Author: Journal of Applied Ecology

Plain language summaries, Research summaries

Strokenteelt verhoogt het aantal naaktslakken en predatoren van naaktslakken, maar gewasschade neemt niet toe

Strokenteelt is een landbouwmethode waarbij verschillende gewassen naast elkaar in stroken worden geteeld in plaats van in grote percelen met één enkel gewas (monocultuur). Deze aanpak kan de biodiversiteit vergroten en helpen bij de bestrijding van insectenplagen, maar het effect op schadelijke naaktslakken was tot nu toe onduidelijk. Wij onderzochten 20 Nederlandse bedrijven en vergeleken de dichtheid van naaktslakken en hun ongewervelde predatoren in strokenteeltpercelen … Continue reading Strokenteelt verhoogt het aantal naaktslakken en predatoren van naaktslakken, maar gewasschade neemt niet toe

Unknown's avatarJournal of Applied EcologyLeave a comment
Plain language summaries, Research summaries

Less people leads to the return of large mammals

Some areas of the world – particularly rural areas – now have less people than they used to. In this Perspective, we: Although the human populations of many countries around the world are still growing, we are only 60-70 years away from a world with a shrinking total population. Understanding how biodiversity responds to a shrinking human population will be critical in the coming years. … Continue reading Less people leads to the return of large mammals

Unknown's avatarJournal of Applied EcologyLeave a comment
Plain language summaries, Research summaries

Review of camera trap images by artificial intelligence produce accurate models for rapid decision-making

The use of remote game cameras to photograph elusive wildlife is one of the most commonly employed techniques in ecology and conservation, and is used to answer questions regarding population status of many threatened and endangered species. As the use of this technique expands in size and scope, and projects routinely generate millions of images, the time it takes to identify species in photos has … Continue reading Review of camera trap images by artificial intelligence produce accurate models for rapid decision-making

Unknown's avatarJournal of Applied EcologyLeave a comment
Careers, Forests, Research summaries

Xiaoling Wang: Using forest inventory and LiDAR observations to uncover plant traits cooling and humidifying effects

Shortlisted for the 2025 Southwood Prize About the research Overview Our paper investigates how to maximize the cooling effect of urban forests. We wanted to know whether a tree’s leaf traits (like nutrient content) are more important than its physical structure (like canopy size) for reducing air temperature and increasing humidity in cities. By combining traditional forest surveys with advanced LiDAR technology in Shanghai, we sought … Continue reading Xiaoling Wang: Using forest inventory and LiDAR observations to uncover plant traits cooling and humidifying effects

Unknown's avatarJournal of Applied EcologyLeave a comment
Careers, Journal news, The Applied Ecologist community

Southwood Prize 2025: Shortlist announced for early career researcher award

Journal of Applied Ecology awards the annual Southwood Prize to the best paper in the journal by an author at the start of their research career. We are excited to share the following 14 papers which have been shortlisted for the 2025 award following their publication in the 62nd volume of the journal. Taylor Craft with ‘Remote sensing and GPS tracking reveal temporal shifts in habitat use in … Continue reading Southwood Prize 2025: Shortlist announced for early career researcher award

Unknown's avatarJournal of Applied Ecology4 Comments
Careers, Journal news

Welcoming our 2026 Associate Editor Mentees!

Journal of Applied Ecology offers a two‑year mentoring scheme that helps early career researchers build practical experience as Associate Editors. Each mentee works closely with a Senior Editor and benefits from ongoing support from the Editorial Office. By handling journal submissions, mentees get a front‑row view of peer review and academic publishing more broadly. We’re excited to introduce seven new Associate Editor mentees who are … Continue reading Welcoming our 2026 Associate Editor Mentees!

Unknown's avatarJournal of Applied EcologyLeave a comment
Plain language summaries, Research summaries

Farmlands near coastal wetlands experience less cyclone damage

Coastal wetlands, including mangrove forests and saltmarshes, are known to reduce coastal erosion and flooding during storms. However, limited studies have investigated whether these ecosystems influence how tropical cyclones affect nearby farmlands. Farmlands are highly vulnerable to extreme weather events predicted with climate change, threatening food security and regional economies. Our study examined patterns of flooding and crop cover change on coastal sugarcane land in … Continue reading Farmlands near coastal wetlands experience less cyclone damage

Unknown's avatarJournal of Applied EcologyLeave a comment
Plain language summaries, Research summaries

Using seabird migration routes as a tool for ocean conservation

Protecting migratory species requires countries to work together across the full routes these animals travel each year. For land and waterbirds, the idea of “global flyways”, the broad paths birds follow between breeding and non‑breeding areas, has been an effective way to organise international conservation. Flyways help unite governments, researchers, and conservation groups, guide research and funding, and coordinate long‑term action. Recently, scientists have identified … Continue reading Using seabird migration routes as a tool for ocean conservation

Unknown's avatarJournal of Applied EcologyLeave a comment
Research summaries, Plain language summaries

Not all disturbances are alike: Exploring patterns and shifts in European forest regimes

Forests are naturally shaped by events such as fires, windstorms, or insect outbreaks, known altogether as forest disturbances. The long-term characteristics of these events is defined as disturbance regime; and their trends depend on multiple factors, including site conditions (e.g., climate and soil), disturbance and management legacies, and the specific causal agents present in the region. In this study, we characterised the main disturbance regimes … Continue reading Not all disturbances are alike: Exploring patterns and shifts in European forest regimes

Unknown's avatarJournal of Applied EcologyLeave a comment
Plain language summaries, Research summaries

Silver fir seed quality varies with age, fir-associated forest cover, and climate conditions of seed production stands in Austria

Reforestation and forest restoration require large numbers of high-quality seeds and seedlings. In Austria, seeds of silver fir—a species important for adapting forests to climate change—are often of low quality. Therefore, it would be helpful to identify the factors that affect seed quality so we can better predict and plan seed harvests. Our study looked at whether seed quality differs between seeds from seed orchards … Continue reading Silver fir seed quality varies with age, fir-associated forest cover, and climate conditions of seed production stands in Austria

Unknown's avatarJournal of Applied EcologyLeave a comment