Articles tagged with Forest Ecosystems
Researchers have found that dust from the Gobi Desert is providing more phosphorus than previously thought for plants in the Sierra Nevada mountains, including giant sequoias. The study suggests that dust may be shaping this iconic California ecosystem and could help predict forest response to climate change.
A new study led by University of Nebraska-Lincoln ecologist John Benson found that eastern coyotes hunt moose and other large prey far less frequently than does the eastern wolf. The findings suggest that eastern coyotes have not filled the ecological niche left vacant when the eastern wolf became threatened.
A study found that the average distance from any point in the United States to the nearest forest increased by 14% between 1990 and 2000. This increase is more pronounced in rural areas than in urban settings, posing challenges for wildlife and broad effects on ecosystems.
The study found that Central Africa's forest elephant population has dropped by over 80% in a decade, mainly due to illegal poaching. The researchers emphasize the need to reduce demand for ivory and recognize forest elephants as a distinct species to save them from extinction.
A team of researchers has discovered a vast array of exceptionally preserved fossils, including delicate skeletons and soft tissues, from the immediate aftermath of the Ordovician mass extinction. The Anji Biota records an astonishing range of diverse sponge species, with many thriving in large and complex ecosystems.
New research shows that forests 'held their breath' during the recent global warming slowdown, releasing less carbon back into the atmosphere. During this period of slower warming, worldwide forests took up more carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and stored it in the natural environment.
A new study reveals that grazing pressures compound drought stress, delaying recovery and reducing ecosystems' tipping points. Grazing animals and fungal pathogens can kill drought-weakened vegetation, preventing plants from recovering.
A study led by the University of Washington found that large forest die-offs can alter global climate patterns and affect vegetation on the other side of the world. Removing trees in western North America causes cooling in Siberia, while forests in South America benefit from increased precipitation.
Canadian and European boreal forests have distinct differences in terms of dominant shrubs, animal cycles, and predator-prey dynamics. The research found that climate is the primary factor driving these differences.
A new study suggests that global warming above 1.5°Celsius will drastically transform Mediterranean ecosystems, producing species never seen before in the past 10,000 years. The region's biodiversity and services, including clean water and carbon storage, are critical to human well-being.
A five-year study in Harvard and Duke forests found that adding warmth predicted in climate-change models destabilized forest ant communities. The loss of stability makes communities less resilient and slower to rebound when disturbed, with relative abundance of thermophilic species growing while heat-intolerant species declining.
A recent study suggests that the digital rectal exam (DRE) is no longer necessary for prostate cancer screening due to its limited effectiveness and potential risks. The DRE has been shown to capture an additional small population of men with significant prostate cancer, but it also subjects a large number of men to unnecessary tests.
The Jasper Ridge Global Change Experiment found that warming had negative effects on plant growth, while elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide showed no consistent response. Plant growth peaked when precipitation was close to historic averages, highlighting the need for ambitious climate action to stabilize warming and protect ecosystems.
A new study reveals that amphetamine pollution in urban streams stunts biofilm growth, changes bacterial and diatom communities, and speeds up aquatic insect emergence. The research highlights the need for innovations in wastewater management to mitigate the effects of pharmaceutical and illicit drug pollution on freshwater resources.
Researchers at Umeå University emphasize the importance of integrating forest and aquatic ecosystems in restorations to retain biodiversity and ecosystem services. Restoring riparian zones can increase production and diversity by facilitating nutrient cycling between land and water.
A Griffith University study found that high-frequency fires can disrupt nutrient cycling and modify beetle populations in some forest ecosystems. The research aims to improve fire frequency management by understanding the effects on soil, plant, animal, and microbial communities.
Several southeastern US ecosystems are highly vulnerable to climate change, including Caribbean coastal mangrove, Edwards Plateau limestone shrubland, and southern Appalachian balds. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and rising sea levels pose significant threats to these ecosystems.
A study by University of California - Davis researchers found that drought conditions significantly impact Douglas fir tree growth, with warmer and drier conditions causing the most stress. The analysis of tree core samples over a 91-year period indicates projected decline in growth rates under future climate change scenarios.
Researchers have found cold snaps in sub-tropical ecosystems and droughts in rainforests due to human influence. The study also explores new relationships among species arising from global changes, highlighting the need for understanding ecosystem structure and function.
