PeerJ – Ecology section

13 December 2016

The effect of changing topography on the coordinated marching of locust nymphs

Guy Amichay, Gil Ariel, Amir Ayali

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Lesley Rogers –– Spacing in animals during migration is an interesting topic, not yet particularly well investigated. Understanding it is important in locust swarming, given that the species is an invasive pest. The findings also have relevance to moving groups of other species.

7 December 2016

Meta-analysis reveals that seed-applied neonicotinoids and pyrethroids have similar negative effects on abundance of arthropod natural enemies

Editor rating: 8 / 10

Leon Higley –– Given their broad ecological impacts, this work significantly adds to growing evidence of risks associated with the use of neonicotinoid insecticides.

9 November 2016

The potential for self-seeding by the coral Pocillopora spp. in Moorea, French Polynesia

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Mauricio Rodriguez-Lanetty –– The findings from this study are of considerable significance to understand the potential reproductive responsiveness of an ecological important coral species in the French Polynesian region.

3 November 2016

Host plant affects morphometric variation of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae)

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Leon Higley –– This manuscript contributes to our understanding of morphological variation in an important insect pest species

27 October 2016

Widespread dieback of riparian trees on a dammed ephemeral river and evidence of local mitigation by tributary flows

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Leon Higley –– It provides valuable information on the interaction of biotic factors in shaping watershed (specifically river flow) structure.

25 October 2016

A 12-year record of intertidal barnacle recruitment in Atlantic Canada (2005–2016): relationships with sea surface temperature and phytoplankton abundance

Editor rating: 8 / 10

Karen Osborn –– This article fills a data gap and makes a nice and believable correlation between phytoplankton abundance and barnacle recruitment.

20 October 2016

Predictions of potential geographical distribution and quality of Schisandra sphenanthera under climate change

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Chiyuan Miao –– The study supplies construction and advice for the protection and sustainable utilization of resources, and provides some measures and proposals for the prediction of the distribution and quality of medicinal plants under climate change conditions.

13 October 2016

Environmental and spatial drivers of taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic characteristics of bat communities in human-modified landscapes

Editor rating: 8 / 10

Karen Esler –– Using a novel variation partitioning approach, the authors assessed the relative importance of spatial and environmental drivers of taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic aspects of bat communities.

4 October 2016

A comprehensive investigation of mesophotic coral ecosystems in the Hawaiian Archipelago

Editor rating: 8 / 10

Xavier Pochon –– This review article presents a synopsis of more than two decades of mesophotic research in the Hawaiian Islands, and therefore is a very valuable document for all readers interested in mesophytic coral ecosystems.

29 September 2016

Reef-scale trends in Florida Acropora spp. abundance and the effects of population enhancement

Editor rating: 7 / 10

James Reimer –– Research examining population enhancement in endangered Acropora spp. in Florida - which may have relevance and meaning for coral reefs across the Caribbean.

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Ecology