Articles tagged with Forests
A new study published in Fire Ecology chronicles the history of forest fires in Oklahoma and Tennessee to determine their importance in maintaining forest health. Researchers found that forest fires are vital for maintaining healthy ecosystems, with some areas experiencing higher fire frequency than others.
A new study reveals that Siberian larch forests are still thriving in the Northern Russian permafrost despite rising temperatures, indicating a slow adaptation process that can take thousands of years. The research suggests that colder ice ages have delayed vegetation adaptation to warmer climate periods.
Researchers discovered two groups of brown bears in Turkey, one migrating between feeding and breeding sites, while the other stayed in a city dump all year round. This study highlights the impact of human-caused habitat fragmentation on bear behavior and conservation strategies.
The Bavarian Alps have seen a 14% decline in topsoil organic matter over the past three decades, primarily caused by climate warming. Implementing humus-promoting forest management can help mitigate floods and preserve soil fertility, water balance, and nutrient supply.
A new study reveals that beech trees in central Europe, particularly in southern England, are increasingly vulnerable to drought due to climate change. The research found that the region's iconic beech woods are at risk of widespread mortality during extreme dry spells.
Research finds water yields from unmanaged forested watersheds in the southern Appalachian Mountains declining due to climate change and gradual shifts in forest structure. The study's findings have implications for managing forest composition to ensure water supply under future climate change.
Researchers at ANU found that New Zealand possums prefer leaves with high available protein content to eat, which can help limit their impact on native forests. This knowledge could inform targeted control programs to manage the possum population and protect sensitive tree species.
Research reveals that tropical cyclones in the southeastern United States increase forest photosynthesis and growth, capturing significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. This effect significantly exceeds carbon emissions from American vehicles each year.
A study at Penn State's Deer Research Center found that deer prefer certain non-native invasive plants over native species, contributing to their spread. This preference is driven by plant species' palatability and growing season, suggesting a crucial role for deer in shaping plant community assembly.
A study by Michigan State University found that residents with ocean views experience significantly lower levels of psychological distress compared to those with green space. The researchers suggest that blue spaces may have a calming effect on the mind, while human-made areas in green spaces may not.
Researchers Warren Savary and Rob Bryson have discovered a new species of scorpion in the Sierra Nevada foothills, related to several previously described species from California. The discovery highlights the state's vast and underexplored biodiversity, with many scorpion species remaining to be described.
The University of Leicester is launching a satellite project to monitor Kenya's forests in near real-time, helping forest land owners and national agencies protect biodiversity and reduce climate change. The project aims to support participatory forest management strategies and enable Kenya to manage its forests more sustainably.
Researchers use AI and game theory to improve anti-poaching patrols, reducing poacher activities per kilometer and saving time and energy. The system also incorporates complex terrain information and natural transit paths to create practical patrol routes.
A warmer climate could lead to higher growth and productivity on US national forests and grasslands, but at the cost of reduced freshwater yields. The study projects a 4-7% decrease in water yield by 2100, with the most severe declines in the Northwest, West North Central, and Southwest regions.
Researchers found three tree physiological traits significantly predict drought mortality, related to hydraulics. Trees with lower hydraulic conductivity and safety margins are more susceptible to embolism and death. This study can help forecast tree deaths in drought and inform climate change mitigation strategies.
Researchers found trees exchange large quantities of carbon among different species through mycorrhizal fungi. This discovery questions the concept of tree individuality and adds a new dimension to the role of these fungal networks in forests.
A new Duke University-led study uses mapping software to track threats to endangered species, pinpointing areas for conservation. The San Martin titi monkey's habitat has been fragmented due to farming, logging, and urbanization, with nearly 95% of remaining habitats too small or poorly connected to support viable populations.
A global network is being set up to use surveillance camera networks and drone data to track changes in trees' growth patterns. Researchers will be able to access time-lapse image data to better understand how climate change affects forests worldwide.
Research assistant professor Ezra Wood will investigate nighttime atmospheric chemistry of wildfires and their effect on climate. The study aims to quantify hydrogen oxide radicals and understand how long compounds last in the air.
