Articles tagged with Tropical Forests
A new strategy proposes a biodiversity-focused approach to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation, favoring high-biodiversity nations in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. This approach has been shown to contribute more to slowing biodiversity loss than traditional carbon-based credit scenarios.
A team of researchers led by Dr Thorsten Wiegand and funded by the European Research Council (ERC) is investigating the composition and dynamics of species-rich communities. They will use advanced methods to understand the factors and processes governing biodiversity, utilizing extensive data sets from tropical forests.
Researchers studied orangutan movement to understand how they adapt to challenging environments. Orangutans move with an irregular rhythm, allowing them to cope with tree vibrations and forage safely.
A new study reveals that biofuels could hasten climate change due to the destruction of tropical rainforests. The study found that it will take over 75 years for carbon emissions saved through biofuel use to compensate for the carbon lost when these forests are converted into plantations.
Oil palm expansion in the Brazilian Amazon is likely to occur at the expense of natural forest, according to William F. Laurance and Rhett A. Butler. The proposed revision to Brazil's forest code would allow up to 30% of reserved forests to consist of oil palm plantations.
A team of scientists led by Dolores Piperno has discovered the earliest evidence of maize domestication in the New World, dating back to 8,700 years ago. The research confirms that maize originated from a wild plant called teosinte and was first domesticated in tropical southwest Mexico.
Research finds that tropical forest lizards are less tolerant of high temperatures than their relatives at higher latitudes. A temperature change of just a few degrees can significantly reduce their physical performance, making them more vulnerable to extinction. The study's lead author warns that the same concerns apply to other ectot...
Researchers discovered that African forests are increasing in tree carbon stocks by an amount equal to the weight of a small car each year. This suggests that extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could be acting as fertilizer, but other factors like human occupation and past disturbance may also be at play.
Researchers found that tropical trees in undisturbed forests absorb 4.8 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, including an unknown carbon sink in Africa. This massive carbon sink has significant implications for climate change, with the potential to buffer global warming by substantially reducing atmospheric CO2 levels.
The IPCC Fifth Assessment will incorporate new studies predicting more severe changes than previous assessments. Tropical forests could become carbon sources due to wildfires and warming temperatures.
Laurance and Lovejoy received the award for their contributions to understanding habitat fragmentation and global change impacts on tropical forests. Their work promotes conservation research in imperiled forests, inspiring decision-makers and the public to establish and conserve large, interconnected forest reserves vital to ecologica...
A new study uses airborne technology to track changes in Big Island tropical forests, revealing how climate and invasive species affect carbon stocks. The research finds that fast-growing invaders decrease biomass levels, while slower-growing species increase biomass stocks.
Scientists estimate that roughly 1.4% of tropical humid forests were deforested between 2000 and 2005, with more than half containing 50% or less tree cover. New remote-sensing technologies are required to monitor the changes caused by selective logging and forest regeneration.
The Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology has received a $1.6-million grant to improve and expand CLASLite, a user-friendly method for mapping tropical forests from desktops. The technology will help rainforest nations monitor their changing carbon budgets and advance deforestation and degradation mapping in Latin America.
A recent study found that biofuel plantations in tropical forests release more carbon into the atmosphere than they save, harming both climate change and biodiversity. The study suggests that preserving existing forests is a better way to combat climate change.
Researchers found that trees in the Yasuni forest use distinct strategies to survive, challenging the neutral theory of biodiversity. The study supports an alternative explanation that individual species characteristics play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity.
A new genus and species of primate, Diablomomys dalquesti, has been discovered in Texas dating back to 44-43 million years ago. The finding provides evidence that primates lingered in Texas longer than previously thought due to the warm climate during the late middle Eocene.
Researchers discover ancient urban civilization in the Amazon, with clusters of 150-acre towns and smaller villages organized in spread out 'galactic' patterns. The settlements were heavily influenced by historic human activity, contradicting long-held stereotypes about early Western versus New World settlements.
Researchers have traced the origin of Tahitian vanilla to tropical forests of Guatemala, where it began as a pre-Columbian Maya cultivar. The team used genetic analysis to confirm that Tahitian vanilla is a hybrid offspring between two native species in Central America.
Scientists predict that rare Amazon tree species could suffer up to 50% extinction rates, while common tree species may survive. The Amazon basin contains about 40% of the world's remaining rainforest, with many rare species present.
