Tag: phenotypic plasticity

Behind the paper

Li Zhang | More than a fertilizer: How nitrogen changes coexistence between wheat and weeds 

In this blog post, author Li Zhang – a an Associate Professor at Nanjing Forestry University – discusses the paper “Nitrogen fertilization promotes wheat–weed coexistence through niche differentiation and fitness equalization”, which was recently published in Functional Ecology. Li applies modern coexistence theory to wheat and two dominant grass weeds, showing that nitrogen can promote coexistence through different mechanisms depending on the weed species. Li … Continue reading Li Zhang | More than a fertilizer: How nitrogen changes coexistence between wheat and weeds 

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Behind the paper

Julia Bebout | Competing annual plants shift traits in parallel

In this Behind the Paper blog post, author Julia Bebout – a PhD student at UC San Diego – delves into the article “Trait responses to competition are mostly parallel among competitor plants but can cause convergence or divergence in key traits”, which was recently published in Functional Ecology! Julia shares how competing annual plants shift traits in parallel, dealing with rattlesnakes, feral honeybees and … Continue reading Julia Bebout | Competing annual plants shift traits in parallel

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Behind the paper

Upama Aich | Salty ups and downs: fluctuating salinity affects egg and ejaculate investments

In this ‘Behind the Paper’ blog post, author Upama Aich – a Forrest Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia – discusses her paper “Developmental environment and age shape macronutrient allocation to eggs and ejaculates“, which was published in Functional Ecology in February 2026. Upama shares how fluctuating salinity can leave lasting reproductive signatures in mosquitofish, the challenges of conducting biochemical assays with tiny sample volumes, and … Continue reading Upama Aich | Salty ups and downs: fluctuating salinity affects egg and ejaculate investments

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Behind the paper

Grace Hirzel | Up to their eyes: seasonal changes in vision, behaviour, and wing colour in a temperate butterfly

In this week’s blog post, we’re gearing up for a shift in seasons with author Grace Hirzel as we explore the behavioural changes in a temperate butterfly. Based on their paper: “Synchronous seasonal plasticity in colouration, behaviour, and visual gene expression in a wild butterfly population”, Grace shares with us how seasonal conditions impact behaviour and how animals perceive their environment. Through the use of … Continue reading Grace Hirzel | Up to their eyes: seasonal changes in vision, behaviour, and wing colour in a temperate butterfly

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haldane prize

Haldane Prize 2025 | Nicole Walasek: The evolution of sensitive periods beyond early ontogeny: Bridging theory and data

2025 HALDANE PRIZE SHORTLIST: Nicole Walasek discusses her paper “The evolution of sensitive periods beyond early ontogeny: Bridging theory and data“, which has been shortlisted for Functional Ecology’s 2025 Haldane Prize for Early Career Researchers. About the paper From bacteria to humans, all organisms tailor their traits to environmental demands. Such phenotypic plasticity tends to be highest early in life, when experiences can have a large … Continue reading Haldane Prize 2025 | Nicole Walasek: The evolution of sensitive periods beyond early ontogeny: Bridging theory and data

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Behind the paper

Explore the root advantages of invasive plants under nutrient enrichment

In this new post, Hao Liu—a postdoc from Fudan University, China—presents his work ‘Root plasticity benefits a global invasive species in eutrophic coastal wetlands’. Here he discusses the importance in plasticity for invasive species success, highlights the cohesion required to work in the mud, and shares his journey in ecology. About the paperInvasive species usually benefit more than native species from increases in nutrient availability. … Continue reading Explore the root advantages of invasive plants under nutrient enrichment

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