plant physiological ecology

Why do evergreen plants survive better than deciduous plants under heat waves?

Haoping Zhang, Qiurui Ning, Qiang Li, Yi Jin, Yu Cao, Emily Patience Bakpa, Han Zhao, Jia Song, Pengcheng Ye, Yin Wen, Lingjie Song, Hui Liu This is a plain language summary of a Functional Ecology research article which can be found here. “The era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived,” António Guterres, UN secretary-general, said in July 2023. The … Continue reading Why do evergreen plants survive better than deciduous plants under heat waves?

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animal physiological ecology

Dietary restriction extends lifespan across different temperatures in the fruit fly

Eleanor J Phillips, Mirre J P Simons This is a plain language summary of a Functional Ecology research article which can be found here. Restricting food intake extends lifespan across species, termed dietary restriction. Despite a lot of research into the physiology of dietary restriction, we have not fully pinpointed the underlying mechanisms nor the precise components of the diet responsible. Moreover, we still do … Continue reading Dietary restriction extends lifespan across different temperatures in the fruit fly

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evolutionary ecology

Fish consider their own age and sex when integrating maternal, paternal, caring parent and own environmental experience for the adjustment of their defenses

Denis Meuthen, Douglas P. Chivers, Maud C. O. Ferrari This is a plain language summary of a Functional Ecology research article which can be found here. Through an ability called phenotypic plasticity, individuals can adjust their physical composition to match their environment. In this context, it has long been known that they can also consider the parental environment for their adjustment. However, environments can vary … Continue reading Fish consider their own age and sex when integrating maternal, paternal, caring parent and own environmental experience for the adjustment of their defenses

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community ecology

Plant trait dissimilarity increases competition

Emily M. Holden, James F. Cahill Jr. This is a plain language summary of a Functional Ecology research article which can be found here. Plant-plant interactions are thought to be important in determining the composition of plant communities. These interactions are often studied using traits, or the measurable attributes of plants. Three questions regarding these interactions are thought to be important but lack extensive tests: … Continue reading Plant trait dissimilarity increases competition

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ecosystems ecology

Global patterns of K, Ca, and Mg concentrations in freshly fallen plant litter

Ji Yuan, Fuzhong Wu, Qiqian Wu, Petr Heděnec, Yan Peng, Zimin Li, Chaoxiang Yuan, Zemin Zhao, Xia Jin, Siyi Tan, Qiao Yang, Nannan An, Xiangyin Ni, Kai Yue This is a plain language summary of a Functional Ecology research article which can be found here. Plant litter decomposition is one of the most important ecological processes that serves to recycle nutrients in dead plant biomass, … Continue reading Global patterns of K, Ca, and Mg concentrations in freshly fallen plant litter

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behavioural ecology

Individual behavior of birds is important for the dispersal of plant seeds

Valentin Graf, Thomas Müller, Martin U. Grüebler, Urs G. Kormann, Jörg Albrecht, Anne G. Hertel, Marjorie C. Sorensen, Matthias Tschumi, Eike Lena Neuschulz This is a plain language summary of a Functional Ecology research article which can be found here. Many plants rely on animals to disperse their seeds. For these plants, the behavior of the seed dispersing animal decides the fate of their seeds. … Continue reading Individual behavior of birds is important for the dispersal of plant seeds

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plant-animal interaction

Adding shed insect skins to agricultural soil enhances attraction of natural enemies of aboveground pest insects to crop plants

Els M. van de Zande, Lina Ojeda-Prieto, Andreas Markou, Julia van Leemput, Joop J.A. van Loon, Marcel Dicke This is a plain language summary of a Functional Ecology research article which can be found here. Plants emit specific odour blends composed of various volatile compounds. The blend composition is affected by environmental circumstances. When a plant is damaged by an insect herbivore, the blend changes, … Continue reading Adding shed insect skins to agricultural soil enhances attraction of natural enemies of aboveground pest insects to crop plants

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evolutionary ecology

Head and body shape differ according to the soil type the lizards dig in.

Vinicius Anelli, Melissa Bars-Closel, Anthony Herrel, Tiana Kohlsdorf This is a plain language summary of a Functional Ecology research article which can be found here. Lizards inhabit a wide array of environments around the globe, from the high canopy of rainforests to dunes in dry sunny deserts. Many lizards exhibit remarkable adaptations to their preferred habitat, and some species even became specialized in living in … Continue reading Head and body shape differ according to the soil type the lizards dig in.

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community ecology

Leaf, root and wood properties of tree species in tropical montane forests are adaptations to soil fertility and determine which tree species grows where

Kerstin Pierick, Christoph Leuschner, Roman M. Link, Selene Báez, Andre Velescu, Wolfgang Wilcke, Jürgen Homeier This is a plain language summary of a Functional Ecology research article which can be found here. Tropical montane forests in the Ecuadorian Andes are one of the regions with the most tree species per area on earth. By measuring certain properties of trees, so called functional traits, one can … Continue reading Leaf, root and wood properties of tree species in tropical montane forests are adaptations to soil fertility and determine which tree species grows where

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behavioural ecology

Fear is perilous to the young

Liana Y. Zanette, Marek C. Allen, Tony D. Williams, Melinda A. Fowler, Francois Criscuolo, Sandrine Zahn, Michael Clinchy This is a plain language summary of a Functional Ecology research article which can be found here. Predators are fearsome things. They eat prey. To avoid being eaten, prey respond with a variety of behaviours to reduce the chances of this. While engaging in such anti-predator behaviours … Continue reading Fear is perilous to the young

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