Articles tagged with Forests
A groundbreaking international study found that spruce trees not only respond to solar eclipses but actively anticipate them by synchronizing their bioelectrical signals. Older trees exhibit a more pronounced early response, suggesting they retain environmental memory to inform younger trees of impending events.
A new study has confirmed that beech leaf disease, already devastating American beech, also affects European beech. Researchers used advanced microscopy to trace the effects of the nematode on European beech, finding similar symptoms and damage as in American beech.
A long-term shift towards drier conditions is reshaping landscapes and livelihoods globally, affecting 40% of Earth's land and 2.3 billion people. The research highlights solutions to adapt to a future where water is no longer guaranteed, including smarter irrigation strategies, data analytics, and restoring degraded land.
Researchers found that human activity, including military conquests and agricultural practices, led to the sudden collapse of swamp forests in the Pearl River Delta region around 2.1 thousand years ago. This event marked the beginning of a decline in biodiversity, contributing to local extinctions of various species.
Researchers found introduced tree species are picking up speed and decreasing native diversity over time. The study used data from a 120-year-old program to quantify the effects of introduced species on native ecosystems.
Researchers found that high tree mortality in upper canopy can promote oak regeneration when maple is removed from understorey. Plantings on thinned forest plots showed fewer signs of drought stress, supporting oak growth.
Researchers found that Ficus insipida tree cores can be used to characterize spatial and potentially temporal mercury emissions from artisanal gold mining. Tree rings showed higher mercury concentrations near mining sites, indicating a potential network of biomonitoring.
A new study reveals China's NTEs were significant sources of CH₄ and N₂O emissions between 1980 and 2020, with an accumulated GWP of 5.55 Pg CO₂-equivalent. The net warming effect is primarily driven by N₂O emissions.
A professor is conducting a study to increase forest farming in Appalachia, with the goal of creating a sustainable economy for the region. The project aims to develop the workforce and formalize businesses to ensure efficient supply chains.
A new study by Holden Forests & Gardens reveals that American beech trees are experiencing significant mortality and reduced growth due to beech leaf disease, with 30% of trees dying since its emergence in northeast Ohio. The disease has also slowed tree growth, energy loss, and increased mortality in affected plots.
Andalusian forests have increased in mass by 30 years, with growth primarily occurring during 1994-2005, attributed to factors like climate change, adaptation, and forest management. The study highlights the importance of remote sensing for monitoring large areas and detecting changes in vegetation.
Researchers at Cornell Lab of Ornithology use acoustic monitoring to track forest bird species and inform forest management decisions. The study creates detailed maps showing where different birds are likely to live, helping managers make better-informed decisions about thinning forests or conducting controlled burns.
Researchers have employed artificial intelligence and data analysis to improve forest protection, enabling real-time monitoring and predictive analysis. The innovative forest regeneration model forecasts how forests will grow and change over time, identifying best-suited tree species for different environments.
The research analyzed satellite images and machine learning to detect forest loss in Ukraine during the war. The study found that Ukraine lost over 800 km² of forests in 2022 and 772 km² in 2023, mainly due to fires in war-torn regions.
Superb lyrebirds are resourceful farmers, creating habitats suitable for their diet of worms, centipedes, and spiders. By arranging litter and soil, they promote more prey in areas with simulated lyrebird foraging.
New Jersey Institute of Technology biologist Xiaonan Tai receives a $1.16 million NSF CAREER Award to study how groundwater influences forest survival during climate stress, integrating ecology and hydrology perspectives.
Researchers found significant concentrations of persistent organic compounds in lichens and mosses in the Irati forest, exceeding those in similar environments. The study suggests that urban and agricultural practices have impacted local air quality, emphasizing the need for controlling combustion processes to reduce PAHs.
A study by Florida Atlantic University investigated how removing dead wood could reduce wildfire risks and enhance carbon storage. The research found that combining physical harvesting with thinning significantly reduced wildfire risks, while lowering carbon emissions and offering carbon sequestration through products like biochar.
A recent study from the University of Eastern Finland found that bark beetle infestation can slow down tree growth even before visible signs of mortality appear. The researchers used dendrometer measurements to monitor stem diameter variation in healthy and infested spruce trees.
A study published in Science Bulletin has created a comprehensive tree density map of China, estimating 142.6 billion trees across the country, with varying densities by region and ecosystem type.
