News

A Dirzo Podcast on mass biological loss is now uploaded onto YouTube & audio platforms

Please find the links below: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHF47NJDW7M&ab_channel=UtopiaIsNow Audio Platforms: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/utopia-is-now

New paper: Restoration of plant-animal interactions in terrestrial ecosystems

JUST OUT! Dirzo Lab PhD student Luísa Genes and Rodolfo just published a new study in Biological Conservation. After  reviewing papers that assessed plant-animal interactions in restoration and trophic rewilding, and conducting a meta-analysis, they have found that seed dispersal and pollination are recovered to a better state in restored than in degraded situations. However, antagonistic interactions showed more… Read more New paper: Restoration of plant-animal interactions in terrestrial ecosystems

New paper: Trophic rewilding benefits a tropical community through direct and indirect network effects

Just out! Dirzo Lab PhD student Luísa Genes just co-authored a new paper in Ecography, in collaboration with colleagues at the Refauna project. Amongst many interesting results, they found that frugivore reintroductions affect the local seed dispersal network through direct and indirect pathways, and that multiple reintroductions in the same area may have a greater restoration… Read more

New paper: Phenotypic plasticity in plant defense across life stages: Inducibility, transgenerational induction, and transgenerational priming in wild radish

Read the new paper just out in PNAS by former Dirzo Lab postdoc Mar Sobral, Rodolfo and former undergraduate student Isabelle Neylan. They found that wild radishes fend off caterpillars using “on-demand” anti-predator gene expression and these protections can extend to the next generation. Read the press release here.   https://news.stanford.edu/2021/09/01/anti-predator-gene-expression-wild-radishes/?utm_source=Stanford+Today&utm_campaign=38f8d95bca-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2d468fe1d1-38f8d95bca-54910530

Janzen-Connell at 50: Where are we? - An ATBC Panel Discussion

During 2021 ATBC Annual Meeting, Rodolfo co-led with Prof. Liza Comita a panel to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Janzen-Connell hypothesis, which continues to be crucial to explain tropical forest diversity. The video of this fruitful, exciting and heartwarming Panel is now available at www.atbc2021.org/plenary-janzen-connell-hypothesis Janzen-Connell at 50: Where are we?  – An ATBC Panel… Read more Janzen-Connell at 50: Where are we? - An ATBC Panel Discussion

Exciting news and awards

Dirzo Lab members had many exciting accomplishments over Spring 2021!   Tyler McFadden successfully defended his PhD on June 7th and got a postdoc position in Stanford Jessica Martin successfully defended his PhD on June 1th and got a postdoc position in New Mexico State University Tyler McFadden got the Norman K. Wessells Award for Outstanding course/teaching… Read more

NOT all species are equal before global warming

Our new study indicates that plant diversity initially increases with glacier retreat, but ultimately decreases once glaciers disappear. In other words, glacier retreat favors certain plants, but many species (22% of those analysed) may locally disappear or even go extinct once glaciers are gone. Interesting enough, plant facilitation prevails among pioneer species, whereas competition is more… Read more NOT all species are equal before global warming

Expert prognosis for the planet – we’re on track for a ghastly future

An international group of 17 leading scientists have produced a comprehensive yet concise assessment of the state of civilization, warning that the outlook is more dire and dangerous than is generally understood. A loss of biodiversity and accelerating climate change in the coming decades coupled with ignorance and inaction is threatening the survival of all… Read more Expert prognosis for the planet – we’re on track for a ghastly future

Integrating Facilitation and Mutualistic Networks

Watch the recording of Gianalberto Losapio’s fascinating talk at the Species Interactions Workshop 2020, and stay tuned for more Dirzo Lab videos being uploaded soon!

In contrast to the sexy idea that #defaunation leads to a condition of 'empty forests,' we have documented that some species are impacted, while others become winners & proliferate," explains Rodolfo Dirzo

Just out of the oven! a new study lead by former lab member Rita de C.Q. Portela (professor at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro’s) adn Rodolfo Dirzo, finds human-caused destruction of animal habitats, or defaunation, in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest landscape led to predation release, an outburst of monkeys & the collapse of some… Read more In contrast to the sexy idea that #defaunation leads to a condition of 'empty forests,' we have documented that some species are impacted, while others become winners & proliferate," explains Rodolfo Dirzo