Tag: nutrients

community ecology

Heatwave-mediated decreases in phytoplankton quality negatively affect zooplankton productivity

Jihyun Olivia Kim, Alexandra Dimitriou, Ian Forster, Ian Forster This is a plain language summary of a Functional Ecology research article which can be found here. Phytoplankton in lakes and oceans produce vast quantities of key elements and nutrients. These products are necessary for the proper growth and development of a range of animals, including zooplankton, fish, and humans. We know from studies conducted on … Continue reading Heatwave-mediated decreases in phytoplankton quality negatively affect zooplankton productivity

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community ecology

Surprisingly decomposition of leaf litter in nature is not affected by temperature when reciprocally transplanted!

Matthew A. Krna, Kevin R. Tate, Surinder Saggar, Hannah L. Buckley, Gillian L. Rapson This is a plain language summary of a Functional Ecology research article which can be found here. Combatting climate change is a big issue for the planet. One obvious approach is to better understand what happens to carbon as it progresses from the atmosphere through plants and into the soils. A … Continue reading Surprisingly decomposition of leaf litter in nature is not affected by temperature when reciprocally transplanted!

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plant physiological ecology

The silicon and nitrogen concentrations in wildflowers and grasses vary under different water conditions

Marius Klotz, Jörg Schaller, Heike Feldhaar, Jürgen Dengler, Gerhard Gebauer, Gregor Aas, Anita Weissflog, Bettina M. J. Engelbrecht This is a plain language summary of a Functional Ecology research article which can be found here. Wildflower and grass species have to cope with unfavourable conditions, such as drought and flooding. This causes stress to which plants respond by adjusting their growth and nutrient content. Understanding … Continue reading The silicon and nitrogen concentrations in wildflowers and grasses vary under different water conditions

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ecosystems ecology

Individual tree species within a mixed forest drive its nutrient use efficiency

Tania L. Maxwell, Nicolas Fanin, William C. Parker, Mark R. Bakker, Ariane Belleau, Céline Meredieu, Laurent Augusto, Alison D. Munson This is a plain language summary of a Functional Ecology research article that can be found here. Increasing the number of tree species within a forest has been shown to improve nutrient cycling due to factors such as complementarity between species that vary in structure … Continue reading Individual tree species within a mixed forest drive its nutrient use efficiency

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Male and female decorated crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus) mating. During mating, the male (bottom) transfers a spermatophore to the female (top). This spermatophore (at rear of male and female) consists of a large gelatinous spermatophylax (translucent bulb) and a sperm containing ampulla (white bulb). Photo courtesy of David Funk.
behavioural ecology

Intralocus sexual conflict over optimal nutrient intake and the evolution of sex differences in lifespan and reproduction

This is a plain language summary of a Functional Ecology research article. Read the research in full here. Michael Hawkes, Sarah M. Lane, James Rapkin, Kim Jensen, Clarissa M. House, Scott K. Sakaluk and John Hunt A nutritionally balanced diet is central to the healthy functioning of most organisms but the specific optimal combination for one function (i.e. lifespan) is often different from that required … Continue reading Intralocus sexual conflict over optimal nutrient intake and the evolution of sex differences in lifespan and reproduction

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