Articles tagged with Tropical Forests
A study covering 52 Atlantic Forest fragments found that natural dispersal of new plants is boosted by surrounding forest and rainfall regime. Seed richness increased as forest cover and precipitation increased, regardless of fragment size.
A study in Carlos Botelho State Park, Brazil found that brown howler monkeys rest more on hot, long days when feeding on leaves. The group traveled an average of 531 meters per day, influenced by interactions with other primate species like southern muriquis and capuchin monkeys.
A new pantropical carbon database synthesizes data from 146 studies to better understand the effects of forest degradation and regeneration on the global carbon cycle. The study reveals that degraded forests recover faster than fully cleared land, accumulating more above-ground carbon over time.
Researchers found that giant trees in tropical forests have developed complex adaptations to compensate for the challenges of transporting water to their uppermost branches. These adjustments enable them to continue growing and thrive despite increased water stress.
A University of Bristol-led study found that tropical butterflies of the Heliconius tribe live up to three times longer than their closest relatives, with some species surviving for almost a year. The researchers discovered that these butterflies have evolved a unique strategy for extending lifespan and slowing down aging.
Researchers from Frontiers, a multidisciplinary team, spent years searching for the tallest tree in Taiwan after discovering an estimated 5,000 different species thrive on the island. They used LiDAR technology and citizen scientists to identify the 'Heaven Sword,' a 84.1-meter-tall Taiwania fir, as East Asia's tallest tree.
A research team found that tropical forest plants increase root carbon exudation to stimulate phosphatase activity, mineralize organic P, and release organic acids to dissolve mineral-bound P. This adaptation helps alleviate P limitation under long-term N enrichment, sustaining productivity.
A research team found that tropical forest plants increase root carbon exudation to stimulate phosphatase activity and release organic acids to dissolve mineral-bound P. The organic acid pathway drove twice as much P release as the phosphatase pathway.
A study published in Scientific Reports confirms the anti-viral properties of galloylquinic acids extracted from Copaifera lucens leaves, inhibiting viral entry and replication. The substance's multi-target mechanism reduces the likelihood of resistance developing, making it a promising therapeutic candidate against COVID-19.
A new study reveals that birds in Hawaiian forests engage in kleptoparasitism, stealing materials from neighboring nests. The behavior, common among the scarlet I'iwi and crimson Apapane, could threaten species already under stress due to habitat loss and climate change.
A new study reveals that tropical trees have more positive interactions with their neighbors, leading to increased diversity and richness in these ecosystems. This finding may help explain why tropical forests are home to so many tree species.
Researchers have discovered a new species of glassfrog in Ecuador named after Neisi Dajomes, the first Ecuadorian woman to win an Olympic gold medal. The Dajomes glassfrog has uniformly green skin with a pebbly texture and a white membrane covered in light-reflecting cells on its underside.
A new study reveals that improving surrounding landscape quality can increase bird species survival in forest remnants, with modest increases in nearby tree cover substantially boosting numbers. This contradicts traditional views on habitat fragmentation and highlights the importance of a more hospitable matrix for conservation.
A team of researchers, led by Felicity Newell, tracked over 8,000 birds in Peru's cloud forests and found that breeding times vary significantly due to changing environmental conditions. The results suggest a more complex response to climate change than previously thought.
A recent study reveals that tropical insects have limited ability to adapt to climate change, with many species unable to tolerate high temperatures. The research highlights the threat of far-reaching consequences for entire ecosystems, particularly in regions like the Amazon.
Abarco trees show strong early growth but sensitivity to air humidity and sunlight intensity, according to a new six-year study. The research provides critical guidance for reforestation and sustainable forest management in Colombia's tropical regions.
Global study finds that nitrogen pollution causes forests to follow two distinct patterns in response to added nutrients, with some experiencing a boost and others collapsing. The findings highlight the importance of reducing nitrogen levels to stabilize forest soil carbon pools and maintain natural respiration rhythms.
A new study in Systematic Entomology reveals that evasive butterfly mimicry in the genus Adelpha may be a rare and overlooked type of mimicry. The researchers found that Adelpha butterflies use speed and unpredictability as a defense mechanism, making them difficult to catch for birds and other predators.
