We are happy to announce that Ana (Guida) Margarida C. Santos will be taking on the role of Senior Editor for the Journal of Animal Ecology. She is taking over from Jean-Michel Gaillard, who is stepping down after 11 years as Senior Editor. You can read more about Guida and her research interests below.

Can you introduce yourself, including where you currently work?

My name is Ana Margarida C. Santos, but everyone knows me as Guida. I’m currently a senior research fellow (Ramón y Cajal fellow) at the Ecology Department of Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in Spain.

Can you give some background on your research expertise? What made you focus on this area specifically?

I am a community ecologist and biogeographer, dedicated to exploring the patterns and processes involved in community assembly and ecosystem functioning across various scales. My research employs an interdisciplinary approach, integrating fieldwork, experimental studies, and existing data with ecological modelling. My primary research areas, which are interconnected, include: (i) island ecology and biogeography, (ii) macroecology of trait and phylogenetic diversity, and (iii) functional ecology, along with ecosystem functioning and services. At the start of my career, I worked as a field and laboratory assistant in the Azores, which sparked my interest in island systems—a focus I continue to pursue today. From the beginning, I was eager to understand the processes that shape community structure from local to global scales. Investigating various traits has allowed me to tackle diverse questions in this field. As my research evolved, it felt natural to explore the connection between trait diversity and ecosystem functioning.

Can you tell us what your current research focus is?

Over the past few years, I have expanded my research to include both field and laboratory experiments that explore the impact of regional and local processes, as well as global change, on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, with a particular focus on dung beetles. This work has led to exciting new insights into the relationships between species diversity, dung decomposition, land intensification, and climate change. Together with my research group, we are about to embark on a new research line focused on evaluating how global change is affecting temporal changes in the composition and structure of dung beetle communities, studying variations that occur throughout a year, to changes between decades. To do this, we will study different elevational gradients, resampling sites visited decades ago. In addition to this, I am also pursuing a parallel research line that focuses on identifying and understanding gender biases in research.

Can you tell us why you applied for the Senior Editor position, and what excites you most about the role?

As a researcher, I believe it’s my responsibility not only to advance my own research and contribute to ecological knowledge but also to serve society as a whole and the scientific community in particular. Throughout my career, I’ve actively engaged with scientific societies by reviewing articles and projects, as well as participating in management and governance roles. I’ve also had the privilege of serving as an associate editor for various journals over the years, including some affiliated with different societies such as Journal of Animal Ecology. I’m genuinely concerned about the rapid changes in the scientific publishing landscape in recent years. These shifts have led to a growing commercialization of research, which often marginalizes vulnerable groups who may struggle to afford publication fees, such as early-career researchers and those from low-income countries. I believe that society journals play a crucial role in promoting ethical and equitable access to knowledge, and this was one of my main motivations for applying to this Senior Editor position. Therefore, this role will allow me to promote a fairer publishing system while actively contributing to the advancement of ecological research.

What kind of papers would you like to see more of in the Journal of Animal Ecology?

It’s challenging to address this question without considering my own research interests! That said, I believe the journal would benefit from more studies on island systems, which serve as excellent natural laboratories for exploring diverse ecological questions. One topic deserving greater attention is the relationship between regional and local diversity, which becomes very important in the context of ongoing global change processes. Additionally, host-pathogen and host-parasitoid systems are fascinating, and there is still so much to grasp regarding how they respond to environmental changes. Finally, I think the journal could further enrich its scope by featuring work from a more geographically diverse range of researchers. This would not only promote inclusivity but also deepen our understanding of ecological processes that may unfold differently across the globe.

What’s your favourite species and why?

As a community ecologist, I am interested in studying different groups of species that coexist in time and space. While my primary focus is on insect groups—such as parasitic wasps and dung beetles—I also enjoy studying a variety of other organisms, including different vertebrate species, plants, and even phytoplankton!

Who inspired you most as a student?

I completed my undergraduate studies at the Universidade de Lisboa in Portugal. During this time, I had the opportunity to take an Entomology course taught by Dr. José Alberto Quartau. This experience was a turning point for me, as it opened up a whole new world that I knew I wanted to explore further. Later, while pursuing my PhD, I became captivated by the elegance and simplicity of MacArthur and Wilson’s Equilibrium Theory of Island Biogeography. This groundbreaking work in ecological research was fundamental to my development as a young researcher.

We are thrilled to have Guida on board. For more information, you can visit her website here.