Carlos Martínez-Núñez (he/him) provides the story behind her paper, “Land-use change in the past 40 years explains shifts in arthropod community traits“, which was shortlisted for this year’s Elton Prize. We also hear a little about his journey into animal ecology.

About the Paper
Understanding how biodiversity responds to human-induced environmental change is a central focus in ecology. A key aspect of this research is investigating how land-use changes shape animal communities and influence species’ functional traits, which determine how organisms interact with their environment and adapt to it. However, long-term studies exploring how dominant traits shift over time in response to land-use change remain scarce.

In our study, Land-Use Change in the Past 40 Years Explains Shifts in Arthropod Community Traits, we examined how urbanization and the loss of woody vegetation have influenced arthropod communities in Switzerland over four decades. Analyzing 1.73 million individuals from 877 species, we found significant shifts in key functional traits. Urbanization led to a decline in body size among carabid beetles, favoring smaller, more adaptable species in disturbed environments. Spider communities also changed, with longer activity periods and increased dispersal capacity, likely responses to habitat fragmentation. Meanwhile, the loss of woody vegetation drove an increase in drought tolerance in carabids. These shifts suggest that land-use change is reshaping arthropod communities in ways that could impact food webs and ecosystem dynamics. Our study provides rare long-term evidence of trait shifts in arthropod communities at the community level, emphasizing the need to consider biodiversity and land-use change in conservation and land management strategies, especially as urbanization and habitat degradation accelerate.

Working on this project was both challenging and rewarding. Managing such a large and heterogeneous dataset, collected over multiple decades by different teams, required careful coordination and analysis. Collaborating with a multi-institutional group of scientists brought valuable insights but also demanded meticulous organization to ensure consistency and consensus. In my opinion, the next step in this field will be investigating how these trait shifts affect species interactions and ecosystem functioning in different landscapes. Future research should also integrate genetic and physiological data to understand species adaptability to changing environments.

About the Author

How did you get involved in ecology?
My interest in ecology stems from my passion for nature, a deep curiosity about the natural world, and a desire to understand how life adapts to change. Exploring how ecosystems function and evolve in response to human activities is an intellectual challenge that constantly fuels my passion for discovery. It seems like each new answer leads to new questions, and this endless pursuit of knowledge is both humbling and exhilarating. This constant sense of discovery keeps me engaged and excited about my work.

But beyond intellectual satisfaction, my research is also driven by a sense of responsibility. I believe that understanding these complex ecological systems is key to protecting them, and through my work, I hope to contribute to a better world where biodiversity is valued, ecosystems are preserved, and conservation efforts are informed by science.

What is your current position?
I am currently a postdoctoral researcher at Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Spain, where I investigate the impact of land-use change on biodiversity and ecosystem services. My current research focuses on biodiversity conservation and ecological responses to environmental change. Particularly, I am now studying European pollinators’ conservation status and trends over the last century, along with the key drivers behind these trends. Moving forward, I plan to explore the functional consequences of trait shifts in arthropod communities and their cascading effects on ecosystem functioning and services in agricultural settings.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone in your field?
My advice to aspiring ecologists is to embrace collaboration. Working with diverse teams enhances the depth and impact of research, and engaging with different disciplines provides a broader perspective on ecological challenges.