Tropical lianas are becoming more abundant with rising CO2 levels, potentially choking out trees. Lianas thrive during droughts, growing seven times faster than trees, raising questions about their role in forest dynamics.
Reduced carbon emissions from tropical deforestation and degradation can be achieved through improved forest management techniques. Studies show that better logging practices can minimize ecological impact by up to 50% and reduce carbon losses by approximately 30%.
Researchers warn of a 'biodiversity tragedy in progress' due to tropical habitat loss, with up to 15 million hectares lost annually. The review calls for an immediate, multi-pronged approach to conserve ecosystems and mitigate human impacts.
The Carnegie Institution's Department of Global Ecology is developing a database of plant chemical and remote sensing signatures for tropical forest species with a $1.8 million MacArthur grant. This 'Spectranomics Project' will enable large-scale inventory and tracking of rainforest vegetation globally, enhancing satellite observations.
The journal, launched by Mongabay.com, will publish original research papers and reviews on tropical forest and ecosystem conservation. It aims to stimulate publications addressing social, economic, and industrial drivers impacting tropical ecosystems.
Researchers develop new method to measure biodiversity, finding that most species have limited impact on ecosystem diversity. The study reveals that 'attractor' species promote biodiversity in tropical rainforests, while 'repellent' species have a negative effect.
A study by UC Irvine ecologists finds that excess nitrogen in tropical forests increases plant growth by an average of 20 percent. This boost in plant growth suggests the tropics will take in more carbon dioxide than previously thought.
A study by Dr Alan Grainger found no convincing evidence for a decline in tropical forests over the past 40 years. Despite local evidence of deforestation, long-term data is plagued by errors and inconsistencies that raise questions about predictions of species extinctions and global climate change.
A new study reveals that more than half of the world's protected areas are at risk from climate change, with severe extinctions and altered landscapes predicted. Countries such as Benin, Bhutan, and Ecuador face the greatest threats, highlighting the urgent need for consistent data to develop solutions.
A recent study published in Nature finds good agreement between species richness of tropical forests and coral reefs and a simple mathematical model based on the neutral theory of biodiversity. The researchers argue that interactions between species can be largely ignored, contradicting previous claims from other scientific teams.
A four-year study will investigate restoration practices in Hawaii's most degraded ecosystems, providing concrete information to restore remaining dry forests and break invasive species/wildland fire cycles. The project aims to improve Department of Defense land management in the Pacific region.
The US has forgiven $26 million in Costa Rican debt to protect the country's tropical forests, with Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy providing additional funding. This is the largest debt-for-nature swap under the Tropical Forest Conservation Act, aiming to slow global warming by protecting carbon-storing ecosystems.
A new study by Conservation International and colleagues warns that 11 countries with high forest cover and low rates of deforestation are at risk of being left out of a carbon market intended to promote rainforest conservation. The study calls for 'preventive credits' to incentivize protection of intact tropical forests.
New research findings suggest tropical insects can be consistently found across hundreds of miles, eating a broader menu of foliage. This challenges the notion that plant-eating insects are picky eaters that stay close to home.
A global assessment reveals that poor management in tropical parks is often driven by corruption and poverty, leading to ineffective fire prevention. The study used satellite data to measure park effectiveness across countries, finding that some parks succeeded where others failed to prevent fires.
Halving deforestation rates by mid-century could prevent one billion tons of carbon from being transferred to the atmosphere through deforestation. Brazil has demonstrated that it is feasible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from tropical deforestation, with nearly half its deforestation rates cut in recent years.
Researchers found that drought sensitivity is a key factor shaping tropical plant species distribution patterns, with denser plants on wetter sides and fewer on drier ones. This study provides new insights into the importance of water availability in shaping tropical forest ecosystems.
Researchers found that drought tolerance predicts plant distributions at local and regional scales in tropical forests. Drought-tolerant plants are more common in dry sites than in wet sites, even in humid forests.
The study reveals that areas with well-defined property rights show substantial forest regeneration, while insecure property rights lead to deforestation. The research highlights the complex relationship between human population density and deforestation in Madagascan tropical forests.
New study suggests tropical forests are efficient at cooling the planet due to their ability to store large amounts of carbon and produce reflective clouds. In contrast, forests in snowy areas can warm the Earth by absorbing sunlight that would otherwise be reflected back into space.
