Fons van der Plas

4 PhD positions and 2 Postdoc positions (respective place of work in the text) in forest [...] Julius-Maximilians University Würzburg (JMU) and its partner Universities Georg-August-University of Göttingen (GAUG), Leipzig University (UL), University of Bayreuth (UB), Universität Bremen (UB), Un...

We are happy to announce that we will continue investigating interesting topics around forest management and biodiversity!
If you like to work in an interdisciplinary team and are interested in forest ecology, please have a look at our exciting new opportunities:
www.greenjobs.de/stellenanzei...

📢 iDiv & partners are hiring! 4 PhD + 2 Postdoc roles in the @betafor.bsky.social forest biodiversity experiment.

📍Start: 1 May 2026 | 🗓️ Deadline: 25 Feb 2026

Join an international, interdisciplinary research consortium & investigate forest management & biodiversity!
www.idiv.de/career/job-o...

Earth's largest land animals are limited by salt.

Sodium availability constrains the density and distribution of elephants, giraffes and rhinos across Africa, and offers a new explanation for the so-called 'missing megaherbivores'.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Free access: rdcu.be/eTPY2

Rooting for function: community‐level fine‐root traits relate to many ecosystem functions Humans are driving biodiversity change, which also alters community functional traits. However, how changes in the functional traits of the community alter ecosystem functions—especially belowground...

Super excited to see that the last chapter of my PhD on root trait - ecosystem functioning relationships is now published in @newphyt.bsky.social!
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

Evolutionary age correlates with range size across plants and animals - Nature Communications Why are some species widespread while others are found only in small, isolated areas? This study shows that species with narrow ranges, and thus higher extinction risk, are often island-restricted, poor dispersers, and have evolved relatively recently.

Why are some species widespread while others are found only in small, isolated areas? A study in Nature Communications shows that species with narrow ranges, and thus higher extinction risk, are often island-restricted, poor dispersers, and have evolved relatively recently. #evosky 🧪

@guypeer.bsky.social it's also becoming more common in the Netherlands

Older species tend to have large ranges – unless they live on islands New Nature Communication publications sheds light on how ecological, evolutionary, and geographical processes can simultaneously shape species’ vulnerability to extinction.

A new @natcomms.nature.com study led by iDiv alumna @adrianaalzate.bsky.social @naturalis.bsky.social uncovered that across >26,000 species evolutionary age is positively linked to range size, except in marine mammals.

#Biodiversity #Evolution #iDivResearch
www.idiv.de/older-specie...

Mooi overzicht! Ik ben er doorheen gescrold, en veel van de trends klinken herkenbaar. Ik dacht soms wel: over de oorzaken (of mogelijke oplossingen) van de trends wordt weinig gezegd. Ongetwijfeld zullen jullie er wel over nagedacht hebben. Wordt vervolgd?

Effect of climate on traits of dominant and rare tree species in the world’s forests Nature Communications - Species’ traits and environmental conditions determine the abundance of tree species across the globe. Here, the authors find that dominant tree species are taller and...

Publication out on the effect of climate on traits of dominant and rare tree species in the world’s forests in natcomms.nature.com‬rdcu.be/enby2

PhD position - Resilience of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning across landscapes

Two PhD positions available at Wageningen University on resilience of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning across landscapes. Supervision will be by my great colleagues @iris-hordijk.bsky.social @amandataylor.bsky.social @dominic-martin.bsky.social @lucianachr.bsky.social and Merel Hofmeijer.

In an impulse, I deleted my X account a few months ago. I haven't missed it since.

'novelty' almost sounds modest compared to one of the things I have to highlight in a Dutch science foundation proposal, where they ask applicants to explain the 'groundbreaking character'. And this is for a standard (not extraordinarily prestigious) proposal.

Interested in discussing issues on Global Ecology, or share your work on it? For those who still want to join the Global Ecology Starter Pack Vol. 2, there is still space!

bsky.app/starter-pack...

For joining, DM @global-ecology.bsky.social to join.

Looking for a fully funded PhD position to work on plant, bird and insect biodiversity restoration in Dutch agricultural grasslands? Then consider applying for this position! (or share with anyone interested).
www.rug.nl/about-ug/wor...

I would be happy to join!

CurveBend Vacancies CurveBend project: Upcoming vacancies for 8 PhD students and 2 postdocs We are looking for people who are excited to investigate how to restore biodiversity and promote a nature-positive society throu...

Join the CurveBend Project! We're hiring 8 PhDs and 2 Postdocs to promote biodiversity restoration and a nature-positive future through collective action at the landscape scale in the Netherlands, Argentina, Kenya and Tanzania. shorturl.at/nOdhb #JobAlert #PhDpositions #PostdocJobs #Biodiversity

Grote zorgen wetenschapsorganisaties over OCW-begroting | NWO De Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen (KNAW), de Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO), de Nederlandse Federatie van Universitair Medische Centra (NFU) en Unive...

Nederland kennisland?

"Europees is afgesproken dat landen 3% van hun BBP investeren in onderzoek en innovatie. Nederland staat op 2,3% en gaat met deze bezuinigingen verder dalen."
www.nwo.nl/nieuws/grote...

Could I also be added to the second volume package? Thanks!

Nice paper though! This wasn't meant as critique, but mostly as discussion on some ways forward :)

conserved than, say, flower 'shape' (beyond measures like weight, length or width), or concentrations of specific secondary metabolites. Of course, measuring those traits is extremely difficult, especially in a standardized way among species, so I like many, tend to measure the 'easy' traits as well

That's true! Although I also wonder: to which extent does this depend on the traits we usually measure? Most of us tend to measure 'simple' morphological traits (e.g. plant height, SLA), or concentrations of chemical elements (e.g. leaf N content). These traits may be less phylogenetically... [1/2]

No problem!

Hi Markus, great initiative! Could I be added to this starter pack?

Hi Ignasi, great initiative! Would it be possible if I could added to this group?

Hi Nicolas, I don't know how else to ask (new on blsk), but is there still space for me to be added to the meta-community group?

Happy to see there are still people left in "Team base R". I always insist that the best figures can be made in base R, because you start with a clean sheet. But alas... too many scientists have gone to the dark side of ggplot ;)

Two more days to go:
We will soon publish the Open Letter so please sign and repost.
1587 people already signed, some countries remain behind:
1: Latvia Lithuania Cyprus Malta
3: Bulgaria
5: Estonia Ireland Slovenia
7: Slovakia
8: Croatia Poland
10: Romania
docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Last chance to apply for this PhD with @estelle-ravel.bsky.social, @iris-hordijk.bsky.social and me at @w-u-r.bsky.social!

Application deadline is next Tuesday 3rd of December.

Hi Brian, I would be happy if I could join!