From 'Legume abundance along successional and rainfall gradients in Neotropical forests'. Gei et al. Nature Ecology & Evolution 2; 1104-1111.
In Latin America, many regrowing forests are dominated by legume trees. The ability to fix nitrogen through symbiosis is a crucial element of their success. But Leguminosae species that also form a small bipinnate leaves (shown here in Guanacaste, Costa Rica) hold a double advantage in hot, dry and highly seasonal environments across the Neotropics.
Patrick joined Nature Publishing Group in 2005 as an Assistant Editor at Nature Reviews Genetics and Nature Reviews Cancer. In 2008 he moved to Nature, where he served as Senior Editor covering ecology and evolution, before becoming Chief Editor of Nature Ecology & Evolution in 2016. He has handled primary manuscripts and review articles across the entire breadth of ecology and evolution, as well as advising and writing for other sections of Nature. Patrick has a degree in genetics from the University of Cambridge, did his DPhil in experimental evolution at the University of Oxford, and did postdoctoral work on evolutionary and ecological genetics at University College London in association with Imperial College London at Silwood Park.
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