A study by Brazilian researchers found that these large mammals help regulate plant diversity, productivity, and biomass in understory areas. The spatial structure of plant communities is also influenced, with the Jussara palm playing a key role in attracting animals and dispersing seeds.
Despite over 200 restored wetlands in Denmark, botanical diversity remains low, with only 9.5 species per four square meters found in the studied areas. High nutrient input from agriculture continues to affect plant species dispersal and immigration, making it a significant barrier to increased biodiversity.
The study assessed meadow ecosystem biomass to understand its contribution to carbon sequestration. It used species composition and functional groups to predict biomass values, finding a reliable method for assessing productivity without collecting data.
The New Roots for Restoration Biology Integration Institute aims to integrate plant traits, communities, and the soil ecosphere to advance restoration of natural and agricultural ecosystems. The project seeks to understand how root traits influence plant interactions with each other and with the soil.
A global survey of fossil pollen reveals Earth's plant communities are changing at least as quickly today as they did when the last ice sheets retreated around 10,000 years ago. Human influence on ecosystems began with early civilizations and agriculture, deforestation, and urbanization.
A study of oak forests in European Russia has provided new insights into the region's climate change. Researchers developed a classification system based on the Braun-Blanquet method, identifying two new associations and demonstrating the uniqueness of steppe oak forests compared to xero-mesophytic European oak forests.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B found that human noise pollution has a lasting impact on plant communities, with decreased seedlings and saplings years after noise removal. The effects persist even after noise is removed from the landscape.
Research found that species-rich plant communities reduce herbivore impacts, supporting natural predators and providing less nutritious food for herbivores. This leads to increased plant biomass per square meter and lower damage from arthropod herbivores.
A study analyzing 79 plant communities worldwide found that greater species synchrony predicts less community stability. Higher species richness is associated with increased stability, but this effect is relatively small.
A comprehensive study reveals that climate change is causing entire plant ecosystems to shift towards warmer climates, leading to the decline of cold-loving species. This process, known as thermophilization, has significant implications for wildlife habitats and ecosystems.
New research highlights the crucial role of coastal plants in shoreline defences, which are under threat from climate change-induced rising sea levels and extreme storm events. The study calls for integration of long-term monitoring with flood risk models to predict the impact of storms on coastal ecosystems.
A study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution finds that rare species are organized in groups to coexist with more abundant species, avoiding competitive pressure. This organization may be a key to understanding the persistence of biodiversity in ecosystems.
A global study reveals that bicarbonate use among aquatic plants is linked to local geology and concentration levels. Many freshwater plants have evolved to use bicarbonate for photosynthesis due to low dissolved CO2 in water.
Researchers call for standardized protocols in climate experiments to predict ecosystem changes, as most existing studies are unrealistic and fail to account for projected climate scenarios. This lack of reliable data hinders our ability to forecast and plan for the future.
Grassland plant communities exhibit delayed responses to global change drivers like nutrient pollution, drought, and climate warming. The number of applied anthropogenic factors increases the likelihood of community response.
Research from the University of York suggests that climate change is disrupting local plant communities, leading to increases in species richness in certain areas. The study analyzed over 200 studies and found that rapid changes in rainfall are driving these local diversity increases.
A new study presents a unique database on Earth's vegetation, containing over 1.1 million plant species lists from every continent. The 'sPlot' initiative combines datasets to answer questions about plant traits and their responses to global factors.
Researchers developed a model to predict genomic variation in Eucalyptus melliodora, allowing for more resilient reforestation efforts. The study identified broadly sourced seeds as an effective strategy to combat climate change, promoting the recovery of critically endangered tree species.
A new study reveals that slight climate shifts can significantly affect the optimal water use of plant communities, with potential consequences for forests, grasslands, and deserts. The research uses a model to predict how rainfall is shared among plants, humans, and other factors in a changing climate.
A study published in Nature Communications suggests that peatland plants are better adapted to climate change than previously thought. Despite rising temperatures and changing atmospheric conditions, the plant community in peatlands can replace missing species with new ones having similar functions.
A new study found that white-tailed deer prefer native plants to invasive species like garlic mustard and Japanese stiltgrass. This leads to a decrease in native plant diversity and an increase in non-native species, altering forest ecosystems.