Recent studies suggest that rising temperatures could disrupt the balance of Earth's climate by increasing plant water loss. In extreme heat, plants may lose too much water to conserve it, limiting photosynthesis and reducing their role as a carbon sink.
The study projects a significant increase in wetland and forest areas in China, with potential losses of cropland and shifts in land use patterns. Enhanced protection and management are needed to mitigate the impacts of climate change on food security.
A CSU study reveals trees are contracting in response to climate change, failing to regenerate in hottest areas and not expanding into cooler climates. Human-assisted tree migration is proposed as a solution to help forests adapt to climate change.
A Princeton study reveals how consumption-driven deforestation by high-income nations drives biodiversity loss in other countries, responsible for 13.3% of global range loss. The study finds that these countries cause international biodiversity losses 15 times greater than their domestic impacts.
Research published in Nature Communications reveals that fewer forest fires are burning today than in the past, despite recent record-breaking fire years. This 'fire deficit' allows fuel to build up over time, creating conditions for more severe fires. The study highlights the importance of beneficial management fires on the landscape.
A recent report by Colorado State University reveals that the state's forests are emitting more carbon than they absorb, primarily due to insect and disease impacts. The study estimated that Colorado's forests stored 1,558 teragrams of carbon between 2010 and 2019.
The National Champion Tree Program is now accepting nominations for the 2025-2026 register, with over 1,200 eligible tree species. Nominations will be open through August 2025 and verified trees will be added to the program's data management system.
A University of Liverpool-led study found that climate warming causes a 28% decline in tree growth since 2005 due to temperature-driven changes in seed production. The study also reveals that under warmer temperatures, beech trees shift resource allocation from growth to reproduction.
A new study from the University of Illinois explores how differences in ownership motivation affect willingness to control invasive plants and pests. The research suggests that providing subsidies to the weakest link, such as recreationist landowners, can optimize the effect of control efforts and reduce costs.
Researchers found that cacao grafting increases crop yield by 45% after just two years, while preserving native arthropod diversity. This approach rejuvenates old cacao crops with minimal ecological impact.
A new study reveals that Amazonian mangrove forests release essential trace elements like neodymium into the ocean, supporting marine ecosystems and the carbon cycle. Mangroves act as biochemical reactors, releasing nutrients and metals into coastal waters.
Researchers at Washington State University discovered that wandering salamanders use a unique mechanism to control blood flow in their toe tips, enabling them to optimize attachment and detachment on irregular surfaces. This discovery has implications for bioinspired designed, including the development of adhesives and prosthetics.
The FORSAID project aims to develop a comprehensive framework for early detection of pests and pathogens affecting European forest trees. The project will employ novel technological solutions, including remote sensing, AI modelling, and DNA barcoding, to combat harmful species in forests.
A comprehensive assessment of logging and conversion to oil palm plantations reveals that these activities have significantly different and cumulative environmental impacts. Logging mostly affects forest structure, while converting logged forests to plantations has greater impacts on biodiversity.
New research from Washington University in St. Louis found that pawpaw patches reduce herbaceous plant species diversity and total understory community size, creating a habitat where the rules of competition are more random. The presence of pawpaws also makes it challenging for land managers to encourage the growth of understory species.
Researchers found that taller Japanese black pine trees have deeper roots, making them more resistant to disasters. Shorter trees are more likely to fall due to inadequate root growth.
Early online research reveals associations between snowmelt timing, wildfires in Alaska, and rapidly intensifying tropical cyclones. The impact of climate patterns on extreme weather events is a growing concern.
A new study published in Nature Communications provides fresh insights into China's carbon removal capacity through land-use, land-use change, and forestry. The researchers used an improved modeling approach to estimate the country's carbon removal from land-use changes, offering more accurate projections for future carbon removal.
Botanists have identified six new tree species, including three found only in Panama, using comparisons of dried plant specimens across the Neotropics. The new species are part of the Matisia genus and have been added to herbarium collections in Panama and Colombia.
Researchers found Andean bears prefer to forage in dry season for young, tender bromeliad plants on east-facing slopes of puna grassland. They actively select specific food resources within the grasslands, indicating their nutritional importance, while avoiding areas with livestock.
A study found a strong link between woody cover and large wildfire occurrence in the eastern US, with a 37% increase in woody vegetation over the last 30 years. In some regions, such as eastern Texas and the Appalachian Mountains, each 1% increase in woody cover led to a 3.9% increase in wildfire risk.