A new study reveals that tropical forests can regrow up to 95% faster when given sufficient nitrogen, allowing them to absorb more carbon dioxide. This finding suggests that targeting nitrogen pollution from farms and factories may be crucial in helping young forests recover and act as natural climate solutions.
Researchers from UNICAMP found that bromeliad water fertilizes the soil beneath branches, facilitating growth of plants with high nutritional demands. This process, known as remote plant interaction, occurs between physically distant organisms and enhances functional diversity in the system.
Researchers at Colorado State University found that some tropical forest plants are adapting to drought by growing longer root systems, potentially helping reduce vulnerability. The study's findings suggest flexibility under drying conditions may rescue the forest, but long-term implications remain uncertain.
Researchers found a robust and healthy population of critically endangered Sumatran tigers in the Leuser ecosystem, with over 282 high-quality images captured. The team identified 27 individuals, including females with high densities indicating a thriving social system and adequate habitats.
A recent study found that rainfall and temperature significantly impact the water volume in bromeliad tanks, which in turn affects mosquito development and species diversity. This knowledge can be useful for predicting malaria transmission risk and estimating the effects of climate change on disease outbreaks.
A new study reveals that human disturbances, such as logging and wildfires, are profoundly impacting the Amazon rainforest's ecological functions and evolutionary history. The researchers found that even sustainable management practices, like selective logging, have significant negative impacts on tree diversity.
The study used network theory to analyze ecological connectivity of 28 areas in the northwest of São Paulo, Brazil. The research found that restored areas lack diversity, with low connectivity values and no nesting pattern.
Researchers found that elevated CO2 levels can cause leaf temperatures to rise by up to 1.3°C in forests, with a greater impact during extreme heatwaves. This change is likely caused by reduced transpiration and could have significant effects on the water cycle globally.
Two muriqui species, largest primates in the Americas, face significant habitat loss due to climate change. By 2090, up to 61% of their suitable habitats may be reduced, mainly confined to coastal regions of the Atlantic Forest.
A new study suggests that Amazon forest trees have increased in size by an average of 3.2% every decade over the past few decades. The research found that both large and smaller trees have benefited from increased atmospheric carbon dioxide, leading to a significant increase in tree size.
Analysis found that Indigenous Territories with high forest cover can decrease disease rates, including malaria and pneumonia. Legal protection is key to maintaining this effect.
A new study projects the start of Amazon dieback as early as the 21st century under high-emission scenarios, triggered by extreme conditions and global warming levels above 1.5°C. The Amazon's natural water recycling system is weakened, leading to hotter and drier conditions that can no longer sustain dense vegetation.
The decline of seed-dispersing animals, including birds and mammals, hinders the fight against climate change by altering forest composition and reducing carbon absorption. Researchers warn that major global efforts underestimate the importance of frugivores in conservation and restoration strategies.
Researchers conducted the world's biggest bird survey in Colombia, recording 971 species and finding that clearing rainforest for cattle pasture causes a 60% greater biodiversity loss than previously thought. The study highlights the need for policymakers to consider the larger-scale impact of deforestation on biodiversity.
Researchers have identified a new genus of frog, Dryadobates, comprising at least 12 species, with three already declared extinct. The study utilized historical DNA analysis to clarify the taxonomic classification of previously single-species frogs, revealing hidden diversity and extinctions in the Atlantic Forest.
A new study reveals that thunderstorms are a major cause of tree death in tropical forests, explaining patterns of mortality and carbon storage. The research highlights the growing threat of storms to trees and the planet's carbon stores.
A new study suggests that termites can be slow to recover in regenerating forests, hindering growth and health. Scientists propose transplanting deadwood logs or termite mounds into replanted rainforests to boost decomposer abundance and diversity.
New research warns that global policies may lead to triggering of multiple climate tipping points, with a 62% risk on average. However, sustainable future pathways with lower greenhouse gas emissions can significantly reduce this risk.
A recent study reveals that tropical forests are home to an incredible diversity of chemical compounds, including terpenoids and alkaloids, which could have practical implications for human health. The researchers found that tree species in higher elevations tend to use similar chemicals to protect themselves from enemies.
A team of HKU ecologists led an international initiative to study declining tropical insect populations, highlighting alarmingly limited knowledge and threats from urbanization, habitat loss, and climate change. The review emphasizes the need for more research and conservation interventions to maintain tropical biodiversity.
