Articles tagged with Forest Ecosystems
Researchers discovered an ancient mangrove ecosystem in the Yucatan Peninsula, revealing how coastal mangroves adapted to a warmer world with higher sea levels. The study provides insights into past climate change impacts and its relevance to future scenarios of relative sea-level rise.
A European map has been created to show the insulating effect of forests, which cool the air by 2.1°C in summer and keep temperatures 2°C higher than ambient air in winter. This finding highlights the crucial role of forests in regulating temperature and provides shelter for wildlife.
Researchers at OSU have developed a straightforward approach to assessing ecosystem health, which can be applied globally.
A 10-year study in Panama's Barro Colorado Island found that liana density increased dramatically due to natural canopy disturbance, with most of the growth attributed to gaps in the canopy. The study suggests that environmental factors like climate change may also be contributing to this phenomenon, but to a lesser extent.
Research finds that human settlement led to increased fires and soil erosion, altering unique island ecosystems in Macaronesia. The study also shows that colonial-era settlers had a greater impact on vegetation than aboriginal settlers.
Ancient human societies adapted to tropical ecosystem dynamics, revealing their adaptability and resourcefulness. By studying these past interactions with the environment, scientists can better understand how to conserve tropical environments.
Research from the University of East Anglia found that communities living within Amazonian Sustainable-Use Protected Areas enjoy better access to essential services, including healthcare, education, and electricity. These areas also lead to improved livelihoods, with household wealth and life satisfaction increasing significantly.
Researchers found that high biodiversity enhances ecosystem functions by 20%, with environmental heterogeneity significantly boosting this positive impact. Species richness was more important for ecosystem functioning than species turnover in African ecosystems along Mount Kilimanjaro's elevational gradient.
A University of Queensland-led study found that nearly 85% of coastal areas leach sediment to coral reefs, a major threat. Reforestation can help by reducing sediment transport, increasing light levels for coral growth and reproduction. Land restoration is crucial for building coral resilience.
A new study quantifies the contribution of agricultural and forest fires to poor air quality in Southeast Asia, finding that preventing these fires could reduce premature deaths by an estimated 59,000 annually. The region's poorest communities are disproportionately exposed to air pollution from these fires.
Researchers found that trees are tapping into bedrock for water, a phenomenon previously thought to be rare. The study, led by Erica McCormick at UT Austin, suggests that bedrock is a significant source of water for trees, with rock moisture outdoing soil as a water source in many cases.
Researchers found that invasive shrubs absorb more sunlight and lower air temperatures on the forest floor, giving them a competitive advantage. This phenomenon may explain why invasive plants negatively impact bees, butterflies, and amphibians in forest understories.
The study reveals that climate change affects the rate of decomposition and insect contributions to deadwood, releasing approximately 10.9 giga-tons of carbon worldwide annually
A new study assesses the impact of environmental policies on Amazon biodiversity, finding that 40-73,400 square miles of rainforest have been affected by fires since 2001. The research highlights the need for strong antideforestation policies and recognition of Indigenous lands to protect the region's biodiversity.
Researchers found that many collectors are planting seeds in forests to conserve wild populations, but also using commercially acquired seeds from online purchases, threatening the plant's gene pool. The study aims to better understand ginseng forest farming and promote conservation efforts in Pennsylvania.
Researchers found that Indigenous Territories are as effective as Protected Areas in preserving forest's carbon stocks, with some areas showing up to 10% more carbon storage. The study suggests that securing land titles and formalizing forest co-governance can bring multiple benefits for both indigenous people and national governments.
A study found that fires in the Amazon's wettest areas destroy small and medium-sized trees, leading to a loss of biomass and carbon stocks. The destruction can last for decades, with saplings and bushes being among the first to die.
Decades of fire suppression have eliminated valuable wildlife habitat, but allowing lightning fires to burn has restored a resilient ecosystem with increased plant and pollinator biodiversity. This approach also limits the severity of wildfires and increases water availability during droughts.
Research by University of Washington and US Forest Service scientists reveals a dramatic shift in nighttime air's drying power over the Western US, increasing wildfire activity. This shift is not captured in climate models, with some areas experiencing water loss doubling up on warmer nights.
