Perspectives from early career researchers on the publication process in ecology – a response to Statzner & Resh (2010)

1. Two senior ecologists summarised their experience of the scientific publication process ( Statzner & Resh, Freshwater Biology, 2010 ; 55 , 2639) to generate discussion, particularly among early career researchers (ECRs). As a group of eight ECRs, we comment on the six trends they described. 2. We generally agree with most of the trends identified by Statzner & Resh (2010) , but also highlight a number of divergent perspectives and provide recommendations for change. Trends of particular concern are the use of inappropriate metrics to evaluate research quality (e.g. impact factor) and the salami slicing of papers to increase paper count. We advocate a transparent and comprehensive system for evaluating the research. 3. We stress the importance of impartiality and independence in the peer review process. We therefore suggest implementation of double‐blind review and quality control measures for reviewers and possibly editors. Besides such structural changes, editors should be confident to overrule biased reviewer recommendations, while reviewers should provide helpful reviews but be explicit if a submission does not meet quality standards. Authors should always conduct a thorough literature search and acknowledge historical scientific ideas and methods. Additionally, authors should report low‐quality copy editing and reviews to the editors. 4. Both early and late career researchers should jointly implement these recommendations to reverse the negative trends identified by Statzner & Resh (2010) . However, more senior scientists will always have to take the lead with respect to structural changes in the publication system given that they occupy the majority of decision‐making positions.     

Relative influence of fisheries and climate on the demography of four albatross species

Worldwide ecosystems are modified by human activities and climate change. To be able to predict future changes, it is necessary to understand their respective role on population dynamics. Among the most threatened species are top predators because of their position in the food web. Albatross populations are potentially affected by both human activities, especially longline fisheries, and climatic fluctuations. Based on long‐term data (1985–2006), we conducted through a comparative approach a demographic analysis (adult survival and breeding success) on four albatross species breeding on the Indian Ocean sub‐Antarctic Islands to assess the relative impact of climate and fisheries during and outside the breeding season. The study revealed that adult survival of almost all species was not affected by climate, and therefore probably canalized against climatic variations, but was negatively affected by tuna longlining effort in three species. Breeding success was affected by climate, with contrasted effects between species, with Southern Oscillation Index having an impact on all species but one. Differences in demographic responses depended on the foraging zone and season. In order to predict population trajectories of seabirds such as albatrosses, our results show the importance of assessing the relative influence of fishing and climate impacts on demography.     

Molecular analysis of Gigaspora (Glomales, Gigasporaceae)

This work presents a cooperative effort to integrate new molecular (isozyme and SSU analyses) characters into the morphological taxonomy of the genus Gigaspora (Glomales). Previous analyses of published Gigaspora SSU sequences indicated the presence of a few polymorphic nucleotides in the region delimited by primers NS71-SSU 1492'. In our study, the SSU of 24 isolates of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi from the Gigasporaceae were amplified and the NS71-SSU 1492' region was directly sequenced. The corresponding sequences of four more isolates of AM fungi from Gigasporaceae, already published, were also included in our analyses. Three Gigaspora groups were identified on the basis of a 6 nucleotide-long 'molecular signature': Gigaspora rosea group ( G. rosea + G. albida ), Gigaspora margarita group ( G. margarita + G. decipiens ) and Gigaspora gigantea , which constituted a group by itself. The isozyme profiles (malate dehydrogenase, MDH) of 12 of these 28 isolates, and seven other isolates not sequenced, were compared. The results obtained further supported the grouping of isolates provided by the SSU analysis. Both SSU and MDH analysis indicated that two out of the 35 isolates had been misidentified, which was confirmed when their morphology was reassessed. The use of the Gigaspora intrageneric molecular signature as a quick, unambiguous and objective method to recognize Gigaspora isolates under any (field or laboratory) experimental conditions is suggested.     

The outcome of the invasion of Florida lakes by Daphnia lumholtzi

1. We examined 7–12 years of monthly to quarterly historical data from 15 lakes in FL, U.S.A. to determine the extent and outcome of invasion by the alien cladoceran Daphnia lumholtzi Sars. 2. The alien species was found in 10 of the 15 lakes, including Florida’s three largest lakes: Okeechobee, George and Apopka. All the surveyed lakes had resident populations of the smaller native species Daphnia ambigua Scourfield. 3. In most of the lakes, D. ambigua occurred seven to ninefold more often in plankton samples than D. lumholtzi, and at 10‐ to 100‐fold higher maximal densities. One exception was a small lake in central Florida (Lake Jesup), where D. lumholtzi attained high densities on several occasions in the 10 years of sampling. 4. In Lake Okeechobee, where data were of sufficient quality and quantity to perform statistical analyses, the results of canonical correlation analysis indicated that high densities of D. lumholtzi were correlated with lower concentrations of suspended solids, high algal biomass and higher temperature, whereas the opposite conditions were correlated with high densities of D. ambigua. 5. Based on the majority of data, D. lumholtzi has successfully invaded many lakes in Florida, yet it has not become a substantive component of the zooplankton. Additional research is needed to determine whether resources, fish predation or some other factor is responsible for this outcome of invasion.     

Extensive expression regulation and lack of heterologous enzymatic activity of the Class II trehalose metabolism proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana

Trehalose metabolism has profound effects on plant growth and metabolism, but the mechanisms involved are unclear. In Arabidopsis , 21 putative trehalose biosynthesis genes are classified in three subfamilies based on their similarity with yeast TPS1 (encoding a trehalose-6-phosphate synthase, TPS) or TPS2 (encoding a trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase, TPP). Although TPS1 (Class I) and TPPA and TPPB (Class III) proteins have established TPS and TPP activity, respectively, the function of the Class II proteins (AtTPS5-AtTPS11) remains elusive. A complete set of promoter- β -glucurinidase/green fluorescent protein reporters demonstrates their remarkably differential tissue-specific expression and responsiveness to carbon availability and hormones. Heterologous expression in yeast furthermore suggests that none of the encoded enzymes displays significant TPS or TPP activity, consistent with a regulatory rather than metabolic function for this remarkable class of proteins.     

Intra- and interspecific morphological variation in the field mouse species Apodemus argenteus and A. speciosus in the Japanese archipelago: the role of insular isolation and biogeographic gradients

Two species of field mice, Apodemus argenteus and A. speciosus, occur in sympatry across the Japanese archipelago. The inter- and intraspecific patterns of morphological differentiation have been evaluated, using a Fourier analysis of the mandible outline. The relative importance of the effect of insular isolation and latitudinal climatic gradient on the size and shape of the two species was assessed by a comparison of the populations from the large island of Honshu and the surrounding small-island populations. The size variation in A. argenteus is correlated with the climatic gradient whilst the shape variation corresponds mainly to a random differentiation of the small-island populations from a Honshu-like basic morphological pattern. A. speciosus displays increased size on small islands, and its shape variation is related to both the climatic gradient and insularity. Finally, the two species are differentiated by both the size and shape of the mandible across the Japanese archipelago, suggesting that interspecific competition between both species is reduced via niche partitioning. Our results emphasize the importance of insular isolation on shape differentiation, but a part of the morphological differentiation is also related to the latitudinal climatic gradient. Isolation on small islands could have favoured such a response to environmental factors by lowering the gene flow that prevents almost any significant differentiation within Honshu populations.