The top models – species richness and abundances – were both positively related to productivity, but the magnitude of their effects differed. In colder, temperate locations, richness and abundances had identical effects. In the warm tropics, abundances had much stronger effects than richness.

We found that different measures of biodiversity have different effects on productivity 🫢! Otherwise known as the BEF, we found that measures emphasising common species had a negative effect on productivity, while measures emphasising rarity had positive effects.

Species richness is a popular choice when representing diversity, but there are other axes that also contribute to the functioning of ecosystems. We used common measures of diversity – like evenness, richness, and abundances – to compare their effects on a critical function: biomass production.

🚨New PhD paper out today in @natcomms.nature.com with @renatoamorais.bsky.social and Dave Bellwood! 🚨

Marine fishes exhibit extraordinary patterns of diversity, but how does this diversity relate to their productivity? 🐟🐠🐡

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🔗 nature.com/articles/s41...

2025 marks the year where I've leveled up from "perpetual student" to "tax-paying member of society" 🎉

Curious about what I've been working on for the last 3+ years? Tune into my PhD Pre-Completion seminar on Tuesday 15 Oct. at 10am AEST! 🐠🐟🦈
DM for Zoom link 🔗

So incredibly proud of @redlipblenny.bsky.social and the whole Salty Science team for this HUGE accomplishment - it’s not too late to donate for ocean science at saltyscience.org 🌊

Had a blast presenting at #IPFC2023 #ASFB2023 and connecting with other fishy friends! 🐠

📸 Tiffany Sih

What a community!

I'm Helen, I'm a PhD student from the Reef Function Hub at James Cook University based in Townsville, Australia. I study the productivity of marine fishes across various scales in an era of global change 🐠🐟