Articles tagged with Trees
Researchers have developed a three-step method to reverse significant reforestation side effects, including rapid soil water loss due to fast-growing species. The approach involves reconstructing slopes and planting slow-growing tree species alongside fast-growing species to increase soil water content.
A study by WVU biologists found that trees globally are consuming more carbon dioxide than previously reported, making forests crucial in regulating the Earth's atmosphere. The research shows that increased photosynthesis is the main driver of this increase, contradicting previous studies.
A new study finds that severe spruce beetle outbreaks followed by wildfires can lead to permanent damage in high-elevation forests. Aspen trees, however, have a higher chance of regrowing from their root systems and may dominate these forests.
A unique peptide found in Australian finger lime has been shown to destroy the deadly bacterium causing citrus greening and activate the plant's immune system to prevent new infections. The treatment is safer for the environment than current methods, using a stable anti-microbial compound that remains effective even in high heat.
A study led by the University of Göttingen analyzed global forest structures and found that precipitation patterns drive diversity in these complex ecosystems. The research team created maps showing regional variability in structural complexity, highlighting the importance of water availability for tree species coexistence.
Researchers have developed a more sustainable approach to treating citrus canker, which reduces copper usage by up to 80%. The new technique involves using less water and copper, resulting in lower costs and environmental impact. By adopting this method, citrus growers can minimize the risk of developing copper-resistant strains.
Researchers found that black howler monkeys remember specific locations for accessing ripe fruit and recall ripening patterns of different trees. The monkeys also use vocal warnings to defend their territories from rival troops.
Researchers found that forests dominated by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi trees release more nitrogen gases than those associated with ectomycorrhizal fungi, negatively impacting air quality. Meanwhile, AM-associating tree roots enhance soil carbon storage by releasing protected carbon, highlighting the complexity of forest ecosystems.
The invasive Prosopis juliflora tree seriously diminishes water resources in the Afar Region of Ethiopia, consuming up to 3.1-3.3 billion m3/yr and generating US$ 320 million and US$ 470 million net benefits per year. The study highlights the need for a coordinated control program to contain its spread and reduce density.
Researchers developed an algorithm to identify various tree species in satellite images, enabling efficient forest management and monitoring. The neural network-based approach improves accuracy and stability for practical application.
A new study suggests that Native American farmers in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico learned to manage fire as an ally to prevent dangerous blazes, clearing flammable material and promoting forest resilience. The ancient practice of controlled burns could help mitigate modern wildfires.
A new study published in the International Journal of Wildland Fire found that forests with diverse tree sizes and small clearings slow down wildland fire growth. The research used a 3D analysis to examine how forest structure affects fire behavior and revealed that varying tree sizes and shapes can significantly impact fire spread.
Researchers at UCOLIVO Group reduce Verticillium wilt in commercial olive grove by integrating resistant crops and soil disinfestation practices, resulting in 3.1% Picual tree mortality vs 5.6% with traditional techniques. Frantoio trees show even greater resistance to the disease.
Scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute synthesize patterns of tropical forest productivity and carbon storage, finding that warm, wet forests with moderately fertile soils store more carbon. The study's findings reveal consistent relationships across regions, influenced by climate and soil conditions.
Research shows that cycad trees' sex can be inferred from their branching behavior, providing a tool for conservationists to assess population traits. This knowledge is crucial for recovering the island's cycad population, as it was killed by non-native insect pests.
Researchers discovered that invasive brown tree snakes on Guam can use a novel, lasso-like locomotion to climb smooth vertical cylinders. This new mode of locomotion has important implications for understanding the snakes and conservation practices aimed at protecting birds from them.
Researchers at Colorado State University and the University of Cincinnati have discovered a new mode of snake locomotion, called lasso locomotion, which enables brown tree snakes to ascend larger smooth cylinders. This discovery may help protect endangered birds from the snakes' impact.
Citrus disease-induced microbial shifts may lead to new management strategies for crops. Researchers found increased diversity in microbiome associated with Huanglongbing disease progression.
UC Riverside scientists have received $4.67 million to breed new fruits with natural resistance to Huanglongbing, a lethal tree disease affecting citrus crops worldwide. The project aims to incorporate resistance into the trees themselves through breeding, providing a more sustainable alternative to commercial treatments.
