Evolving into weirdness | Journal of Ecology Blog

Richard P. Shefferson, University of Tokyo, discusses his article: ‘Life history costs drive the evolution of mycoheterotrophs: increased sprouting and flowering in a strongly mycoheterotrophic Pyrola species’ Figure 1. The non-photosynthetic species Monotropastrum humile, found at the Pyrola japonica field site (photo: R. Shefferson) Background When we think of plants, we think of trees and […]

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Staying on Top of Ethics

by Gael O’Brien Ethics shape company realities. Whether ethics’ presence supports an engaged workforce or its absence fuels misconduct, it matters to go deeper into the wisdom of ethics. Recent business ethics surveys provide information about questions we might not have considered and answers that convey the strength or weakness of ethics’ impact.  I’ve focused […]

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Innovation Fund: Overwhelming response to the 2023 net-zero technologies call

The Innovation Fund’s 2023 call for proposals for net-zero technologies (IF23 Call) has received 337 applications from 27 countries. These proposals will compete for the call’s €4 billion budget to support the deployment of innovative clean technologies using revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). The total funding requested by all applications amounts to […]

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Sustainability Ratings – Driven by Number of Sources?

Some sustainability experts have speculated that the consensus ratings for an entity are driven partly by how many sources rate it.  In other words, the more that an entity reveals, shares, and collaborates with those who judge its sustainability, the more positively these sources will rate the entity. This theory seems reasonable.  As you can […]

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LIFE Calls for proposals 2024: bring your green dream to life with a share of €571 million funding!

As the EU’s flagship initiative for funding environmental and climate actions, the LIFE Programme is your opportunity to turn your ideas into reality – and if your project proposal is successful, you’ll be in for a share of the €571 million available this year. Sounds interesting? Head over to LIFE Calls for Proposals where you’ll […]

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The landscape of fear in cattle farms? How the presence of barn swallow influences the activity of pest flies – The Applied Ecologist

Authors of a research article recently published in Journal of Applied Ecology talk us through how barn swallows are effective biological control agents for lowering pest fly activity in livestock farms. Preamble: Farmland birds, filth flies and the landscape of fear Birds are key suppliers of crucial ecosystem services worldwide, and insectivorous species can consume […]

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Understanding the success of invasive plants through community assembly

Urmi Poddar discusses her paper ‘Similar trait-based successional assembly in native and introduced plants despite species pool differences.’ A picture of the Buell-Small Succession Study site in 2005, showing in understory of mostly Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum). Photo credit: Scott Meiners. Background Invasive species are one of the major threats to biodiversity. These species tend […]

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The volcano where CO2 emissions are being turned to stone

Industrial activities, from electricity generation to cement production, are responsible for emitting huge amounts of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2). Reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is vital for Europe to become climate-neutral by 2050. To this end, the EU-funded CarbFix2 project recently tested and upscaled groundbreaking carbon capture and storage […]

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Meet our new Blog Editor: F. Curtis Lubbe

We’re pleased to introduce our new Blog Editor! Curtis Lubbe joins the team to help manage the Journal of Ecology blog and publish author’s stories behind their research. Find out a bit about Curtis below: Name: F. Curtis LubbeLocation: Třeboň, Czech RepublicKeywords: belowground storage organs, drought, functional ecology, nonstructural carbohydrates, overwintering, storage Tell us a bit […]

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Native palms and trees mediate drought impacts on dry neotropical pastures – The Applied Ecologist

Shortlisted for the 2023 Southwood Prize Iván Raniero Hernández-Salmerón talks us through research, conducted alongside colleagues, which shows that fostering a diversity of native palms and trees has positive effects on the functioning of cattle pastures, especially during dry periods. A larger understanding of the facilitative effects of remnant palms and trees on pastures during […]

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