Student and Researcher at Biology Center, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Czech Republic
Heveakore Maraia is a researcher based at the Department of Zoology, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic, and the Institute of Entomology at the Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences. Her research focuses on plant functional traits, community ecology, plant systematics, and behavioral ecology. She has contributed significantly to the study of herbivore communities and plant-herbivore interactions. Maraia’s recent work includes exploring niche partitioning in plant species and their vertical stratification, primarily in tropical forests. Her published works are part of several prominent ecological journals, and her ongoing projects examine the future of Southeast Asian microclimates and plant-herbivore dynamics across mountain ranges.
Professional Profile
Education
Heveakore Maraia completed her MSc in 2017 at Papua New Guinea University of Technology. Her thesis focused on investigating aspects of niche partitioning in Ixora species (Rubiaceae) and their spatial and genetic diversity in Papua New Guinea. She went on to pursue doctoral studies, contributing to the understanding of leaf traits and their effects on herbivore communities along vertical gradients, with implications for community ecology and the evolution of plant defense mechanisms in tropical environments.
Professional Experience
Maraia’s professional experience includes her role at the University of South Bohemia and the Institute of Entomology in Czechia, where she works on plant traits and their ecological interactions. Her fieldwork has taken her to Papua New Guinea and other tropical regions, studying ecological processes in diverse environments. She also participates in several research collaborations with international researchers and institutions, contributing to publications on plant systematics and herbivore community dynamics.
Research Interests
Maraia’s research interests lie at the intersection of plant functional traits and ecology, with a particular focus on community ecology and behavioral ecology. She explores how plant traits affect herbivore communities and how these interactions vary across environmental gradients. Her work on the vertical stratification of herbivores and their defense mechanisms against predators in tropical forests is of great interest to the ecological community. She is also keenly interested in plant systematics and the evolutionary relationships within plant species in diverse ecosystems like those in Papua New Guinea.
Research Skills
Maraia is skilled in field ecology, especially in conducting ecological surveys and experiments in tropical environments. Her expertise includes the study of plant-herbivore interactions, niche partitioning, and the use of various ecological modeling tools. She is proficient in analyzing plant traits, conducting genetic diversity studies, and using statistical tools for ecological data analysis. Additionally, Maraia has significant experience in publishing research and contributing to collaborative international research projects.
Awards and Honors
While specific awards are not detailed, Maraia’s research on plant-herbivore interactions and ecological processes in tropical environments has garnered attention in the scientific community. Her contributions are recognized through her ongoing publications in journals like Oecologia and Environmental Research Letters, as well as through collaborative projects and research partnerships across international institutions
Conclusion
Heveakore Maraia is a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to his outstanding contributions to the field of tropical ecology and his dedication to biodiversity conservation. His extensive research, publications, and community engagement efforts make him a valuable asset to the global scientific community. With a few improvements in expanding his network and public outreach, he could further enhance the impact of his research. Overall, his passion, leadership, and commitment to environmental sustainability position him as a leading researcher in his field.
Publication Top Notes
- Patterns of tropical forest understory temperatures
Authors: A Ismaeel, APK Tai, EG Santos, H Maraia, I Aalto, J Altman, J Doležal, …
Journal: Nature Communications
Year: 2024
- Engaging communities and government in biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation in Papua New Guinea
Authors: B Jacobs, K McKenna, L Boronyak, F Dem, S Sui, K Pomoh, M Jimbudo, …
Book: Managing Climate Change Adaptation in the Pacific Region
Year: 2020
- Insectivorous birds and bats outperform ants in the top‐down regulation of arthropods across strata of a Japanese temperate forest
Authors: E Sivault, J Kollross, LR Jorge, S Finnie, D Diez‐Méndez, …
Journal: Journal of Animal Ecology
Year: 2024
- Impact of Predators on Arthropod Herbivores and Herbivory along Mountain Ranges on Islands Versus Mainland
Authors: K Sam, A Mrazova, M Houska Tahadlova, J Kollross, H Maraia
Book: Ecology and Evolution of Plant-Herbivore Interactions on Islands
Year: 2024
- Substantial Insect Herbivory in a South African Savanna‐Forest Mosaic: A Neglected Topic
Authors: H Maraia, T Charles‐Dominique, KW Tomlinson, AC Staver, LR Jorge, …
Journal: Ecology and Evolution
Year: 2024
Citations: Not available (as it’s a recent publication).
- Field Work in Papua New Guinea Documents Seven New Records of a Hemiepiphytic Habit in Ferns
Authors: M Sundue, H Maraia
Journal: Plants
Year: 2024
- The future of microclimate in Southeast Asia
Authors: EG Santos, H Maraia, J Altman, J Doležal, K Sam, M Kopecky, M Svatek, …
Journal: Environmental Research Letters
Year: 2024
- An update on the distribution and morphology of Ixora amplexifolia (Ixoroideae, Rubiaceae) in Papua New Guinea
Authors: H Maraia, L Orsak, O Gideon, T Okpul
Journal: Phytotaxa
Year: 2019
- Community responses to the effects of climate change in PNG
Authors: K McKenna, B Jacobs, S Sui, L Boronyak, F Dem, K Pomoh, M Jimbudo, …
Blog: Devpolicy Blog
Year: 2019
- Investigating aspects of niche partitioning in Ixora L. (Rubiaceae), its spatial and morphological diversity in Papua New Guinea
Author: H Maraia
Institution: University of Technology
Year: 2017