Articles tagged with Trees
Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin have discovered nearly two dozen new types of microbes that use hydrocarbons as energy sources. These microbes may be helping to limit greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere and could potentially clean up oil spills.
Researchers analyzed evolutionary relationships among hemipteroid insects, revealing diversification around the Carboniferous period. The placement of Psocodea in the tree remains unresolved.
Researchers found that female birds-of-paradise prioritize a combination of characteristics, including the number of colors on a male's plumage and his singing ability. The study also revealed that males who display on the ground have more dance moves than those in trees or forest understories.
A study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B highlights citizen science's potential to tackle pressing research questions in agriculture and food systems. Citizen science has been used to produce scientifically robust findings, engage the public, and make research projects more cost-effective.
Research reveals that female birds-of-paradise evaluate not only physical attractiveness but also singing and dancing abilities when choosing a mate. The study found correlations between behaviors, such as increased colors and sounds in more elaborate displays.
A study led by University of Miami biologists found that tropical trees in the Andes are migrating to higher, cooler elevations to escape warming temperatures. However, this migration is not happening quickly enough to avoid biodiversity loss, functional collapse, or extinction.
Researchers found that streamside forests store an average of 168-390 tons of carbon per acre in mature trees, while soil carbon can triple with restoration. Actively restoring forests jump-starts the process, gaining more than twice the rate of naturally regenerating forests over the first ten years.
A recent study found that the Mauritian flying fox is responsible for only some fruit damage and can be managed effectively without culling. The research recommends alternative methods such as pruning trees and using nets to reduce losses.
The Amazon forest is failing to keep up with the effects of climate change, with more drought-resistant tree species outcompeting vulnerable ones. As a result, biodiversity is at risk, and existing intact rainforests need to be protected from deforestation.
A team of Saudi Arabian scientists has discovered a way to control dormancy in grapes and other fruiting plants by subjecting them to high-tech plasmas. This method may help extend the cultivation of temperate zone crops to milder climates, mitigating problems caused by global warming.
Researchers develop autonomous drone system that collaboratively maps terrain under dense forest canopies without GPS, enabling more efficient searches for lost hikers. The system uses LIDAR and path-planning software to fuse individual drone maps into a global 3D map, facilitating human rescuers.
A Yale-led study finds that fragmentation weakens impact of fungal pathogens and insect herbivores, enabling some tree species to thrive near edges. Researchers tested the effect of natural enemies on seedling diversity in fragmented forests, finding that suppression of these enemies led to biodiversity decline.
A long-term study by University of Washington researchers found that sockeye salmon carcasses fertilized White spruce trees on one side of Hansen Creek, leading to faster tree growth. The study, which spanned 20 years, used tree core samples to measure growth rates and found a significant increase in growth on the side with carcasses.
Researchers find increased TC activity at northern sites after 1920, posing a threat to regions currently outside the impact zone. Younger trees are more likely to experience disturbance at high latitudes, supporting a poleward shift in tropical cyclone hazards.
A research team has identified the genetic mechanism responsible for black cottonwood poplars' susceptibility to Septoria, a deadly disease. The study could lead to more successful hybrid poplar varieties for biofuels and forestry production.
A research team led by CU Denver scientists has developed reliable genetic markers for the whitebark pine, a tree considered for endangered status. These markers will aid in disease resistance screening, strategic seed collection, and climate change mitigation efforts.
A new review paper suggests diversifying working lands, including farmland, rangeland and forests, to preserve biodiversity. This approach can extend habitats for wildlife and create more sustainable, productive farming landscapes.
Researchers confirm monito del monte (Dromiciops gliroides) frequently climbs to high points in trees, suggesting a significant impact on seed germination and dispersal. This discovery sheds new light on the species' importance in southern South American temperate rainforests.
The Pando aspen clone, widely considered the world's largest single organism, is in grave need of forest triage. The study reveals that early protection from fencing showed great promise in abating browser impacts, but follow-up fencing efforts are currently failing.
Researchers at CIRAD found an incoherence in a conversion factor for calculating basic wood density, leading to potential errors in estimating forest carbon stocks. The corrected formula will improve the accuracy of forest carbon assessments and understanding of forests' role in climate regulation.
