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…
From February 2025, we encourage authors to submit a Reproducible Research Document, along with their submission, which will help editors, reviewers, and readers to understand how the authors processed their data to reach their outcomes. You can read more about this in our Editorial on the subject here. Below, you can find tutorials for how…
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…
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,…
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