A new study reveals that China's conservation programs have improved ecosystem services, with notable increases in food production and carbon sequestration. However, some areas experienced decreases in habitat provision and air and water quality remained a concern.
Research reveals that giant sequoia leaves respond to environmental conditions, with upper crown leaves having more fibers and transfusion tissue. These traits enable the trees to store more carbon and water, promoting growth and resilience in drought conditions.
Jerry Franklin, a professor at the University of Washington, has been named 2016's Eminent Ecologist by the Ecological Society of America. He is credited with pioneering research on old-growth forests and challenging clear-cutting practices to promote healthy forest ecosystems. His work has had a significant impact on forestry and fore...
Researchers found that diverse soil animal communities lead to better decomposition of leaves, regardless of region or management practices. A study of 80 forests in Germany and Sumatra revealed that high species richness and biomass explain spatial turnover in ecosystem functioning.
The Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest has been a hub for long-term ecological research, revealing the impact of acid rain, clear-cutting, and climate change on forest ecosystems. The research has informed policy measures and inspired collaborations among federal agencies and academic scientists.
The loss of oldest female elephants guides their families to resources and holds decades of social knowledge. This could cause cascading effects on ecosystem function, as these females play a crucial role in seed dispersal and maintaining habitats.
A new study highlights the urgent need for the US to step up forest pest prevention measures, as imported pests cause over $2 billion in damages annually. Strengthening prevention efforts could alleviate economic burdens on homeowners and municipalities while safeguarding US trees.
The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies will conduct a five-year study in Dutchess County, New York, to reduce Lyme disease risk. Researchers will target feeding and questing ticks using commercially available products, aiming to make neighborhoods safer.
Researchers suggest targeting over-exploitation of resources like forests and fisheries by partitioning ecosystems into specialized harvesting niches. This approach could lead to higher sustainable quotas and productive industrial systems.
A recent study reveals that societies follow common development patterns, leading to overexploitation of natural resources and ecosystems. The Living Planet Index and Human Development Index show a stark contrast between Western countries' environmental degradation and developing countries' accelerating resource depletion. To avoid cat...
University of Missouri researchers analyzed historical forest surveys from the 1800s to gain insights into how natural disturbances and human actions shape forest conditions. They found that historical forests had more total biomass, likely sequestering more carbon than current forests.
The paper inventories 1,268 biological field stations globally, highlighting their importance for long-term data collection, education, and public engagement. The author emphasizes the need for sustainable frameworks, improved governance, and increased public awareness to ensure these stations' success.
Researchers found that unmanaged forests remain productive despite surface ozone pollution, due to differential sensitivity among tree species. Ozone impacts are more pronounced in low-diversity systems like crops and managed forests.
Research from the University of Colorado Boulder found that newly-exposed edges of deforested areas can lead to hotter, drier conditions for remaining forests. This could affect species' ability to regulate their body temperatures, altering local ecosystems.
A New Brunswick family's initial attempt to trap snowshoe hares for sport inadvertently created an ecological experiment that shaped the vegetation of tiny Hay Island and Kent. The hares' impact, including mowing down young saplings and altering tree growth patterns, has now been reversed as scientists monitor the island's recovery.
The global checklist of hornworts and liverworts is a crucial component of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, aiming to halt plant diversity loss. The initiative has been developed by an international team of researchers, who have utilized existing datasets and centralised nomenclature, taxonomy, and geography on a global scale.
Researchers found that dominant ant species in tropical rainforests consume the majority of food resources, making ecosystems vulnerable. The study also revealed that efficient species can dominate systems, increasing resource turnover but making them more vulnerable to decline.
The world lost more than twice as much interior forest area than it gained between 2000 and 2012, with a net loss of 3.76 million square kilometers. This resulted in a fragmentation of remaining forests, increasing ecological risks.
Research found an association between earthworm presence and reduced abundance of certain tree species in understory of sugar maple forests. Earthworm populations are linked to soil moisture levels, affecting seed germination and plant survival.
A new study found that over-hunting large mammals in Amazonian forests could lead to significant loss of above-ground carbon stock, potentially disrupting seed dispersal and long-term forest dynamics. The research suggests that protecting large vertebrate populations is crucial for maintaining ecosystem services.
Scientists create artificial ice storm to study its effects on northern hardwood forests, including tree growth, pest and pathogen impacts, and nutrient cycling. The research aims to improve understanding of climate change's role in shaping forest ecosystems.