Researchers recorded footage of wild Bawean warty pigs using camera traps to estimate population size and habitat preferences. The findings suggest the species is endangered due to low population density and habitat loss.
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.
The Grauer's gorilla population has plummeted due to warfare, illegal hunting, and mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Conservation efforts recommend controlling militias, protecting reserves, and raising awareness about the crisis faced by wildlife.
A new study by Dartmouth College and other institutions provides a method to predict forest risks from the southern pine beetle using a simple, inexpensive monitoring program. The researchers found that the risks in any year and region can be predicted synchronously across hundreds of miles.
A CU study found that large fires in the West followed by drought conditions are affecting high-elevation forests, leading to lower tree densities and increased patchiness. The research team measured tree species, numbers, sizes, and ages of post-fire seedlings in nearly 200 forest plots.
A new study published in Global Ecology and Biogeography finds that drought following wildfires hinders forest recovery in the Rocky Mountains. The research shows that forests are not adapting quickly enough to climate change, with subalpine tree species being negatively impacted by warm, dry conditions.
China's sweeping program to restore forests has seen significant gains in tree cover, with nearly 61,000 square miles of land recovering, while 14,400 square miles experienced loss. The recovery is encouraging, but researchers emphasize the need for further research on the broader impacts of forest degradation and recovery worldwide.
A recent UCR study found that biomass burning of polluted forest fuels exacerbates poor air quality and related health concerns in heavily polluted areas. The research showed that emissions from polluted fuels released more nitrogen oxides and small fine particles, posing respiratory health risks.
Researchers found Eastern US forests are changing, with drought-sensitive tree species dominating and fire-resistant ones declining. This shift, known as mesophication, makes forests more vulnerable to future climate change and droughts.
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.
Scientists create a computer simulation that grows realistic forests down to individual trees to predict how climate-related changes will affect fire rates, plant growth, and forest recovery in Quebec hardwood forests. The 'LES' model can help identify necessary species for reestablishing forests after wildfires and other disturbances.
A new study finds that US forests are experiencing severe drought effects, with potentially devastating consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services. The research highlights the urgent need for better understanding of forest responses to drought and climate change.
Nearly all US forests are vulnerable to future declines due to increasing drought and climate change, according to a new study. The effects have been most pronounced in the West, but Eastern forests are also at risk as tree populations struggle to adapt to changing conditions.
A research team has discovered new populations of the endangered banana frog in Southwest Ethiopia, expanding its geographical range. The study, published in ZooKeys, suggests that the frogs are more tolerant to forest degradation than expected, increasing conservation efforts.
Scientists analyzed stalagmites from a Madagascar cave and found a sudden shift in carbon isotope ratios, indicating a drastic transformation of plant species from trees to grasslands within just 100 years. The study suggests human involvement in forest loss, contradicting climate change theories.
A Dartmouth College study reveals that climate change will cause a shift from coniferous to deciduous trees in New England's forests, affecting nutrient cycling and metal storage. This change could lead to decreased accumulation and retention of major metals, with potential impacts on forest ecosystems.
A study published in Conservation Biology found that China's National Forest Conservation Program increased forest cover and improved wildlife habitat, particularly for the giant panda. The program's payment scheme proved effective in engaging local residents to monitor and protect forests.
Native forests reduce flood frequency and severity, while coral reefs provide a 97% cost-effective defense from storm surges. The cost of adaptation could reach $100 billion per year, but intact ecosystems offer the best defense against climate change.
New research reveals that Native American populations in the Southwest US collapsed rapidly in the 17th century due to sustained daily interaction with European colonizers, resulting in epidemic diseases, violence, and famine. The population decline had indirect effects on forest fires and climate, with findings published in PNAS.
A new orchid species has been discovered in the Pacific slope of Oaxaca state, Mexico, exhibiting distinct features such as shape, size, and colors. The study led by Dr. Leopardi-Verde refutes a long-held hypothesis about hybridization that contributed to its taxonomic placement.
A long-term study at Harvard Forest found that adding litter accelerated the breakdown of organic matter, releasing more CO2 into the atmosphere. The experiment contradicts previous assumptions about soil's ability to store carbon.
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.
