PeerJ – Ecology section

17 May 2016

Optimization of viral resuspension methods for carbon-rich soils along a permafrost thaw gradient

Gareth Trubl, Natalie Solonenko, Lauren Chittick, Sergei A. Solonenko, Virginia I. Rich, Matthew B. Sullivan

Editor rating: 8 / 10

Budiman Minasny –– Permafrost soil is important

10 May 2016

Largest global shark biomass found in the northern Galápagos Islands of Darwin and Wolf

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Mónica Medina –– Sharks are important ocean predators that are under major threat in unprotected areas but this study shows that even in protected areas, shark populations are in danger. The authors recommend more stringent measures to protect sharks from overfishing in the Galapagos Islands.

4 May 2016

Leopard (Panthera pardus) status, distribution, and the research efforts across its range

Editor rating: 8 / 10

David Roberts –– Review of a major charismatic species

3 May 2016

The interplay between habitat structure and chemical contaminants on biotic responses of benthic organisms

Editor rating: 8 / 10

James Reimer –– A novel approach examining habitat complexity and marine diversity, and what happens when contaminants are introduced into the system. The results show the effects of habitat complexity disappear when contaminants are introduced - a major take-away point to help us understand what happens in marine ecosystems under pollution pressure.

25 April 2016

Understanding form and function of the stem in early flattened echinoderms (pleurocystitids) using a microstructural approach

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Kenneth De Baets –– The authors present an interesting new approach to assess the skeletal function and mode of life of extinct echinoderms by using the relationship between stereom structure and the presence of ligament and/or muscles. This is not only relevant for researchers working on the particular group of echinoderms they investigated, but also for all other people working on other echinoderms and other extinct organisms.

25 April 2016

Insights into the morphology of symbiotic shrimp eyes (Crustacea, Decapoda, Palaemonidae); the effects of habitat demands

Editor rating: 7 / 10

James Reimer –– Combined analyses with symbiont-host information in the marine realm are still relatively rare; and this study is generally very well done.

21 April 2016

Growth and physiological responses of submerged plant Vallisneria natans to water column ammonia nitrogen and sediment copper

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Vijai Kumar Gupta –– Excellent Article.

21 April 2016

Plastome data reveal multiple geographic origins of Quercus Group Ilex

Editor rating: 7 / 10

James Reimer –– The oak genus Quercus is well studied, yet has always presented questions with regard to its confusing and confounding evolutionary history based on analyses of different phylogenetic data sets. The current study uses wide-scale sampling and analyses to show how polyphyletic plastome origins and potential unidirectional introgression may have shaped the evolutionary history of this commercially important group.

12 April 2016

A crab swarm at an ecological hotspot: patchiness and population density from AUV observations at a coastal, tropical seamount

Editor rating: 8 / 10

Alex Ford –– This paper details a really interesting aggregation and swarm of crabs occurring in the deep sea.

11 April 2016

Differences in stability of seed-associated microbial assemblages in response to invasion by phytopathogenic microorganisms

Editor rating: 8 / 10

Blanca Landa –– It provides example of use of traditional and novel technique sto address important biologcal questions that can be extrapolated to many other crops