PeerJ – Ecology section

8 September 2016

Spatial heterogeneity of physicochemical properties explains differences in microbial composition in arid soils from Cuatro Cienegas, Mexico

Silvia Pajares, Ana E. Escalante, Ana M. Noguez, Felipe García-Oliva, Celeste Martínez-Piedragil, Silke S. Cram, Luis Enrique Eguiarte, Valeria Souza

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Budiman Minasny –– microbial diversity

8 September 2016

Patchiness of forest landscape can predict species distribution better than abundance: the case of a forest-dwelling passerine, the short-toed treecreeper, in central Italy

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Luis Eguiarte –– This paper is an interesting and relevant contribution to the understanding of the process that determine the distribution and abundance of a species in relationship to environmental variables and patchiness. Also it is important because the comparison among different modelling methods, and for the potential of the ideas and methods in conservation biology and in understanding the role of fragmentation. The different methodologies and approaches should be useful in similar studies in other species.

1 September 2016

Stable isotope analysis (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) of soil nematodes from four feeding groups

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Budiman Minasny –– A good one

31 August 2016

Continent-wide survey reveals massive decline in African savannah elephants

Editor rating: 8 / 10

David Roberts –– The Convention of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species will be discussion elephants and therefore this will be extremely important

31 August 2016

Aquatic insects dealing with dehydration: do desiccation resistance traits differ in species with contrasting habitat preferences?

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Marta Sánchez –– This study provide new data on desiccation resistance in aquatic beetles, which is important to understand their presence and distribution in aquatic environments; these data can be relevant in the context of climate change due to the expected drought intensification, particularly important in semi-arid regions

23 August 2016

You can hide but you can’t run: apparent competition, predator responses and the decline of Arctic ground squirrels in boreal forests of the southwest Yukon

Editor rating: 9 / 10

Leon Higley –– It offers data on predator-prey relationships that is clear and convincing.

16 August 2016

Experimental exposure to urban and pink noise affects brain development and song learning in zebra finches (Taenopygia guttata)

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Jennifer Vonk –– The authors are attempting to identify mechanisms by which songbirds may alter their songs as a function of urban environments. The results speak to plasticity and impact of the human environment on indigenous species.

19 July 2016

Advances in global sensitivity analyses of demographic-based species distribution models to address uncertainties in dynamic landscapes

Editor rating: 9 / 10

Curtis Daehler –– The authors have produced a software package that will allow users to make comprehensive analyses of coupled demographic-GIS (SDM) population viability models. These analyses will help in the development of effective management plans for rare and endangered species.

19 July 2016

Constant and seasonal drivers of bird communities in a wind farm: implications for conservation

Editor rating: 7 / 10

Patricia Gandini –– The paper will contribute to a better environmental planning in the installation of wind farms

12 July 2016

Hierarchical organization of a Sardinian sand dune plant community

Editor rating: 7 / 10

G Matt Davies –– A rare experimental validation of ecological theory and frequently offered explanations for the spatial structuring of sand-dune ecosystems. This paper goes further than the normal descriptive approach and uses manipulations to discern important interactions and processes

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