Presentation 1: Soil food webs control ecosystem processes and response to drought. Presentation 2: Sexual conundrums: should animals be lovers or fighters?
| Dates: | 10 April 2015 |
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| Times: | 15:00 - 16:00 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | Faculty of Life Sciences |
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| Who is it for: | University staff, Current University students |
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| Speaker: | Dr John Fitzpatrick , Dr Franciska De Vries |
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The next seminar in the ‘Celebrating Research Success in FLS’ series will be given by two members of the Environment & Ecology (EE) Research Theme: Dr Franciska De Vries and Dr John Fitzpatrick.
Franciska’s presentation will be entitled ‘Soil food webs control ecosystem processes and response to drought’. Abstract: The organisms in the soil form an intricate web in which they eat and are eaten, thus controlling rates of carbon and nitrogen cycling – processes that underpin the delivery of soil-based ecosystem services such as crop growth and carbon storage. Here, we show that relationships between soil organisms and ecosystem processes not only exist in small-scale experiments, but also in the field across land use systems in Europe. In addition, we show that land use affects the response of soil food webs to drought, with knock-on effects for the processes of carbon and nitrogen cycling they control.
John’s presentation will be entitled ‘Sexual conundrums: should animals be lovers or fighters?’ Abstract: Sex is a critical component of life for most animals. Yet how animals invest in sexual traits is incredibly varied. For males, investing in weaponry (e.g. horns) or ornaments (e.g. bright colours) to fight with rivals or attract mates can help secure sex. However, simply engaging in sex is not enough to secure fertilisations. Competition for fertilisation can continue after mating as females typically mate with multiple males. Consequently, males must also invest in producing competitive ejaculates. John will describe how animals balance the trade-off between investment in male sexual traits that gain them access to females against investment in ejaculate traits that ensure their sperm are able to outcompete sperm from rival males.
The seminar is scheduled to take place just prior to FLS Happy Hour to allow discussions and networking to continue after the actual presentation.
Speakers
Dr John Fitzpatrick
Organisation: Faculty of Life Sciences
Dr Franciska De Vries
Organisation: Faculty of Life Sciences
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
Michael Smith Lecture Theatre
Michael Smith Building
Manchester
