How mycorrhizal associations are growing our understanding of plant-soil feedback across plant communities

Andrew Eagar and Sara Moledor, from Michigan State University’s Department of Plant Biology, discuss their research group’s new review paper: Setting the Stage for Plant-Soil Feedback: Mycorrhizal Influences over Conspecific Recruitment, Plant and Fungal Communities, and Coevolution A patch of temperate hardwood forest at the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station in South Gull Lake, Michigan. […]

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New monitoring rules agreed for the EU ETS, including non-CO₂ emissions from the aviation sector

The revisions agreed today introduce zero-rating of emissions from the combustion of renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs), recycled carbon fuels (RCFs) and synthetic low carbon fuels (SLCFs) in the ETS, subject to compliance with the criteria set out in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), notably the ‘additionality’ rules (electricity used for RFNBO product […]

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Measurement of increased vegetation cover following stock removal and conservation management – The Applied Ecologist

Angus Retallack explains how, using remote sensing data over a 22-year observation period, vegetation recovery after the removal of livestock and the introduction of conservation-focused management can be assessed. Arid and semi-arid rangelands cover close to 50% of the Earth’s land surface and are relied upon by a diverse range of stakeholders including Indigenous people, […]

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Entangled? How to resolve feedbacks between diversity and productivity in natural systems

Meadow with foxtail grass (Alopecurus spp.) in the Schorfheide-Chorin, credit: Victoria Henning. Karl Andraczek (@KarlAndraczek), from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, discusses his article: Weak reciprocal relationships between productivity and plant biodiversity in managed grasslands Setting The Scene Global change impacts both plant diversity and ecosystem functioning with detrimental consequences for […]

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Timing of nutrient resorption from senesced leaves: steady-and-slow versus late-and-fast

Yu-Kun Hu, from Lanzhou University, discusses his article: Leaf functional traits predict timing of nutrient resorption and carbon depletion in deciduous subarctic plants Nutrient resorption from senescing leaves is an important way that plants maintain their nutrient balance, meeting more than 1/3 of their total nutrient requirements. Thus, these nutrients are critical for plant growth […]

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Meet Hannah, Hisham, Max and Oscar – The Applied Ecologist

In this new series, The Applied Ecologist is amplifying the staff and student voices from the University of Surrey’s Centre for Environment and Sustainability to showcase their diverse, interdisciplinary body of work and to help inspire the next generation. In this post, we share below this year’s BSc student’s experiences of their fieldtrip to South […]

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Spatial variation in plant diversity, biomass and floral resources in conventional and agri-environment cereal fields – The Applied Ecologist

Laura Sutcliffe discusses her latest study where, alongside colleagues, she investigated the spatial distribution of vascular plant species richness and their contribution to the food web via biomass and flower units in conventional and agri-environment cereal fields. The study: Arable plants Arable plants are usually simply referred to as weeds, reflecting their low status in […]

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Meet Caitlin, Isabel, Izaak, Maddy, Nat, Nina, Romiya, and Tim – The Applied Ecologist

In this new series, The Applied Ecologist is amplifying the staff and student voices from the University of Surrey’s Centre for Environment and Sustainability to showcase their diverse, interdisciplinary body of work and to help inspire the next generation.In this post, we share below this year’s BSc student’s experiences of their fieldtrip to South Wales, […]

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Qun Zhang & Xincheng Li on Genetic Diversity: The Hidden Key to Salt Marsh Restoration

Picture yourself walking along a coastal salt marsh. The squishy mud beneath your feet, the chorus of bird calls, and the distant shimmer of the sea – this seemingly ordinary scene is actually a vibrant ecosystem in action. Salt marshes are more than just scenic wetlands; they’re nature’s multitaskers, providing homes for countless species, shielding […]

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Meet Zoe Harris – The Applied Ecologist

In this new series, The Applied Ecologist is amplifying the staff and student voices from the University of Surrey’s Centre for Environment and Sustainability to showcase their diverse, interdisciplinary body of work and to help inspire the next generation. In this post, Zoe talks about the Taeda Tech Project. Meet Zoe Harris © Zoe Harris […]

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