Check out this new paper published in Environmental DNA from Dimitrios Petsopoulos from the Network Ecology Group and co-authors: Identifying archived insect bulk samples using DNA metabarcoding: A case study using the long-term Rothamsted Insect Survey Dimitrios led a study that demonstrates the compatibility of DNA metabarcoding with long-term insect monitoring schemes, using the RothamstedContinue reading "NEW PAPER: Identifying archived insect bulk samples using DNA metabarcoding: A case study using the long-term Rothamsted Insect Survey"
NEW PAPER: The case for open research in entomology: Reducing harm, refining reproducibility and advancing insect science
Check out this new paper, published in Agricultural and Forest Entomology! "The case for open research in entomology: Reducing harm, refining reproducibility and advancing insect science" Open research is crucial for scientific advancement and has been successfully adopted across many disciplines. Entomology has, however, been slow to adopt it, despite some really important ethical and practicalContinue reading "NEW PAPER: The case for open research in entomology: Reducing harm, refining reproducibility and advancing insect science"
NEW PAPER: Sources of prey availability data alter interpretation of outputs from prey choice null networks
Check out our new paper, published in Ecological Entomology! "Sources of prey availability data alter interpretation of outputs from prey choice null networks" The data we use to assess prey choice in the field can drastically change what we find. This may be intuitive, but it's also a little more complicated than you might think...Continue reading "NEW PAPER: Sources of prey availability data alter interpretation of outputs from prey choice null networks"
New preprint: Biomonitoring of biocontrol across the full annual cycle in temperate climates: post-harvest, winter and early-season interaction data and methodological considerations for its collection
Check out the new preprint led by Jordan: Biomonitoring of biocontrol across the full annual cycle in temperate climates: post-harvest, winter and early-season interaction data and methodological considerations for its collection Conservation biocontrol, the regulation of crop pests by naturally-occurring biocontrol agents (e.g., predators and parasitoids), is predominantly monitored throughout periods of primary crop growth whenContinue reading "New preprint: Biomonitoring of biocontrol across the full annual cycle in temperate climates: post-harvest, winter and early-season interaction data and methodological considerations for its collection"
New preprint: Understanding trophic interactions in a warming world by bridging foraging ecology and biomechanics with network science
Check out this new preprint from a collaboration between Jordan, David Labonte (Imperial College) and Fred Windsor (Cardiff University): Understanding trophic interactions in a warming world by bridging foraging ecology and biomechanics with network science Climate change will disrupt biological processes at every scale. Ecosystem functions and services vital to ecological resilience are set toContinue reading "New preprint: Understanding trophic interactions in a warming world by bridging foraging ecology and biomechanics with network science"
New preprint: Metabarcoding advances agricultural invertebrate biomonitoring by enhancing resolution, increasing throughput, and facilitating network inference
Check out the new preprint led by Ben Hawthorne: Metabarcoding advances agricultural invertebrate biomonitoring by enhancing resolution, increasing throughput, and facilitating network inference Massive congrats to Ben on his first first-authored preprint! Biomonitoring of agriculturally important insects is increasingly important given our need to understand a) the severity of impacts by pests and pathogens on cropContinue reading "New preprint: Metabarcoding advances agricultural invertebrate biomonitoring by enhancing resolution, increasing throughput, and facilitating network inference"
PHD STUDENTSHIP: Building belowground invertebrate trophic networks for soil health monitoring using metagenomics and ecoacoustics
Are you interested in using cutting edge techniques to unravel the complex belowground interactions of agricultural invertebrates? This PhD project involves constructing belowground food webs using DNA-based methods, ecoacoustics and emerging statistical approaches. Apply now! Soil health depends on complex invertebrate food webs which drive ecosystem processes and ultimately crop yields, but studying these crypticContinue reading "PHD STUDENTSHIP: Building belowground invertebrate trophic networks for soil health monitoring using metagenomics and ecoacoustics"
PHD STUDENTSHIP: The impact of artificial light at night on optimal foraging, trophic networks and ecosystem services
Applications are open for a NERC funded PhD studentship (competition funded, so two rounds of selection, the second with the funder) on the response of trophic networks to artificial light based with us (the Foraging Ecology Research Group) here in Newcastle! Join a brilliant supervisory team with experience spanning foraging ecology, molecular ecology and networkContinue reading "PHD STUDENTSHIP: The impact of artificial light at night on optimal foraging, trophic networks and ecosystem services"
PHD STUDENTSHIP: Rustling up something to eat: investigating predator-plant interactions as indirect drivers of ecosystem services
We have a fully funded PhD studentship (no competition funding interviews - just one round of selection) on predator-plant interactions based with us (the Foraging Ecology Research Group) here in Newcastle! Join a brilliant supervisory team with experience spanning molecular ecology, trophic interactions, network ecology and animal behaviour, comprised of Jordan Cuff, Fredric Windsor (CardiffContinue reading "PHD STUDENTSHIP: Rustling up something to eat: investigating predator-plant interactions as indirect drivers of ecosystem services"
NEW CHAPTER: A roadmap for biomonitoring in the 21st century: merging methods into metrics via ecological networks
Check out this new chapter in Advances in Ecological Research: A roadmap for biomonitoring in the 21st century: Merging methods into metrics via ecological networks! This was a collaborative endeavour involving most of the Network Ecology Group. The need for widespread, rapid and accurate biomonitoring has never been greater. We summarise some of the massiveContinue reading "NEW CHAPTER: A roadmap for biomonitoring in the 21st century: merging methods into metrics via ecological networks"
Foraging Ecology Research Group 