@geraniol Sounds similar to what I know from biology and most other STEM. As I wrote, though, ecology can be different because you can get really good people and programs in fairly low-ranked universities, because of geography/biogeography (top ecologists often choose places like New Mexico or Arizona to work, because of the proximity to interesting ecosystems, so UNM and U of Arizona have had their share of world-renown ecologists, and, consequently, top-notch programs).