Researchers at Umeå University discovered a photosynthetic shortcut in pine trees that allows them to stay green year-round. This mechanism, called spill-over, enables the transfer of energy directly between photosystems I and II, protecting the plant from damage caused by excess light energy.
A research team from the University of Helsinki has discovered a tree hyrax in Kenya's Taita Hills that may belong to an unknown species. The 'strangled thwack' calls of the animal have not been described anywhere else, suggesting a possible link to different species.
Researchers found that climate warming causes trees to advance their leaf unfolding and flowering times, but at different rates. This unequal timing may disrupt interactions with pollinators and impact ecosystem structure and function.
The article highlights various Christmas-related health risks, including arsenic poisoning, injuries from falls and slips, and gastrointestinal problems. The authors argue that while some sources suggest the benefits of Christmas outweigh its harms, they themselves found no strong evidence of widespread adverse effects.
A $10 million project led by University of California - Riverside is investigating tiny underground microorganisms for a cure to fatal citrus disease. The research team will test whether soil amendments can suppress parasitic microorganisms and give trees more strength to combat diseases like HLB.
A recent study led by UC Santa Barbara's Marc Mayes investigates how patterns in tree water loss to the atmosphere relates to groundwater supplies. The results validate at landscape-wide scales ideas that scientists have proposed based on decades of research.
Researchers quantify water usage of landscape plants in arid environments to inform irrigation practices. The study found that mature trees become more water efficient, reducing the need for turfgrass, and that removing turfgrass can lead to significant water savings.
Research finds that tropical trees' lifespans decrease above 25 C, with implications for animal habitats, air quality, and carbon stocks. The study suggests that global warming will exacerbate tree mortality, affecting biodiversity and CO2 emissions.
A study analyzing global tree-ring datasets reveals that trees in tropical climates grow two times faster than those in temperate regions but have significantly shorter lifespans. Warmer temperatures above 25.4?C are associated with reduced tree longevity, likely due to water stress.
A University of Maine-led research team studied hundreds of North American tree species and found that only 50% of their potential climatic habitats are actually inhabited. This suggests that trees may struggle to keep pace with climate change, highlighting the need for more sophisticated predictive tools for conservation.
A long-term study led by CABI scientists reveals that the invasive harlequin ladybird has caused a severe decline of the two-spotted ladybird in northern Switzerland. The researchers found that the harlequin ladybird dominated broadleaved hedges, but not pine stands or meadows.
A new study by University of Delaware Professor Doug Tallamy identifies the most critical plants needed to sustain food webs across the United States. These powerhouse plants, including oaks, willows, and goldenrod, support insects that are essential for energy transfer and soil decomposition.
Researchers discovered that stressed oak trees have more diverse fungal communities than healthy ones, with mutually beneficial relationships providing a buffer against climate change. This symbiotic relationship maintains ecosystem balance and could help conserve tree health in California woodlands.
Researchers found that cycad trees exhibit sex differences in growth rate and that garden-grown plants grow faster than those in natural habitats. The study's findings inform conservation decisions for threatened species like Cycas micronesica, which faces significant losses due to invasive insect herbivores.
A study published in Ecological Monographs reveals that sugar maple leaf microbiomes change along the transition from coniferous to deciduous forests. The findings show that southern sugar maples have similar microbiomes, while northern trees host bacterial communities resembling those of other dominant species.
Research by Brazilian scientists reveals that as trees grow faster, their lives get shorter, offsetting carbon storage. This trade-off impacts forest carbon uptake and highlights the need for more effective climate change mitigation strategies.
The study found that preserving and planting trees could cost as much as $393 billion per year by 2055 to achieve more than 10% of total emissions reductions. Forest management in temperate regions will play a significant role, especially under higher price scenarios.
A new study suggests that widespread forest management and protections against deforestation can help mitigate climate change, but will come with a steep cost. The research found that planting and protecting trees could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 6 gigatons a year, but would cost $393 billion annually.
Scientists have discovered that a critically endangered tree species on Guam modifies its leaf function to best exploit prevailing light conditions. The findings provide new insights into the adaptations of trees in response to changing environmental factors.
A new study found that climate-driven increases in carbon capture lead to earlier leaf senescence in temperate trees. This challenges the long-held expectation that warmer temperatures would cause leaves to stay on trees longer and slow down climate change.
Recent consecutive years of record high temperatures and droughts are unprecedented in over 250 years, according to researchers. The combination of heatwaves and soil moisture loss accelerates more heatwaves, threatening the region's ecosystem.
