Nacho Villar in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Nacho Villar: the challenges of experimentally resolving the functional roles of large tropical forest herbivores

Nacho Villar, a post-doc at the Netherlands Institute of ecology, remembers the good times he had at Brazil, the challenges of running an animal exclusion experiment in the Brazilian Atlantic forest and how persistence, hard work and a little of cachaza are the key for a successful research. Frugivory underpins the nitrogen cycle. That’s what our latest work published at Functional Ecology shows. A game-changer for tropical … Continue reading Nacho Villar: the challenges of experimentally resolving the functional roles of large tropical forest herbivores

British Ecological Society10 Dec 202010 Dec 2020Leave a comment

Behind the paper

Michael Eisenring: Within-crown heterogeneity can affect herbivore performance in tree canopies

Dr. Michael Eisenring presents his work at University of Wisconsin titled “Spatial, genetic and biotic factors shape within‐crown leaf trait variation and herbivore performance in a foundation tree species”. He discusses the importance of sub-individual trait variation and how overcoming his fear to heights was worth it.

British Ecological Society27 Nov 20201 Dec 2020Leave a comment

Charlotte Poeydebat taking notes in the field (c) Soline MARTIN-BLANGY

Behind the paper

Charlotte Poeydebat: Effects of tree diversity on forest resistance to insect herbivores

Charlotte Poeydebat, postdoc at University of Bordeaux, presents her work “Climate affects neighbour‐induced changes in leaf chemical defences and tree diversity–herbivory relationships”, discusses the importance of research networks to address general questions in ecology and share her passion for ecosystems research.

British Ecological Society25 Nov 202024 Nov 2020Leave a comment

Journal content, News

“Both groups are picking the flowers when they’re feeding – they’re walking about and you can see them pick flower after flower after flower after flower.” Jurene Kemp talks to Ken Thompson in our new podcast!

Find our podcasts on apple, spotify and stitcher, or your favourite podcast app. “It seems that both groups are picking the flowers when they’re feeding – they’re walking about and you can see them pick flower after flower after flower after flower.” In this podcast, Jurene Kemp talks about her paper, Cryptic petal coloration decreases floral apparency and herbivory in nocturnally closing daisies – recently … Continue reading “Both groups are picking the flowers when they’re feeding – they’re walking about and you can see them pick flower after flower after flower after flower.” Jurene Kemp talks to Ken Thompson in our new podcast!

British Ecological Society3 Mar 202021 Mar 20201 Comment

Functional Ecologists

Official blog of Functional Ecology, a British Ecological Society journal

Tag: plant-animal interactions

Nacho Villar: the challenges of experimentally resolving the functional roles of large tropical forest herbivores

Michael Eisenring: Within-crown heterogeneity can affect herbivore performance in tree canopies

Charlotte Poeydebat: Effects of tree diversity on forest resistance to insect herbivores

“Both groups are picking the flowers when they’re feeding – they’re walking about and you can see them pick flower after flower after flower after flower.” Jurene Kemp talks to Ken Thompson in our new podcast!