Congrats to Rosy on being elected RES Student Rep!

Massive congratulations to Rosy on being selected to be the next Royal Entomological Society Student Representative! The RES Student Reps represent the society in a wide range of contexts, and represent the views of postgraduate students in society matters too. One of the most significant contributions they make is the organisation of the annual StudentContinue reading "Congrats to Rosy on being elected RES Student Rep!"

Our nutritional networks paper shortlisted for the 2024 Elton Prize!

We are super excited that our paper from last year proposing the concept of 'nutritional networks' has been shortlisted for Journal of Animal Ecology's 2024 Elton Prize! The Elton Prize celebrates 'the best paper published in Journal of Animal Ecology by an early career author.' It is named after Charles Elton, a pioneer in the field ofContinue reading "Our nutritional networks paper shortlisted for the 2024 Elton Prize!"

Ben and Jordan become Open Research Champions for Newcastle University!

 As part of a new initiative across Newcastle University, Ben and Jordan have been made Open Research Champions! This involves advocating for open research at events both locally and institutionally, and forming part of Newcastle University's wider progress toward open research as part of its research culture priorities. This follows Ben and Jordan both separatelyContinue reading "Ben and Jordan become Open Research Champions for Newcastle University!"

Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

It's the International Day of Women and Girls in Science - a time to celebrate the incredible women that lead and drive FERG's research! Rosy, Mia, Broghan and Yiran, your expertise, dedication and innovation shape both FERG and the wider scientific community. Our research is what it is because of you, and we are proudContinue reading "Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!"

SPECIAL ISSUE: Advances in insect biomonitoring for agriculture and forestry

For the past year, Jordan has been leading the editorial work for a special issue of the journal Agricultural and Forest Entomology, titled "advances in insect biomonitoring for agriculture and forestry". This has now been finalised and published, containing 11 excellent articles from across the world spanning this broad topic. Check out the full issueContinue reading "SPECIAL ISSUE: Advances in insect biomonitoring for agriculture and forestry"

New preprint: Spatio-temporal variation in diet among age and sex cohorts of a model generalist bird species, the great tit Parus major, revealed by DNA metabarcoding

Check out this new preprint that Jordan contributed to, led by Dr Jenny Coomes: Spatio-temporal variation in diet among age and sex cohorts of a model generalist bird species, the great tit Parus major, revealed by DNA metabarcoding This preprint characterises the diet of the great tit, Parus major, using DNA metabarcoding and shows how itsContinue reading "New preprint: Spatio-temporal variation in diet among age and sex cohorts of a model generalist bird species, the great tit Parus major, revealed by DNA metabarcoding"

Jordan interviewed about spider nutrition for The Naked Scientists

Check out Jordan's interview for the podcast The Naked Scientists in which he talks about his recent work on the nutritional ecology of spiders in the field! The paper, published recently in Oikos, highlights how nutrients influence the trophic interactions of spiders in the field. The interview delves into the underpinning theory, including nutrient-specific foraging,Continue reading "Jordan interviewed about spider nutrition for The Naked Scientists"

PHD STUDENTSHIP: Assessing ecosystem service trade-offs in omnivorous generalist beetles using network inference, molecular dietary analysis and nutritional networks

Applications are open for a NERC funded PhD studentship (competition funded, so two rounds of selection, the second with the funder) on network inference, the nutritional and trophic ecology of ground beetles, and their provision of ecosystem services. This PhD will involve joining our (the Foraging Ecology Research Group) lively and growing group of PhD students hereContinue reading "PHD STUDENTSHIP: Assessing ecosystem service trade-offs in omnivorous generalist beetles using network inference, molecular dietary analysis and nutritional networks"

Congrats to Will for winning a presentation award at the Fera Symposium!

Massive congrats to Will for winning the Best Early Researcher Presentation Prize at the Fera Science Symposium! This was the first talk Will has given in his PhD, so he's off to a great start! Titled "Noisy eaters! Building belowground invertebrate trophic networks for soil health monitoring using metagenomics and ecoacoustics", Will's talk set outContinue reading "Congrats to Will for winning a presentation award at the Fera Symposium!"