Behind the Paper
The real stories behind the latest research papers, from conception to publication, the highs and the lows
Filtered by: Ecology & Evolution
Unravelling the long-term river health status of Kruger National Park Rivers using macroinvertebrate-based monitoring
Freshwater ecosystems face severe threats from pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. This study analyzes a decade of biomonitoring data (2010–2019) from Kruger National Park’s four rivers using SASS5, habitat, and physicochemical metrics to assess resilience against upstream human pressures.
A Simple Equation for a Long-Standing Challenge in Ocean Science
We rely on P-I models to scale phytoplankton light response into global primary production, yet half of the time photoinhibition disrupts the picture. Current models either sidestep or mischaracterize this phenomenon, introducing hidden uncertainty into climate-relevant estimates.
A billboard announced a carbon program
A program announced by a highway billboard caught my (Jeremy) attention, but would it catch the interest and commitment of forest landowners? And given the diversity of land and landowners, who would commit?
Tiny tubeworms, big warnings: life-history clues in changing estuaries
If you want to know how an ecosystem is faring, look to its smallest residents. In estuarine and coastal habitats, where life can be tough, marine tubeworms are revealing more than just their presence. They may be offering early warnings that a habitat is heading towards collapse.
Unearthing the Resilience: How Desert Rhizospheres Tell Two Microbial Tales
This study was inspired by the extreme arid deserts of northwestern China—landscapes where the boundary between earth and sky blurs, and life persists through remarkable adaptations.
