The 2025 Advanced Field Course in Ecology and Conservation - Xishuangbanna (AFEC-X 2025) , the 17th of its kind, came to a successful end on December 10, with participants presenting their 8 interesting research projects to a panel of judges.
From October 27 to December 10, the 27 outstanding early-career researchers from 19 institutions in 12 countries successfully completed all the courses in Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG).
During the intensive training, participants engaged in systematic learning of cutting-edge theories and research methodologies in ecology and conservation biology. Field studies were conducted at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Rainforest Ecosystem Research Station (Bubeng Station), involving activities such as herbivory rate surveys and the establishment of forest permanent plots.
The final two weeks were dedicated to independent research projects. The students were divided into 8 groups to carry out research projects. They presented their projects as following:
1. Do flower traits influence predator attraction?—A tri-trophic experiment using artificial prey
2. Feeding preferences of domestic goats: the interaction between plant traits and social information
3. Do shaking leaves get eaten less?
4. Thermal adaptation strategies among plant species differing in leaf color and metabolic type
5. A new indicator of species richness and community composition for passive acoustic monitoring using deep learning
6. How do educational guides' characteristics shape visitors’ environmental learning outcomes in XTBG?
7.Vertical stratification and frugivore assemblages associated with fruiting branches of Ficus racemosa
8. Drivers of ant community assembly in the transformation from rainforests to rubber plantations.
This year, the best research award went to the project titled “Drivers of ant community assembly in the transformation from rainforests to rubber plantations”. This project was conducted by three participants from the University of Hong Kong and Kasetsart University (Thailand) under the guidance of Dr. Akihiro Nakamura.
Prof.Xing Yaowu, director of XTBG, commended the participants for their exploratory spirit and academic potential, congratulated them on their successful completion of the course, and encouraged them to view this training as a new starting point in their careers while maintaining long-term connections with XTBG.
Prof. Chen Jin, head teacher of the training course, praised the participants' performance. He emphasized that the course was not only a significant academic experience but also a platform for building profound transnational and interdisciplinary friendships, urging continued exchange and collaboration among all involved.
The AFEC-X program is a key platform for international academic exchange and talent cultivation at XTBG, as well as a flagship project of CAS for enhancing regional scientific research capacity and nurturing future leaders in ecology and conservation. Since its inception in 2009, AFEC-X has trained over 470 young scientists and professionals from 33 countries and regions, fostering a continuously growing and collaborative regional network.
Best project winners.
Participants pose a group photo.
Filed studies at Bubeng.
