How to make the most out of machine learning models and what can go wrong
In the latest issue of the journal we have a new ‘How to…’ paper lead by Nick Fountain‐Jones from the University of Tasmania on How to make more from exposure […]
Category Archives: Guest post
Determinants of micro- and macroparasite diversity in birds: the fruits of comparing apples and oranges
Identifying the factors shaping variation in parasite diversity among host species is crucial to understand wildlife diseases. A recent paper in Journal of Animal Ecology investigated the role of host […]
The invisible interplay between herbivorous insects and their monitoring ants on a chemically diverse plant
Plants exhibit impressive genetic and chemical diversity, and this variation is important for structuring ecological communities. A recent paper in the Journal of Animal Ecology investigated this with regard to […]
Manipulation of gut microbiota during critical developmental windows affect host physiological performance and disease susceptibility across ontogeny
Colonisation of gut microbiomes during early life can shape metabolism and immunity of adult animals. However, most data are derived from antibiotic‐treated or germ‐free laboratory mammals. Furthermore, few studies have […]
Climate impacts on trophic interactions in grasslands
By Colin Beale and Sue Hartley Over the past few weeks the BES journal blogs have been taking a look at the impacts of climate change on grasslands, celebrating the […]
Which GLM?
Many papers refer to the use of GLMs in their analyses – but are you sure you know to which statistical approach they refer? Professor Daniel Blumstein and Associate Professor […]
Do spatial sampling scales influence the understanding of ant-plant interaction network architecture?
Despite great interest in metrics to quantify the structure of ecological networks, the effects of sampling and scale remain poorly understood. However, a recent paper published in Journal of Animal […]
Disentangling disease transmission in Madagascar fruit bats
Bats can carry various diseases, including many which are transferable to humans. A recent study published in the Journal of Animal Ecology investigated disease extent, seasonality, and mechanisms of transmission […]
Lovers and fighters, and how their coexistence affects their evolution within an eco-evolutionary feedback loop
Eco-evolutionary dynamics are well studied but the term is applied to a wide variety of effects and interactions. Yet comparing these different types of studies on eco-evolutionary dynamics will inform […]
Urbanization alters predator‐avoidance behaviours
Urbanisation is changing the natural landscape at a global scale. This obviously alters habitat structures, but what is the influence on predator-prey dynamics? A recent paper in the Journal of […]
Weak effects of geolocators on small birds
Biologging is a powerful tool and often utilised to study animal movement patterns. But how can researchers be sure that the tag itself does not negatively impact the study animal? […]
Hungry lizards catch the worms
Parasite transmission is dependent upon host diet and habitat use. A recent paper in the Journal of Animal Ecology examined over 350 species of lizard in search of a link […]
Parasitism and Host Diet Quality in Natural Populations
Parasite-host relationships can be amazingly complex. Parasites can even alter host diets. But how exactly does this work? Dr Charlotte Narr, a Research Scientist at Colorado State University’s Natural Resource […]
Live fast, don’t die young
Understanding the trade-offs between survival and reproduction is essential for the study of population dynamics. A recent paper in the Journal of Animal Ecology used a novel statistical framework to reveal previously […]
A high cost of infidelity for swift parrots
A recent paper published in the Journal of Animal Ecology has found that a chronic shortage of females in a critically endangered parrot species has led to love triangles, sneaky […]
Penguin niche-partitioning resilient to climate change
Competition for limited food resources can be particularly fierce where similarly-related species overlap. Harriet L. Clewlow is a PhD student based at the British Antarctic Survey and linked with University of […]
Explaining population variability in marine fishes
Populations are not stable. But despite decades of study, the drivers of population variability are yet to be fully understood. A new study in the Journal of Animal Ecology suggests that […]
A Colourful Distribution
Skinks come in a variety of colours and patterns. But why and how are these colour polymorphisms maintained? Genevieve Matthews, a PhD student at Monash University, has been studying skinks […]
Go Big or Go Home: Pitcher plant hosts and their crab spider tenants
The carnivorous traps of Nepenthes pitcher plants are sometimes inhabited by a species of crab spider which ambushes insects as they arrive at traps. Recently published work by Weng Ngai […]
Making the most of #BES2018 – Highlights of events to make you a teaching pro!
It can be tricky being an academic, managing so many competing demands can mean that we might struggle to find time to be a great teacher as well as carrying […]
