This blog post on ‘Ecosystem structure and energy flow’ is part of the BES ‘Key Concepts in Ecology’ blog series, designed to help ecologists in learning the key topics in ecology. See the full blog series for a list of key topics that you might typically find in an ecology textbook, each providing a short…
Shihong Jia and Bastien Castagneyrol discuss their article: ‘Neighbouring tree effects on leaf herbivory: insect specialization matters more than host plant leaf traits.’ Background Insect herbivores feed on plants and play a crucial role in determining plant performance, population, and community dynamics. This role is particularly significant in forests where insect herbivores can change the…
This blog post on ‘Community structure’ is part of the BES ‘Key Concepts in Ecology‘ series, designed to help ecologists in learning the key topics in ecology! Take a look at the full blog series for a list of key topics you might typically find in an ecology textbook, each providing a quick introduction to…
Lucy Ridding discusses the background, work and findings on her recent research for Do plant traits influence primary succession patterns for bryophytes and vascular plants? Evidence from a 33-year chronosequence on bare chalk with fellow ecologists Peter Hawes, Robin Walls, Sharon L. Pilkington, Richard F. Pywell and Oliver L. Pescott. Background We’ve been researching succession…
We’d love to feature your art on the Journal of Ecology Blog: https://jecologyblog.com/ We are looking to feature artwork and artistic engagement with plants, fungi, algae and aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems. This might be a sketch, photograph, sculpture, fashion, AI, comic book, acrylics, watercolour, oils on canvas etc. Please send a name, between 1…
While producing the recent Biological Flora account for Meadow Crane’s-bill, Geranium pratense L., its authors stumbled on an extraordinary error that had been perpetuated and elaborated in the literature for 140 years. It is a cautionary tale that should be of interest to prospective Biological Flora authors, or indeed for anyone engaged in reviewing the…
The Journal of Ecology Editors are delighted to announce that Katharine Suding is our Eminent Ecologist award recipient for 2023! In recognition of her work, we asked Katharine to put together a virtual issue of some of her key contributions to the journal. Katharine was interviewed by Executive Editor Richard Bardgett, about her career to date, her motivation for focusing on ‘usable science’, and…
The editor’s choice for our November issue is ‘Timing of invasive species removal influences nonnative biotic resistance and trajectories of community reassembly‘ by Agostina Torres et al. Here, Associate Editor Maud Bernard-Verdier discusses the importance of this research: Invasive species control often targets single species, but as species introductions continue to increase globally (Seebens et al., 2017), multiple…
September 2023 marked the release of the thematic assessment of invasive alien species by the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). This landmark assessment, conducted by over 80 experts representing more than 40 countries, comprehensively and critically evaluates evidence for biological invasions and impacts of invasive alien species. Biological invasions refer to species…
Richard Jefferson and colleagues highlight some fascinating aspects of the ecology and conservation of meadow crane’s-bill in their recently published Biological Flora of Britain and Ireland: Geranium pratense: Introduction The striking blue-violet flowers of meadow crane’s-bill decorate road verges, hedge borders, woodland rides and riverbanks in Britain & Ireland during June, July and August. As can…
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