A study by University of California - Davis researchers found that well-timed tree planting can boost forest recovery by up to 200% in hotter, drier areas. However, competition from shrubs can hinder this process, and the outcome depends on climate, soil, and vegetation conditions.
A new NASA-led study found that plants' responses to changing rainfall patterns are crucial for understanding their role in the carbon cycle. Daily rainfall variability drove growth globally, with certain ecosystems thriving under conditions of infrequent but intense rain.
Botanists from Oxford University and University of the Philippines Los Baños have named a new species of 'lipstick vine' found in the Philippine rainforest, characterized by delicate purple mottling. The discovery is significant as it highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect the region's biodiversity.
Researchers found a link between El Niño events and increased fire risk in the Amazon region, particularly where groundwater storage is compromised. The study highlights the critical role of groundwater in sustaining vegetation during droughts, emphasizing the need for prevention efforts during extreme climatic conditions.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that prolonged exposure to wildfire pollution can decrease life expectancy by about one week. Living in green neighborhoods with more extensive greenspaces can be beneficial for health, but even small increases can lead to slight life expectancy gains.
A Penn State research team mapped wild leek habitats in Pennsylvania to provide guidance for forest farming. The study identified suitable sites based on soil, topography, and vegetation characteristics, offering a solution to conservation challenges surrounding wild leek overharvesting.
Coconut palms now cover over half of Pacific atolls' total forested area and 24.1% of their total land area. The widespread conversion to coconut monocrops has been linked to groundwater depletion, declining seabird populations, and adverse impacts on coral reefs.
The Amazon rainforest is a significant source of condensation nuclei for clouds, according to two studies. The rainforest's plant transpiration and thunderstorms produce aerosol particles that can be transported thousands of kilometers, influencing marine cloud formation.
The American Heart Association warns hunters about the increased risk of heart attack and stroke due to exertion, cold temperatures, and excitement. Hunters should recognize symptoms, take breaks, and have a plan in case of emergencies. Learning Hands-Only-CPR can also save lives.
Researchers confirm oil presence in Mauritius mangrove forest close to Ramsar conservation sites, three years after MV Wakashio spill. The oil has undergone weathering and biodegradation, but its ongoing presence poses an unknown risk to the sensitive ecosystem.
Researchers found that remote monitoring devices were being misused by local governments and men to intimidate and humiliate women in northern India. The study highlights the need for conservationists to consider the social implications of using surveillance technologies and explore less invasive methods.
A 20-year experiment found that warmer soils alter the behavior of tree roots in different ways, with oak trees changing their interactions with soil microbes but maple trees maintaining their patterns
The NJIT team's Limelight Rainforest developed a drone-delivered technology capable of identifying thousands of rainforest species in mere hours. The device uses telemetry, satellite communications, and AI to interpret data from advanced microphones, cameras, and capture systems.
A new study by the University of Oxford's Department of Physics shows that relying on natural carbon sinks to offset CO2 emissions from fossil fuels will not stop global warming. Governments and corporations are increasingly turning to these natural sinks to meet climate goals, but this approach is flawed.
A Florida Museum curator was part of an international team that won first place and $5 million in the XPRIZE Rainforest competition. The team developed a monitoring device equipped with lights, audio recorders, cameras, insect traps, and collection reservoirs to survey a 100-hectare test plot of tropical rainforest.
The 2024 Global Carbon Budget projects fossil CO2 emissions of 37.4 billion tonnes, up 0.8% from 2023, despite urgent calls to cut emissions to slow climate change. The report finds that overall emissions are roughly level over the last decade, but both fossil and land-use change CO2 emissions are set to rise in 2024.
Researchers found that trees exhibit two distinct swaying patterns depending on wind speed, with branches absorbing energy in light winds and whole-tree sway in higher winds. The transition between patterns occurred at different wind speeds depending on forest density, shedding light on how forests respond to wind stress.
A new study from North Carolina State University and the USGS uses satellite imagery to identify coastal forests undergoing regime change due to sea-level rise. The research finds that these transitions can occur rapidly or slowly, and remote sensing of vegetation health can help predict EWS for some areas.
Fossils from over 600,000 years ago show a shift in animal communities between warm and cold climate fluctuations. The Notarchirico site provides evidence of the emergence and disappearance of species such as cave lions, straight-tusked elephants, and red deer.