Paleobotanists describe two new genera of ancient conifers based on beautifully preserved fossil seed cones from the Upper Cretaceous of Hokkaido, Japan. The discovery sheds light on the diversity and decline of cunninghamioid conifers during the Cretaceous period.
A new study by researchers at the University of Waterloo found that Indigenous fire stewardship increases biodiversity and ecosystem heterogeneity across all major terrestrial biomes. Cultural burning reduces risks of interface fires and has important cultural practices for resource management, community protection, and cultural purposes.
A Japanese research team found that residents who engage in activities like camping and hiking experience increased happiness, while ownership has no effect. The study suggests better policies for enhancing forest relationships and measuring happiness based on the types of forest happiness.
Research from Utah State University finds that large trees in western forests benefit from mycorrhizal connections to fungi, which enhance nutrient uptake and provide defense against pathogens. Diverse forest networks offer greater protection for these giant trees.
A recent study found that mangrove invertebrates exhibit extremely low functional redundancy, with most species fulfilling only one functional entity, posing a significant threat to mangrove functionality and resilience.
Insect pests like the spruce budworm can increase mortality rates of threatened ungulates by altering forest understory composition. This study reveals a positive association between moose density and deciduous vegetation, which in turn supports higher wolf populations and caribou mortality.
The study reveals that nearly 20 percent of intact tropical forests overlap with mining and oil concessions, posing a significant threat to these ecosystems. The total area of overlap is approximately 376,449 square miles, about the size of Egypt.
Researchers at TUM used AI to simulate forest fires in Yellowstone National Park, finding that climate change scenarios predict a 28-59% loss of forest coverage by 2100. The study highlights the urgent need for climate protection measures and their impact on biodiversity and recreational value.
New research reveals that destroying tropical ecosystems leads to reduced soybean income by an average of US$100 per hectare per year due to increased extreme heat. Conservation of the Amazon and Cerrado biomes can prevent this damage, estimated to cost the sector US$3.55 billion annually.
Researchers found that mobile lidar scanning consistently provided accurate structural metrics and estimates of canopy cover and landscape metrics in various forest types and configurations. The technology has the potential to monitor a variety of forest attributes at a lower cost than other platforms.
Researchers found that altered streamside woodlands in arid regions stayed greener longer into the dry season and were less responsive to changes in groundwater levels. This threatens the long-term survival of natural forest communities and ecosystem functions.
A study reveals that California's stream ecosystems are being harmed by human-diverted water, creating an unintended dependence on artificial supplies. This threatens the long-term survival of natural communities and highlights the need for changes in water management.
Scientists from the University of Göttingen and the Gobabeb Namib Research Institute investigated the long-term results of an experiment from 1979. They found that poisonous substances from Euphorbia damarana leaves did not induce fairy circles, contradicting Theron's original hypothesis.
A Yale-led study reveals that early humans were ecosystem engineers, using fire to prevent forest regrowth and create open woodlands. This finding suggests that humans were learning to use fire in novel ways by the Late Pleistocene period.
A new analysis by researchers from around the world offers a deeper understanding of species interactions and their impact on ecosystem diversity. The study found that closely-related tree species interact weakly with each other, while distantly-related pairs can interact with surprising strength.
Researchers found evidence of sound-related genes in corals, which could enable them to use sound to interact with their environment. This discovery has significant implications for understanding coral communication and developing restoration and conservation projects to protect these critical ecosystems.
The current loss of tropical forest fauna impedes achieving SDGs, threatening food security, infectious disease outbreaks, and climate change mitigation. Defaunation also jeopardizes human well-being and cultural significance.
A new study by Simon Fraser University finds that ancient Indigenous-managed forests, or
A study found that land use legacies, such as agriculture and forestry, can have lasting impacts on ecosystems, with only limited effects from restoration efforts. The researchers discovered that soil compaction, a common issue caused by agricultural use, was difficult to mitigate through restoration alone.
New research reveals Andean forests have high potential to store carbon under climate change. The study, which analyzed data from 119 forest-monitoring plots across the Andes Mountains, found that Andean forests are acting as aboveground carbon sinks.
Tropical forest soils capture carbon dioxide into organic matter interacting with soil minerals, leading to reduced CO2 emissions. Excessive nitrogen deposition stimulates soil carbon storage by 7-21% in tropical forests.