Researchers are analyzing termites to assess their role in infecting ironwood trees with a deadly bacterium, which has killed over 20% of the island's gago trees. The team is also planting new, resistant trees and studying how termites spread the disease.
A 330-year-old poplar tree has been found to accumulate epigenetic marks that reveal its age, providing a natural epimutation accumulation system. The study's findings suggest that the rate of somatic epimutations is approximately 10,000 times higher than genetic mutations in the same tree.
A new study found that city-dwelling tree swallows bred more successfully due to warmer temperatures, but their blood contained higher levels of mercury from contaminated insects. Urbanization's impact on wildlife health is a growing concern as the climate continues to warm and land use changes threaten biodiversity.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that species diversity is optimal for equatorial and tropical rainforests, while abundance of trees is key to carbon storage in colder regions. The findings have substantial practical relevance for climate change mitigation strategies.
A virtual reality forest created by geographers can let people walk through a simulated forest of today and see potential future scenarios. The researchers used data on a typical Wisconsin forest to create a more organic, natural feel, allowing visitors to experience the changes brought on by climate change.
A Cornell-led team is using robots with computer vision to optimize apple yields by controlling fruit numbers per tree. This can increase total crop values by $7,000 per acre, helping growers meet market demand for fruit size and quality.
A new study reveals that Amazon trees dying at a faster rate are those with higher growth speeds, which are more vulnerable to climate change. The research found that drought is also driving tree death, particularly in the southern Amazon.
A study found that large-diameter trees in Pacific Northwest forests store 42% of the total above-ground carbon, while only accounting for 3% of the total number of trees. This highlights their crucial role in mitigating climate change and emphasizes the need to protect these trees.
Researchers outline the benefits of tropical fruits in terms of nutrition and discuss barriers to scaling up supply. Smallholder farmers and marginalized groups can benefit from tree-sourced food sources, which can also provide ecosystem services like carbon sequestration.
A study on the eradication of black rats from Palmyra Atoll found a 14-fold increase in seedling biomass, mostly composed of juvenile coconut palms. The removal of rats allowed native species to thrive, but also led to an invasion of coconut palms, which can alter island ecology and deprive native birds of nutrients.
Researchers analyzed wild olive oil from the Medes islands and found it has excellent sensorial and physicochemical properties, similar to commercial varieties. The study also promotes local cultivation and conservation of wild olive trees.
Researchers at Imperial College London have developed drones that can deploy sensor-containing darts onto trees and collect data on forest ecosystems. The drones can also perch on tree branches like birds to collect data themselves, acting as mobile sensors.
A new species of ancient lizard, Kopidosaurus perplexus, has been discovered with a unique skull shape featuring curved teeth. The fossil's placement on the tree of life is uncertain, with three different evolutionary trees suggesting multiple possible positions.
Research collaboration reveals maple trees as crucial to ecosystem structure and function due to their commonality, with many species at high risk of extinction worldwide.
A first-of-its-kind study found that the US wood pellet industry has a net positive effect on southeastern US forests, with overall carbon storage increased and standing-dead trees decreasing. However, the researchers caution that future expansion and increasing demand may pose concerns if not monitored closely.
Researchers report a successful restoration of an ancient oak woodland in Illinois, with native plant biodiversity comparable to best remnant woodlands. The team's efforts focused on rooting up invasive plants, periodically burning, seeding native plants and culling deer, achieving a level of success rare in restoration ecology.
A new study warns that massive African reforestation efforts could harm ecosystems, as the biomes are divided into distinct types with unique tree species. The researchers analyzed 753 sites in both environments, finding that rainfall, seasonality, and temperature are key environmental factors.
Research on three endangered tree species in Guam reveals that their decomposition releases nitrogen and carbon into the soil, improving forest ecosystem health. The findings highlight the importance of biodiversity and symbiotic relationships between plants and microorganisms in nutrient cycling.
Researchers found that vampire bats with illness associate less with others, spend less time near groupmates, and are less connected to healthy bats. This sickness-induced social distancing reduces transmission rates without requiring cooperation from others.
Researchers at Rice University and UNAM have discovered four new wasp species, including Allorhogas gallifolia, which may interact with other species on galls in complex ways. The discovery adds to the lab's 'ghoulish insect menagerie' and expands understanding of ecosystem interactions.