Lijun Chen: Integrating variation in bacterial-fungal co-occurrence network with soil carbon dynamics

Shortlisted for the 2024 Southwood Prize Lijun Chen explores how bacterial-fungal interactions mediate soil organic carbon dynamics in the context of artificial forest ecosystems. About the research Overview Eucalyptus is one of the most widely planted tree species worldwide. It has been demostrated that long-term short-rotation practices of eucalyptus induced to declining of soil organic carbon content and ecosystem services capacity. Exploring the patterns of … Continue reading Lijun Chen: Integrating variation in bacterial-fungal co-occurrence network with soil carbon dynamics

Kylie Soanes: Do wildlife crossing structures mitigate the barrier effect of roads on animal movement?

Shortlisted for the 2024 Southwood Prize Kylie Soanes details how, alongside colleagues, they analysed 313 studies to determine whether wildlife crossing structures mitigate the barrier effect of roads on wildlife movement. About the research Overview Wildlife crossing structures are a common tool to help animals cross roads safely. While there’s clear evidence that these structures are used by wildlife, we wanted to dig deeper into … Continue reading Kylie Soanes: Do wildlife crossing structures mitigate the barrier effect of roads on animal movement?

Detección temprana de plagas invasoras en árboles: Vigilancia optimizada y perspectivas sociológicas

Vasthi Alonso Chávez analiza cómo la detección temprana del barrenador esmeralda del fresno, responsable de la muerte de millones de fresnos en Estados Unidos, Canadá, Rusia y Europa del Este, es esencial para un control efectivo. El creciente volumen global del comercio y movimiento de árboles y sus productos, ha acelerado el transporte e introducción de plagas y enfermedades en regiones fuera de su área … Continue reading Detección temprana de plagas invasoras en árboles: Vigilancia optimizada y perspectivas sociológicas

Early detection for invading tree pests: Targeted surveillance and stakeholder perspectives

Vasthi Alonso Chávez discusses how early detection of the emerald ash borer, responsible for the death of millions of ash trees in the United States, Canada, Russia and Eastern Europe, is essential for effective control. The growing volume of trade and travel across continents has accelerated the movement and introduction of pests and pathogens into regions outside their native range causing unprecedented ecological and economic … Continue reading Early detection for invading tree pests: Targeted surveillance and stakeholder perspectives

Southwood Prize 2024: Shortlist announced for early career researcher award

Each year, Journal of Applied Ecology awards the Southwood Prize to the best paper in the journal by an author at the start of their research career. The following 10 papers, published in the 61st volume of the journal, have been shortlisted. Janina Heinen with ‘Diversified cropping strengthens herbivore regulation by providing seasonal resource continuity to predators’ Agostina Torres with ‘Inverse priority effects: The order and timing … Continue reading Southwood Prize 2024: Shortlist announced for early career researcher award

A stark warning for UK blanket bog

Jonny Ritson talks us through the latest modelling study, conducted alongside colleagues, aiming to determine how suitable future conditions will be for both peat accumulation and Sphagnum survival in the UK. Bioclimatic envelope models have been used as a tool to map the climate conditions under which specific habitats occur. By defining the conditions suitable for peat formation, for example, we can then use projections of future … Continue reading A stark warning for UK blanket bog

Human-wildlife coexistence: The need for evidence-based solutions

Chen Huang provides an overview of their investigation into human-wildlife conflict, and explains how research gaps can be turned into opportunities. Humans and wildlife share the planet, often in proximity. In many parts of the world, villagers see elephants, lions, dolphins, and seabirds as part of their daily lives—much like city dwellers spot starlings feeding in a park. While wildlife is culturally valuable and a … Continue reading Human-wildlife coexistence: The need for evidence-based solutions

International Women’s Day: Nathalie Pettorelli

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, we are excited to share a collection of blog posts showcasing the work of some of the BES community. In each post, they discuss their experiences in ecology, as well as what this year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action’, means to them. What work do you do? I am a conservation biologist working at the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London. … Continue reading International Women’s Day: Nathalie Pettorelli

International Women’s Day 2025: Cate Macinnis-Ng

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, we are excited to share a collection of blog posts showcasing the work of some of the BES community. In each post, they discuss their experiences in ecology, as well as what this year’s theme, ‘Accelerate Action’, means to them. What work do you do? I’m Professor in Ecology in the School of Biological Sciences at Waipapa Taumata Rau … Continue reading International Women’s Day 2025: Cate Macinnis-Ng

Honeybees interfere with wild bees in apple pollination in China

In this blog post, Yunhui Liu and team discuss their latest research into the importance of honeybees and wild bees for apple pollination, as well as whether the contribution of wild bees is influenced by increasing numbers of honeybees. Animal pollination is crucial for sustainable crop production and food security. Although there is a growing reliance on pollinators in crop production, global reports indicate a … Continue reading Honeybees interfere with wild bees in apple pollination in China