Researchers are studying the complex relationships within an ecosystem to understand how nature regenerates itself. The team will focus on key processes like predator-prey relationships and tree-pollinator interactions to measure the complexity in the resurgent ecosystem.
The USDA Forest Service has established a new urban long-term ecological research site in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, focusing on the dynamics of urban nature and social systems. The project aims to improve environmental outcomes for all city residents, addressing disparities in access to urban benefits.
Research reveals that prolonged periods of terrestrial invertebrates in rivers lead to monopolization by larger fish, altering food webs and ecosystem functions. In contrast, pulsed periods enable smaller fish to access benthic invertebrates, resulting in reduced leaf breakdown rates.
Researchers developed a method using satellite imagery to measure the depth of thaw directly above permafrost in boreal ecosystems by analyzing variations in forest color. This approach provides more accurate estimates of permafrost depth, essential for climate modeling and monitoring permafrost thaw rates.
Ecosystem collapse is occurring in 19 case studies across Australia and Antarctica, driven by global climate change and human impacts. A three-step framework to combat irreversible damage is proposed, emphasizing awareness, anticipation, and action to protect key ecosystems.
Repeated fires alter tree communities, reducing biomass and individual trees by up to 72% over 50 years. Regions with extreme climate variations are most sensitive to fire frequency changes.
A new study introduces a Resistance-Resilience-Transformation (RRT) classification to assess transformative actions in climate adaptation projects. The RRT classification shows a shift towards more transformative actions, such as species translocation, in recent years.
Researchers analyzed soil samples from burned and unburned areas in California parks, finding that the oak woodland fungal community was less affected by wildfires than those in evergreen forests. This aligns with the fact that oak woodlands depend on regular fire to thrive.
Researchers analyzed fossils of 70 plant taxa from central Tibet to understand the region's ancient environment. The study found that Tibet's landscape persisted in a similar form for at least 25 million years before giving way to its present-day plateau.
Researchers found that 84% of newly-created and recolonized beaver ponds remained occupied for more than a year. However, when a wolf kills the beaver, no pond remains active. This study suggests wolves can alter wetland creation without changing beaver abundance or behavior.
Research shows that formalized community forest management policies tend to have negative impacts on forest access and resource rights, while still achieving environmental and economic benefits. In many cases, income gains mainly benefited village elites, while the poor and marginalized bore the brunt of forest use restrictions.
A new study found that community forest management policies often result in weakened rights and less access to forests for local populations. Despite positive outcomes in some cases, the overall results show a series of trade-offs between people and the environment. The research highlights the need for governments to ensure that commun...
Research collaboration reveals maple trees as crucial to ecosystem structure and function due to their commonality, with many species at high risk of extinction worldwide.
Researchers analyzed data from 300 German grasslands and forests to investigate the relationships between biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services. The study found that low-intensity farming and forestry can preserve biodiversity while providing material benefits.
A new report identifies priority areas for ecosystem restoration, which could rescue land-based species and soak up vast amounts of carbon dioxide. Protecting these areas and restoring natural ecosystems can deliver significant biodiversity and climate benefits at a relatively low cost.
A new study by Stanford University's Natural Capital Project emphasizes the importance of considering diverse human needs when conserving ecosystems. The researchers argue that a one-size-fits-all approach can exacerbate existing social and racial inequalities, and instead recommend inclusive policies that prioritize equity.
A study in Borneo found that degraded tropical forests have a high conservation value for 28 tropical mammal species. Mammals tend to avoid heavily degraded areas with open canopies and reduced vegetation density, highlighting the importance of maintaining good quality forest habitat.
New research identifies three laws to explain species diversity and abundance in ecosystems. Environmental change and variability are key drivers of fluctuations in species populations.
A proposed mining policy in Brazil's Amazon rainforest could lead to significant economic losses due to impacts on rubber, timber, and greenhouse gas mitigation ecosystem services. The policy threatens to destroy valuable ecosystems that provide an estimated $7 billion AUD annually, making it financially unsustainable.
Extensive measurement data reveals severe impact of heat and drought on lower-altitude ecosystems, while higher-altitude ecosystems benefited from warmer temperatures. Productivity fell by an average of 20% in mixed forest and meadows at lower altitudes.