Open Forum

Dear all,

I am forwarding a request from Paulina Arancibia (University of Jyväskylä, Finland, PredCom group), who is conducting a survey concerning the use of experiment in community ecology. See below her message and the link to access the survey.

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Hi (and especially hello to those working on communities ),

Experiments are a key tool for understanding the mechanisms underlying community dynamics. However, recent findings suggest that experimental approaches are declining compared to other research methods (https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.22.683879v1.abstract).

To better understand the reasons behind this trend, we are conducting a brief survey (less than 5 mins) of community ecologists at all career stages. The survey asks about your experience with experimental research, your methodological choices, and the factors influencing those choices. No personal data is collected. This project is a collaboration between some members of the PredCom research group and alumni from the Morin lab at Rutgers University (USA).

Your input will provide valuable insights into the current state and future directions of the experimental research in our field.

You can click on the link below to start the survey from your computer or mobile phone.

Please share this survey among your colleagues and students who might be interested.

Survey link: https://link.webropolsurveys.com/S/20226297916815AB

Thanks!

Paulina Arancibia, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Predictive Community Ecology Group
University of Jyväskylä, Finland
she/her/hers