and all … Continue reading Frederick Lubbe: survivability of herbs in the winter

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