A major new study reveals that tropical forests across the Americas are not adapting quickly enough to climate change. The study found that tree communities are responding too slowly to shifting temperatures and rainfall patterns, making them more vulnerable to extreme climate events.
A study led by Evan Gora found that Dipteryx oleifera trees can survive direct lightning strikes with minor damage, while other trees are badly damaged. The researchers discovered that these trees tend to have fewer lianas and are more likely to gain an advantage in competing for light and space after being struck by lightning.
A new study reveals that tropical forests in the Americas are not adapting quickly enough to keep pace with climate change, with some species thriving while others struggling. The research found that traits such as being deciduous and drought tolerance influence a tree's ability to survive in a changing climate.
Researchers analyzed satellite data from the Sentinel-2 satellites to predict variations in tree traits and map functional diversity. They found significant differences in forest function across continents, with American tropical forests showing greater functional richness than African and Asian forests.
Researchers propose a new biological hypothesis that combines tree dispersal modes and mycorrhizal types to explain the latitudinal variation in forest biodiversity. Advanced spatial analysis techniques reveal a negative aggregation–abundance relationship, stronger in temperate forests, which is linked to animal seed dispersal and myco...
Researchers discovered a novel spatial mechanism underlying the coexistence of tree species in forests, with mechanisms such as seed dispersal driving patterns in tropical forests and mycorrhizal fungi shaping patterns in temperate forests. This finding has implications for understanding biodiversity stability and species coexistence.
A recent study published in PLOS Biology found that even within protected habitats, tropical species are still vulnerable to threats from beyond their borders. Human population density and habitat disturbance in surrounding areas can lead to a decline in species richness by up to 1% per 16 persons per square kilometer.
The study highlights the importance of semi-dry forests in Nui Chua NP, which have the highest diversity and occupancy of the silver-backed chevrotain. Conservation efforts should prioritize these transitional habitats to protect this flagship species.
A 40-year study reveals increasingly common and devastating megadroughts worldwide, with significant impacts on ecosystems and agriculture. The research used global meteorological data to track changes in drought patterns and their effects on vegetation, providing insights into the paradoxical responses of different forest types.
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.
A new study reveals that nutrient enrichment driven by agriculture and fossil fuel combustion poses a significant risk to tropical forest dynamics. This phenomenon can disrupt forest composition and resilience, particularly in the face of global climate change.
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.
Fast-growing tree species are dominating Brazilian forests in regions with high levels of deforestation, threatening ecosystem services and biodiversity. The study highlights the urgent need to conserve and restore tropical forests to preserve these vital ecosystems.
A new study reveals that less than a quarter of the world's tropical rainforests have sufficient quality to support thousands of threatened species. The research highlights the urgent need for conservation strategies that prioritize forest integrity over mere preservation of cover.
A recent study published in Nature found that isoprene, a naturally occurring organic compound emitted by vegetation, significantly contributes to the formation of new particles in the upper troposphere. Isoprene oxygenated organic molecules can rapidly form new particles under certain conditions.
A recent study published in Nature Sustainability analyzed global forest disturbance patterns from 2002 to 2014, identifying four main types of patches and mapping their distribution across different biomes. Human activities tend to leave similar patterns globally, with potential implications for forest resilience.
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.
Research by Göttingen University and collaborators reveals that tree islands within oil palm monocultures can naturally regenerate native tree diversity through ecological restoration. Larger island areas are particularly essential for endemic tree species struggling to find habitats.
Researchers found that mangrove forests in the Maldives have lost over half of their cover since 2020 due to rising sea levels and climate change. The findings indicate that the Indian Ocean Dipole and accelerated sea level rise led to dieback, causing the trees to drown.
A global study published in Nature reveals that over 215 million hectares of tropical forests can support natural regeneration, sequestering 23.4 gigatonnes of carbon over 30 years. The identified area spans across five countries, including Brazil, Indonesia, China, Mexico, and Colombia, highlighting the need for targeted restoration e...
A new study predicts that climate change will threaten the survival of up to 2,000 resident bird species in the Neotropics by 2100. However, a more optimistic future scenario suggests that only 90 bird species will be exposed to longer dry seasons.
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute will use the grant to apply a free, definitive standard for quantification of forest carbon everywhere. The project aims to provide accurate estimates of carbon storage and change in forests globally, enabling countries, companies, and landowners to offset their emissions.