Qitong Wang and Huajun Yin, Chengdu Institute of Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, discuss their article: Rhizosphere as a hotspot for microbial necromass deposition into the soil carbon pool When it comes to soil organic carbon (SOC) storage, the rhizosphere – a zone of soil around plant roots – plays a pivotal yet…
Katherine Hulting, from Michigan State University’s W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, discusses her article: Habitat edges decrease plant reproductive output in fragmented landscapes Fragmentation and demography Habitat fragmentation is widespread globally. However, understanding how to conserve in fragmented landscapes is challenging. Breaking habitats apart leads to multiple changes, such as decreased connectivity and increased edge habitat,…
Meijie Xi and Weile Chen from Zhejiang University, China, discuss their article: Soil moisture mediates the effect of plant below-ground carbon allocation on the decomposition of root litter in a subtropical forest Forests are critical allies in the fight against climate change because they are major carbon sinks. Yet, the carbon stored in forests is…
Johan Ehrlén tell us the story behind the cover image for our December issue: This photo, taken in southern Sweden early May, shows inflorescences of Lathyrus vernus. Flowers at the bottom of the inflorescences have already started to wilt and changed colour from purple to light blue, while the uppermost flowers have just opened. This…
Miaojun Ma, Lanzhou University, discusses his article: Indirect effects of warming via phenology on reproductive success of alpine plants Background More and more empirical evidence shows that climate change has altered the reproductive performance of alpine plants, including reproductive phenology and reproductive output. Altered plant phenology can expose species to novel abiotic conditions during growth…
Ming-Fai Liu and Richard Saunders, from the University of Hong Kong’s Division of Ecology & Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, discuss their research article: Aerial litter mimicry: a novel form of floral deception mediated by a monoterpene synthase Mutualism is more of a rule than an exception when it comes to pollination—although a few plants…
Carla Vázquez-González, University of California, Irvine & Misión Biológica de Galicia (CSIC), discusses her article: Testing the contribution of vertebrate predators and leaf traits to mainland-island differences in insect herbivory on oaks Insularity research on plant-herbivore interactions Islands have long fascinated evolutionary ecologists, beginning with the early observational studies of naturalists like Charles Darwin and…
Anna Florianová (@IBOTCZ; @popecolIBOT), Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, describes her article: Climate-driven shifts in plant-soil feedback of a perennial grass species As the climate changes, scientists are becoming increasingly interested in how these shifts impact plant growth. Climate change does not only have direct effects on plants, but may also affect…
Keke Cheng & Shixiao Yu, from Sun Yat-sen University, discuss their article: Specificity determinants of pathogens in forest in English and Chinese. Background Autumn has come and the fruit is ripe. Seeds fall from the tree and spread around the mother tree, attracting squirrels who love to eat them. Squirrels came and ate a large…
Saheed Olaide Jimoh (@sahjim05), University of Wyoming, discusses his article: Traits associated with the conservation gradient are the strongest predictors of early-stage fine root decomposition rates Background Fine root decomposition is a process that converts dead plant materials into their component elements, supporting nutrient cycling, regulating carbon storage, and sustaining organic matter pools in ecosystems.…
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