We’re pleased to welcome nine new Associate Editor Mentees to the Journal of Applied Ecology Editorial Board. Get to know the newest members of our journal team.

Maxime Damien, Manitoba University, Canada

Maxime researches plant-insect interactions, from individual insect life history to community ecology, in a way that looks at how plants influence several aspects of arthropod biology, including evolutional trajectories, population dynamics and community structures. His work on life histories of parasitic wasps’ interactions with flowering plants led him to the ecology of several biological models, such as structures of butterfly settlements or population dynamics of forest herbivores, relating to associate plant communities. He has studied the ecology of pest herbivore natural enemies, considering non-cultivated plants and associated habitats in agricultural landscapes, often under the context of global environmental change and considering current modifications in abiotic conditions, or the biodiversity crisis and associated disturbances of biotic interactions. His latest project aims to develop sustainable management strategies to mitigate flea beetles damage in Canadian canola crops.

Emilia Hannula, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Netherlands

Emilia is interested in soil biodiversity and functioning, and their relationship. Her work is especially focused on ways to steer soil microbial communities to restore soil functions and to mitigate the effects of climate change. She is also interested in insect and plant microbiomes, and the effects of microbes on the fitness of plants and animals. The scales of her studies vary between collecting detailed information on microbial interactions in the rhizosphere of individual plants and patterns in microbial diversity across ecosystems. Website

Sungwon Hong, Pusan National University, South Korea

Sungwon is interested in the relationship between wild animals and anthropogenic disturbance and, in his research, he has used broad tools to define the flexibility of wildlife. His specific research animals are the endangered Eurasian otter, the long-tailed goral and, in South Korea, the invasive nutria. Sungwon’s goal is to look at the thresholds for coexistence between wildlife and humans.

Anaëlle Lemasson, Wild Planet Trust / Paignton Zoo, United Kingdom

Anaëlle’s research to date has focused on the effects of global change on marine systems and organisms. More recently, she has been involved in the Conservation Evidence project, writing a synopsis of evidence for the effects of conservation intervention on marine invertebrates, and is now involved in synthesizing evidence for welfare interventions for captive animals. She is interested in marine ecology, ecological restoration, and robust evidence gathering.

Maria Paniw, Ecological and Forestry Applications Research Centre (CREAF), Spain

Maria’s research focuses on improving our understanding of what drives population dynamics under environmental change. She uses structured population models to link abiotic and biotic drivers to phenotypic-trait and population dynamics in both plant and animal species. She is particularly interested in modelling seasonal processes that shape annual population dynamics. She also investigates whether community responses to extreme events can be predicted through the consideration of underlying, species-specific demographic processes. Maria’s research ultimately aims to compare how different taxa vary in demographic responses to global change. Website

Cécile C. Remy,  University of New Mexico, United States

Cécile’s main research topics are the impact of disturbances on ecosystems. This cross-disciplinary subject includes studies ranging from ecosystem functioning to species-specific ecosphysiological parameters. It involves paleoecological analyses, the use of biostatistic, and bioinformatic tools and modelling. Cécile’s work is related to forests ecosystems and includes empirical studies as well as theorical knowledge in order to improve the conservation and management of environmental resources in the context of global change. Website

Lilian, Sales, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil

Lilian’s research focuses on understanding the biotic and abiotic drivers of species distribution at global-to-local scales. It aims to support dynamic conservation strategies, by anticipating the eco-evolutionary consequences of biodiversity redistribution in the Anthropocene.

Rachakonda Sreekar, Institute of Entomology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic

Rachakonda’s research examines biodiversity patterns in human-dominated landscapes. It aims to identify novel ecosystems that can conserve biodiversity and sustain local livelihoods. Rachakonda is interested in a broad range of topics, including land use change, habitat fragmentation, unsustainable hunting and global warming. His current work investigates the benefits of global carbon sequestration programs to climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation and human wellbeing. Website   

Guiyao Zhou , East China Normal University, China

Guiyao is broadly interested in developing and applying quantitative tools to understand the biogeochemical cycle of terrestrial ecosystems in response to natural and human disturbance. He has explored the effects of human disturbance, global climate change, and their interactions on the carbon and nitrogen cycle of grassland ecosystems. Guiyao is also interested in forest management, wetland restoration, remote sensing and possible ways to mitigate climate warming. At present, his main focus is exploring the relationship patterns and regulating mechanisms between biodiversity and ecosystems function under different global climate drivers. Website