Hannah Carle | Trait variation driven by tree size more than environment and shows limited translation to species vital rates

In this ‘Behind the Paper’ blog post, author Hannah Carle – a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University – discusses the article “Trait variation driven by tree size more than environment and shows limited translation to species vital rates“, which was published in Functional Ecology in August 2026. Hannah discusses the challenges of linking traits with species survival … Continue reading Hannah Carle | Trait variation driven by tree size more than environment and shows limited translation to species vital rates

Angela Illuminati: A closer look to roots in drylands

In this new post Angela Illuminati, postdoc at University Rey Juan Carlos, Spain, presents her work ‘Functional differences between herbs and woody species in a semiarid Mediterranean plant community: a whole-plant perspective on growth, nutrient-use and size’. She talks about the many gaps existing in dryland plant ecology, shows the amazing distances that roots systems cover, and shares how science strengthens her family bonds.  About … Continue reading Angela Illuminati: A closer look to roots in drylands