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute will expand its research capability with a new Global Earth Observatory system, increasing the quality of scientific data across 20 large-scale research plots in 17 countries. The grant will enable the Center for Tropical Forest Science to compare climate change and forest carbon data.
A recent study published in Science found that the number of tree species consumed by rainforest insects is comparable to those in temperate forests. The research, led by University of Minnesota plant biologist George Weiblen, rejects the notion that tropical insects are picky eaters who prefer fewer host plants.
A recent study published in Science found a direct link between tropical tree species diversity and the diversity of leaf-eating insects. The research team compared insect feeding habits in temperate and tropical forests, concluding that higher tree diversity supports more insect species.
The program will focus on training field workers, park managers, and community leaders in environmental conservation and management. Yale University has received a $4.8M gift from the Lisbet Rausing Charitable Fund to develop a systematic, integrated program of training and education in tropical regions.
The ITTO report reveals that sustainably managed tropical forests have expanded from 2.4 million acres in 1988 to at least 87 million acres in 2005. However, the majority of forest land being managed sustainably comprises less than 5% of total surveyed areas.
Researchers find tropical forests lose significant amounts of nitrogen to the atmosphere, primarily due to denitrifying bacteria. The study reveals that in dry climates, these bacteria consume nitrate, while in wetter climates, they convert it back into gas.
A recent study challenges metabolic ecology models, which failed to explain tropical forest structure and dynamics. Instead, researchers found that environmental conditions and species traits play a crucial role in shaping these ecosystems.
Researchers discovered that rats and mongooses rarely penetrate forest interior due to poorer habitats for reproduction, making natural forests ideal refuges for threatened island species. Conservation efforts should prioritize protecting remaining large blocks of natural forests on Pacific islands.
A new initiative aims to slow deforestation in tropical forests by allowing wealthy industrial nations to pay developing countries to conserve their forests. This mechanism would earn 'carbon credits' that count toward emissions targets, potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers investigate tropical forest structure, uncovering intricate relationships between tree diversity, spatial distribution, and environmental factors. The study reveals that tropical forests exhibit complex characteristics that resist simplistic explanations, highlighting the need for nuanced understanding of these ecosystems.
New projections suggest that deforestation rates will decrease as population growth slows, allowing a larger area of tropical forests to remain. The study's findings provide hope that many tropical forest species can survive the current wave of deforestation and human population growth.
Tropical regions are facing growing fire hazards, leading to more severe impacts on local ecosystems. The study found that repeated fires are causing cumulative stress to sensitive species.
A landmark study reveals that older trees in tropical forests are more diverse than younger ones, suggesting that diversity is selected for as each forest matures. This finding highlights the importance of ecological value to species diversity in these complex ecosystems.
A recent study found that biodiversity arises from the same underlying processes in tropical rainforests and Minnesota prairies. Rare trees may have an advantage due to reduced vulnerability to predators and resource competition.
A study using satellite data found that indigenous lands are highly effective in stopping deforestation, with some areas showing less than 1% inner deforestation rates despite high rates of outer deforestation. This contradicts the assumption that indigenous peoples will cease to protect forests with acculturation.
Research from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Carnegie Institution suggests that planting trees in the US could cool the Earth for a few decades, but lead to planetary warming in the long term. Tropical forests, however, can help keep global temperatures cool by evaporating water and absorbing carbon dioxide.
A new theory explains tropical rain forests' rich biodiversity and community assembly patterns. The theory proposes that abundant species regulate themselves to make room for others, regulating dynamics and permitting coexistence.
The Tropical Dry Forest Research Network (TROPI-DRY) aims to translate research into policies to save these ecosystems. With over $175 million in environmental services fees paid by Costa Rica since the late 1990s, private conservation offers a promising solution.
A new study reveals that tree diversity in tropical forests plays a crucial role in determining their ability to store carbon and provide other essential ecosystem services. The researchers simulated different extinction scenarios and found that the types of trees remaining had a significant impact on carbon storage capacity.
A new study using NASA satellite images found that MODIS can detect changes in Amazon land cover rapidly and reliably. This technology allows for regional analyses of land cover in a matter of days, reducing the time required for analysis compared to high-resolution Landsat data.