Jana Martínková (ExFuMo1), Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, discusses her article: The hidden half of ontogeny and seasonal dynamics in perennial herbs While flowers and leaves capture our attention, the unseen world beneath the soil is just as vital to plant survival and ecological balance. This truth applies not only to…
Marianne Kivastik, University of Tartu, discusses her article: A pan-European citizen science study reveals factors related to biased morph ratios in the heterostylous plant Primula veris Human-induced environmental changes have many negative consequences for biodiversity on all levels. Among plants, insect-pollinated species can be especially affected by habitat loss and fragmentation because of the adverse…
Si-Chong Chen (@SichongChen), Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, discusses her article: Large seeds as a defensive strategy against partial granivory in the Fagaceae Imagine you are an acorn. You’re packed with nutrients and a perfect meal for animals like squirrels and birds. But you’re not just food; you’re also a seed…
Douglas Sheil, Forest Ecology and Forest Management Chair Group, Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands, discusses his article: A simple competition model can predict rainforest tree diversity, species abundance and ecosystem functions Many tropical forests are remarkably diverse, often supporting hundreds of tree species in just a few hectares. But how can so many species…
Xavier Morin, CEFE, CNRS, University of Montpellier, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France, discusses his article: More species, more trees: The role of tree packing in promoting forest productivity The effect of tree species diversity on forest productivity is now well-known. On average, plots with more species (in mixed forests) have a greater net productivity than plots with…
Paul Kühn, University of Jena, discusses his article: Nitrogen content of herbarium specimens from arable fields and mesic meadows reflect the intensifying agricultural management during the 20th century Biodiversity in agricultural areas Agricultural habitats such as arable fields and meadows are shaped by human activity. Agricultural productivity is rising, but at the same time, many…
Emily Wedel, from Kansas State University’s Konza Prairie Biological Station, describes her article: Divergent resource-use strategies of encroaching shrubs: Can traits predict encroachment success in tallgrass prairie? Background: Attack of the shrubs The expansive grasslands that once dominated North America’s Central Great Plains have all but disappeared. The remaining grass-dominated regions that avoided conversion to…
Bérangère Leys, UMR AMAP (Montpellier, France), discusses her article: Functional responses of Mediterranean flora to fire: A community-scale perspective As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of fires, especially in Mediterranean regions, understanding plant adaptations to fire has become crucial. Fires are a natural component of Mediterranean ecosystems; however, hotter, drier conditions and human activities are making fires more intense, underscoring the…
Clara Espinosa del Alba, Biodiversity Research Institute (IMIB, University of Oviedo – CSIC – Principality of Asturias), part of the Vegetation and Biodiversity Lab, discusses her article: Microclimatic variation regulates seed germination phenology in alpine plant communities, in English, Spanish, and Catalan. Background Seeds are essential for plant regeneration, but not only the quantity and…
Aaron Millar, from the University of Canterbury discusses his article: Altitudinal Differentiation Occurs Alongside High Plasticity in a General-Purpose Genotype Invasive Plant In 1965, Herbert Baker imagined a super-weed, a plant that could invade anywhere and deal with anything. He called it the “general-purpose genotype”, a plant which could adapt to any environment with massive…
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