A new study from Carnegie Institution reveals that up to 58 million large trees in California experienced severe canopy water loss between 2011 and today, putting them at risk. The research used advanced tools to measure the impact of the drought on forest canopies and mapped changes in canopy water content.
Research predicts 72% of Northwest Evergreen Trees will die by 2050, with nearly 100% mortality by 2100 under projected global warming scenarios. Climate models suggest a negative feedback loop could accelerate climate change.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new technique for trapping hard-to-detect molecules using forests of carbon nanotubes. The team created a three-dimensional array of permeable nanotubes within a microfluidic device, which they coated with polymers to capture specific bioparticles.
A new study reveals that freshwater rivers and streams transport or store more than 220 billion pounds of carbon each year. This finds that the actual carbon storage in forests is decreased by almost 30 percent once accounting for the leaking carbon into aquatic environments.
A computer model predicts changes in tidal water level and salinity in Bangladesh's delta region, affecting farmland and the Sundarbans mangrove forests. The model could inform decisions on irrigation and crop management to mitigate potential flooding and ecosystem damage.
Three new species of fishing snakes were identified in the Andean cloud forests of Amazonian Ecuador and Peru, with differences found in scale features, male sexual organs, and DNA. The discovery expands the Synophis genus to eight members and highlights the biodiversity hotspot in western South America.
A recent study found that widespread tree mortality from mountain pine beetles can reduce water availability due to increased evaporation, rather than increasing streamflow. This challenges previous assumptions and offers new insights for managing healthier forests that are more resistant to drought.
A new study estimates that up to 8,690 Amazonian tree species may face extinction, with more than half of the world's tropical tree species at risk. Protected areas and indigenous territories have made strides in preserving biodiversity, but further management is crucial to prevent extinctions.
The DFG is establishing 16 new Research Training Groups to support early career researchers in Germany. The groups will focus on topics such as the mechanisms of aging, cultures of critique, and the neurobiology of aggression and impulsivity. Funding for the programs is approximately €72 million over a four-and-a-half-year period.
The US Forest Service found that forest carbon sequestration may decline overall over the next 25 years, with some regions experiencing a gradual decline and others a rapid decline due to disturbances like fire and insect epidemics.
Researchers tracked juvenile cowbirds using automated telemetry systems, finding they leave host nests at dusk and spend nights in nearby fields before returning just after daybreak. This behavior helps young birds avoid imprinting on their host parents and learn essential survival skills.
Climate shifts may drive up temperatures in Hawaii, allowing mosquitos into high elevation habitats where native vegetation persists. 20 Hawaiian forest bird species risk losing more than 50% of their range under climate change scenarios.
A new study found a significant decline in the growth rate of sugar maple trees in the Adirondack Mountains, raising concerns about the long-term health of northeastern ecosystems. The research suggests that factors such as acid rain, insect outbreaks, and late frost damage may contribute to this decline.
A new coffee tree species, Sommera cusucoana, has been discovered in the Critically Endangered Cusuco National Park in Honduras. The species was identified by a team of scientists led by Daniel Kelly and is characterized by its cream-colored flowers and cherry-like fruits.
A EU-funded project led by the University of Huddersfield is empowering community-managed forest areas in Ethiopia, improving local livelihoods while protecting biodiversity. The project's Participatory Forest Management approach has enabled over 55 village communities to manage large forest areas.
A new study finds that many forests cannot absorb as much carbon dioxide as projected because of a shortage in vital nutrient nitrogen. This limits the ability of plants to fix carbon, leading to higher net carbon emissions.
Researchers propose using prescribed fires, mechanical thinning, and less suppression of wildfires in specific conditions to restore resilient forests. This approach could reduce catastrophic fires and their costly consequences.
Scientists explore reviving extinct Mediterranean forests through minimal human disturbance and restoration of native vegetation. They also investigate the impact of ocean noise pollution on undersea animals and propose internationally binding commitments to monitor and limit noise.
A recent USDA Forest Service study found that warming temperatures and acidity threaten coldwater aquatic species in the southern Appalachians, with an estimated 10-20% loss of habitat for brook trout. The research highlights the importance of watershed management and climate adaptation planning to mitigate these impacts.