A study published in Journal of Environmental Management found a direct correlation between shale gas development activity and the rapid invasion of non-native plant species in Pennsylvania's northern forests. The research suggests that invasive plants can alter forest ecosystems, affecting wildlife habitats and timber harvests.
The invasive Acacia dealbata species is outcompeting native vegetation in undisturbed areas of the northwest Iberian Peninsula. The study found that natural scrublands can serve as a barrier to slow its spread, but pine forests are more susceptible to its invasion.
Central Wisconsin pine barrens are vanishing as forest canopy covers more than 90% of the sites, with species diversity remaining relatively unchanged but plant composition drastically altered.
Scientists study the spread of diseases in plant communities by analyzing relationships between plant species and estimating individual numbers. This approach allows for community-level predictions, shedding light on why some species are more vulnerable to disease.
A recent study reveals that diverse plant communities yield greater results than monocultures, utilizing resources more effectively and providing a protective shield against pests. This new approach to agriculture promotes biodiversity and can lead to increased food safety and sustainability.
A study led by Rutgers University-Newark found that plant communities in the Holy Land can withstand significant changes in rainfall, contradicting predictions of dire ecological consequences. The research team subjected diverse ecosystems to nine years of drought and found no measurable changes in vegetation characteristics.
A study of fossilized leaves reveals that the meteorite impact that ended the dinosaurs' reign favored fast-growing, deciduous plants. This shift from slow-growing evergreens to fast-growing species indicates that the extinction was not random, but rather a response to the major disturbance caused by the impact.
Researchers found that neighbor plants affect the quality and taste of individual plants for insects. This impacts insects' ability to control pest species like ragwort, which can be toxic to horses.
A University of Arizona-led study has provided the first on-the-ground evidence that Southwestern plants are being pushed to higher elevations by an increasingly warmer and drier climate. Plant communities were found to be different 50 years ago due to individual species shifting their ranges independently.
Carnegie scientists found that plant communities are stronger predictors of ecosystem chemistry than environmental conditions. The study used a new airborne instrument to map multiple ecosystem chemicals and found that plant composition explains up to 61% of variation in plant chemical traits.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of London found that plant communities in the Arctic are more resilient to climate change when populations of caribou and musk ox remain intact. The research suggests that these large herbivores maintain plant species diversity, while warming reduces it.
New research shows cushion plants in harsh alpine environments support biodiversity by providing a protective habitat for less stress-tolerant species. These plant communities are crucial in extreme conditions, as they counteract the reduction in phylogenetic diversity.
A decade-long study found that plants may thrive in the early stages of global warming but then deteriorate quickly as ecosystems adjust. The research showed that long-term warming leads to loss of native species and increased cycling of nitrogen, ultimately reducing plant productivity.
Researchers from 13 countries report a continent-wide warming effect on mountain plant communities in Europe, with species shifting towards those that prefer warmer temperatures. The findings suggest that this shift could lead to declines or even local disappearance of alpine plant species due to increased competition.
Recent research investigates the effects of invasive velvetgrass on a native daisy, revealing direct competition as a key mechanism. The study found that removing invasive species can alter soil communities, leading to lingering negative impacts on native plants.
A new algorithm, SERA, explores plant community dynamics and predicts changes due to environmental factors like climate change and invasive species. The model shows agreement with empirical data on trends in plant growth and development.
Researchers found that human-created barriers and sea level rise trapped plants in a small zone, altering plant populations and dune structures. The loss of critical late-succession species threatens dune formation and habitat for endangered animals like the Kemp's ridley sea turtle.
Researchers found that mycorrhizal fungi interactions with atmospheric CO2 and soil N led to distinct community formations. This study highlights the importance of considering these interactions in predicting plant responses to climate change.
Research shows that population stability and size tend to increase with community diversity, likely due to variation in local productivity. This finding challenges ecological theory, which predicts a decline in population stability as community diversity increases.
Researchers found that diverse plant communities are more effective at excluding invasive weeds due to complete utilization of space and limited resources. This implies that biodiversity can also provide local resistance to invasions.