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Cover Picture and Issue Information
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
methods in ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.425
H-Index - 105
ISSN - 2041-210X
DOI - 10.1111/2041-210x.12885
Subject(s) - cover (algebra) , nest (protein structural motif) , ecology , trap (plumbing) , set (abstract data type) , nesting (process) , computer science , nest box , data science , biology , geography , predation , mechanical engineering , engineering , biochemistry , materials science , meteorology , metallurgy , programming language
This month’s cover image shows a female leaf‐cutter bee ( Megachile sp. ) peeking from her nest in a trap nest set up by researchers in southeast China. Such cavity nesting bees and wasps can readily be attracted and studied with artificial trap nests that not only collect species but also allow detailed insight into a species’ life history. Staab et al. synthesize the trap nest literature and establish a conceptual and methodological standard reference for this sampling method. Trap nests simultaneously reveal a multitude of trophic interactions and are promising system to disentangle how species interaction networks are influenced by environmental changes. To foster the use of trap nests in future studies, the authors identify common challenges and offer guidance on practical solutions. Photo credit: © Michael Staab