Author: <span>Edith Villa-Galaviz</span>
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PhD position in Tropical Ecosystem Ecology to study tree defense, epiphylls and insect herbivores in trees along a gradient of tropical forest reassembly

Botanical Institute, Kiel University                              Start: beginning of 2026                                Duration: 48 months Tropical rainforests host an extraordinary diversity in trees and herbivorous insects but so far it is still poorly understood how tree-insect-interactions change as forests recover from disturbance. This PhD project investigates tree-herbivore interactions along a tropical …

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PhD position in Tropical Ecology: ANT-PLANT INTERACTIONS

The University of Bayreuth is a research-oriented university with internationally competitive, interdisciplinary focus areas in research and teaching. Within the Faculty of Biology, Chemistry & Earth Sciences at the University of Bayreuth, the research group Population Ecology, Prof. Dr. Heike Feldhaar, is currently seeking to appoint a Research assistant (PhD …

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PhD position in Tropical Ecosystem Ecology

Institute of Botany, Ulm University Start: beginning of 2026             Duration: 48 months Are you passionate about tropical forest research? Are you curious about plant-soil interactions and ecosystem function? Do you have a good understanding of experimental research and experience of tropical fieldwork? If you’ve just answered ‘yes’ to these …

Scientific Papers

Animal seed dispersers recover later than plants, but forest connectivity helps

Anna Landim and collaborators found that animal communities recover more slowly than plant communities, mainly because remnant trees help maintain plant functional diversity and attract animals early in the regeneration process. Their study estimated that animal functional diversity takes about 40 years to reach levels comparable to those of old-growth …

Scientific Papers

Unveiling the Hidden Fish Diversity of Canandé Nature Reserve

In an unexpected turn, SP2, which usually focuses on frog communities or soil arthropods, has documented the fish diversity of two water bodies in Canandé. Fish act both as predators and as food resources for several animals, including amphibians. This connection allowed F. Griesbaum and coauthors to describe fish diversity …

Scientific Papers

Frogs respond to predation before they hatch

Niklas Fuchs and M.-O. Rödel, in their 2025 paper, provide the first description of juvenile Pristimantis latidiscus. They document an egg-burying behaviour, interpreted as a simple form of parental care. The frogs bury their eggs—presumably as a protective strategy. In experimental manipulations, eggs that were handled every two days (to …

Meet the researchers

Ana Falconí Lopez – PhD student SP7, UDLA

I have always been deeply interested in exploring and understanding tropical ecology and biodiversity. My work has afforded me the privilege of conducting research across Ecuador’s four major regions: the Amazon, Highlands, Coast, and the Insular region (Galápagos). This exposure has provided valuable insights into the profound impacts of anthropogenic …