Welcome to the EcoDiv lab group!
The EcoDiv lab is a research group led by Andrew Barnes at the Environmental Research Institute (ERI), University of Waikato. Our research focuses on a range of aspects related to functional ecology and biodiversity.
Lab news
- Poppy and Grace identifying mesofaunaAfter the completion of her summer research placement, we are very pleased to have Poppy stay with us as a research assistant on the Ngā Rākau Taketake project with our postdoc Marijke. Alongside her studies,Continue reading Poppy and Grace identifying mesofauna
- Dr Marijke Struijk joins the EcoDiv LabWe are thrilled to welcome Dr Marijke Struijk as a Postdoctoral Fellow to the EcoDiv Lab! She is continuing our work on soil food web structure and functioning in kauri (Agathis australis) dominated forests. MarijkeContinue reading Dr Marijke Struijk joins the EcoDiv Lab
- Filming for teachingEach year we run field trips for third year undergraduates in terrestrial ecology. With the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic we thought it was a good idea to create videos of the methods studentsContinue reading Filming for teaching
- Hard work by our summer student PoppyFrom November 2021 to February 2022 we were joined by Poppy who did her summer research placement with us, studying soil food webs and ecosystem functioning in kauri forests. Being part of the programme NgāContinue reading Hard work by our summer student Poppy
- Bibishan’s virtual conference presentations in New Zealand and GermanyEnd of last year, amidst the silence of the pandemic, Bibishan presented preliminary results of his research at the annual New Zealand Ecological Society conference, held virtually this time in consideration of COVID-19 protocols. HeContinue reading Bibishan’s virtual conference presentations in New Zealand and Germany
- Publication from the Eco-indexEcoDiv Lab guest members, Dr Kiri Joy Wallace and Monique Hall, recently published an article for their research with the Biological Heritage Eco-index. The open-access article, “Voicing stakeholder visions for biodiversity indicators: A framework usingContinue reading Publication from the Eco-index
- Welcome to new Postdoc, Rebecca (Bex) Le Grice!This month we are excited to welcome our first postdoctoral researcher to the lab, Bex Le Grice, who will be leading research on soil food web structure and ecosystem functioning in kauri dominated forests. ThisContinue reading Welcome to new Postdoc, Rebecca (Bex) Le Grice!
- Plant diversity enhances Multitrophic control of herbivoryToday, our study led by Andrew Barnes was published in Science Advances. Using two years of data on arthropod food webs from the Jena Experiment and the Cedar Creek biodiversity experiment, the study demonstrates thatContinue reading Plant diversity enhances Multitrophic control of herbivory
- Seminar by Prof Jason TylianakisWe were lucky to have Prof Jason Tylianakis visit the EcoDiv lab this week, and to hear him deliver a fantastic seminar in the ERI seminar series! We learnt a lot about linking species interactionContinue reading Seminar by Prof Jason Tylianakis
- Shaun has submitted his Master’s dissertation!Congratulations to Shaun Morgan, who has completed and submitted his Master’s dissertation today! Shaun’s research is investigating the efficacy of invasive mammal control on reducing invasive predator populations and enhancing native bird communities in theContinue reading Shaun has submitted his Master’s dissertation!
- Bibishan Rai welcomed to EcoDiv labWe are excited to give Bibishan Rai a warm welcome to the EcoDiv lab! Bibishan has moved over from Germany where he completed his master’s research on plant-insect interactions. He is now joining us toContinue reading Bibishan Rai welcomed to EcoDiv lab
- Fevziye’s PhD confirmation successful!Today Fez successfully defended her PhD proposal with a fantastic presentation of her research plans for the next couple years. It’s going to be an exciting ride with lots of dung beetles, mesocosms, cow dung,Continue reading Fevziye’s PhD confirmation successful!
- Urban Restoration workshop – HamiltonOn May 24th, People, Cities and Nature and the Waikato Biodiversity Forum hosted one of their urban restoration workshops. Sarah presented her Masters research on urban forest restoration in four North Island cities. Eighty-eight peopleContinue reading Urban Restoration workshop – Hamilton
- Just published: predator traits determine food-web architecture across ecosystemsOur study, lead by Ulrich Brose (iDiv, Germany), has just been published in Nature Ecology & Evolution. We analyse predator-prey body size relationships in 290 food webs across the globe and develop predictions for stabilizingContinue reading Just published: predator traits determine food-web architecture across ecosystems
The EcoDiv Lab 