Researchers from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center reviewed the scientific evidence for top-selling over-the-counter dietary supplements sold to improve male sexual health. While some natural supplements show promise, they lack robust human evidence and can be pure or weak.
A new model suggests a more nuanced response to climate change in the Amazon forest, with individual trees experiencing water stress, leading to a gradual shift from high-biomass forests to low-biomass ecosystems. This approach better captures ecosystem heterogeneity and predicts a less drastic transition.
Humpback whales' diets reflect surrounding environmental changes, while harbor porpoises recolonize San Francisco Bay and sea otters help restore ecosystem health. New research highlights the West Coast's diverse marine mammals and their responses to climate change.
The study analyzed past large-mammal extinctions in North and South America to understand their long-lasting ecosystem impacts. Researchers found that the disappearance of mammoths and mastodons led to changes in vegetation, decreased small mammal diversity, and altered landscape dynamics.
A recent UCLA-led study quantified the direct impact of climate on ecosystems worldwide, finding that it has a strong and immediate effect on forest productivity. The research restores scientific consensus on the topic after a controversial 2014 paper questioned the correlation between climate change and ecosystem growth.
The world's grassy biomes are under threat from conversion to agriculture and tree planting, which can lead to ecosystem degradation. Protecting these areas is crucial for preserving biodiversity and carbon storage capabilities.
A new study reveals that the ratio of predator-to-prey biomass decreases as prey biomass increases in diverse ecosystems, including grasslands, forests, lakes, and oceans. The study analyzed tens of thousands of populations across 2,260 ecosystems globally, finding a consistent pattern of biomass scaling.
The study estimates that there are over 3 trillion trees on Earth, with the total number of trees having plummeted by roughly 46% since the start of human civilization. The research provides new insights into tree populations worldwide and offers improvements to modeling large-scale systems, including carbon cycling and climate change.
Researchers at the Marcell Experimental Forest in Minnesota are conducting unprecedented whole-ecosystem manipulation to study peatlands' response to increased temperature and elevated carbon dioxide. The goal is to understand how peatlands react to various warming conditions and their impact on the global carbon cycle.
Wildfires have been raging in Washington State, Oregon's Malheur National Forest, and California's Golden State, burning over 390,000 acres and forcing evacuations. The blazes are fueled by strong winds and lightning strikes, with no imminent relief expected.
A special journal issue highlights real-world applications of conservation genetics in Latin America, from combating wildlife smuggling to exposing consumer fraud. Researchers used genetic techniques to characterize jaguar populations and identify piracatinga fish as a substitute for river dolphins.
A team of researchers has advanced new modeling technology to quantify human dependence on nature and its impact on human well-being. The study found that people who depended on multiple types of ecosystem services fared better than those with limited resources.
Researchers will discuss infectious disease ecology, including Ebola and MERS, as well as forest biodiversity and the impact of climate change. The conference also explores urban ecology and its relevance to environmental problems.
A fossilized owl pellet study reveals that the small mammal community was stable and resilient around 13,000 years ago, but human-caused changes since the late 1800s have caused a massive drop in biomass and energy flow, indicating a loss of natural resilience
The Serengeti is facing significant threats, including climate change, population growth, and infrastructure development, which could lead to the loss of this iconic ecosystem. Researchers are studying the impact of these factors on biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and services.
Invasive earthworms in New England's forests are bioaccumulating high levels of toxic metals, including lead and mercury, which may harm birds, amphibians, and mammals that feed on them. The Dartmouth-led study found similar situations in forests across the northeastern United States.
A new Harvard University study maps ecosystem service hotspots in Massachusetts, revealing a shift from intact forests to smaller, highly valued ecosystems. The research highlights the need for conservation efforts at multiple scales to sustain the natural environment.
The USGS study found that rivers quickly erode sediment accumulated in former reservoirs and redistribute it downstream, returning the river to conditions similar to those prior to impoundment. In many cases, fish and other biological aspects of river ecosystems also respond quickly to dam removal.
A recent study found that over 50% of National Forest land in the northern Sierra Nevada is designated to promote mature, closed-canopy forest, while many bird species prefer undergrowth and habitat outside reserves. The study suggests a need to balance old-growth forest management with diverse forest habitats for all species.
A team of scientists developed a model to quantify the effects of plant biodiversity loss on ecosystem productivity, finding that conserving species diversity can help maintain ecosystem services. The study provides new insights into the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.