Researchers found that tropical tree populations increase mainly in locations where the tree is rare, suggesting a 'negative feedback' mechanism that regulates population growth. This phenomenon could explain the high ecological diversity of tropical forests, with more species living in a smaller area than in North America combined.
A 10-year remote sensing analysis reveals that rare canopy trees are more likely to increase in population size than common ones, supporting the Janzen-Connell hypothesis. However, constraints on population growth do not stabilize the tree population, leading to increased size over time.
A 11.6-million-year-old fossil discovered in Can Mata landfill, Spain, has provided new insights into the origin and evolution of flying squirrels. The fossil, identified as Miopetaurista neogrivensis, suggests that giant flying squirrels existed even earlier than previously thought.
A study by Point Blue Conservation Science found that restoring forests can benefit both carbon storage and biodiversity, but optimizing for one may come at the expense of the other. The researchers identified areas with high tree density had more carbon stored in trees, but lower bird density and diversity.
A study of 6.5 million hectares of Brazilian Amazonia found that carbon losses from El Niño forest fires were three to four times greater than expected. The analysis showed that uncontrolled wildfires in understorey areas resulted in high immediate CO2 emissions.
A recent study found that species-rich subtropical forests can absorb up to twice as much carbon as monocultures, showcasing the importance of biodiversity in forest productivity. Reforestation with a variety of tree species is recommended to promote both ecological and economic benefits.
A large-scale forest biodiversity experiment in China found that species-rich forests stored an average of 32 tons of carbon per hectare, while monocultures averaged only 12 tons. The study suggests that a mix of tree species is necessary for optimal carbon sequestration and climate protection.
A $1 million grant will support research into tree chemical defenses against bark beetles, exploring mechanisms of tree death and susceptibility. The study will investigate tree responses to drought conditions and manipulate water availability in pinyon pine forests.
A new drywood termite species has been discovered in Cameroon with snapping stick-like mandibles that deliver powerful strikes at enemies. The species, named Roisinitermes ebogoensis, challenges existing knowledge on the evolution of such defense mechanisms.
Researchers found that East Japan populations of Castanopsis sieboldii survived in situ during the LGM on both Japan Sea and Pacific coasts. Genetic diversity studies suggest these groups had already been established before the LGM, indicating separate survival in different regions.
Researchers discovered a new fossil that shows large angiosperm trees grew in North America by the Turonian age, dating back nearly 15 million years earlier than previously thought. This find provides more detail to our understanding of the landscape during this period and sheds light on the evolution of flowering plants.
A new study from the University of Illinois suggests that school greening could be a solution to improving academic performance in disadvantaged schools. The research found that schoolyard tree cover positively predicted math scores, with more trees leading to better performance, while grass had no impact on learning.
Research by University of Utah biologist William Anderegg and colleagues found that diverse forests are more resilient to droughts due to a variety of hydraulic traits in tree species. Forests with multiple types of trees and diverse water use patterns showed less impact from droughts, with satellite data confirming the findings.
A previously unknown pathogenic fungus, Liberomyces pistaciae, has been isolated from pistachio trees in Sicily, causing cankers and decline. The fungus is characterized by vascular necrosis and tree collapse, and its presence was detected in asymptomatic trees, suggesting a dormant growth phase.
Researchers reconstructed a drastic climate change event in southern France using tree-ring width measurements and chemical analyses. They found that the region experienced increased air mass transport from the North Atlantic and regional variability in precipitation, leading to extreme weather conditions.
Researchers analyzed Tipuana tree rings and bark to measure environmental pollution levels, finding reduced levels of cadmium, copper, nickel, and lead over the past three decades. The study suggests a correlation with declining gasoline emissions in Brazil.
Researchers have developed a new approach to conserving tree species, focusing on increasing genetic diversity and efficiency in protection. The method can be tailored for successful conservation of any species, including custom-tailored seed collection protocols.
A recent study found that invasive pine trees significantly increased the severity of the 2017 Knysna wildfires by trebling fuel loads. The study also showed that climate change exacerbated the fire's impact due to a prolonged drought period, and warned that similar conditions will occur again in the future.
The study uses Landsat and Aster satellites to identify ecologically relevant environmental and biotic variation, and machine learning algorithms predict species distributions. The findings provide important information for forest management and conservation in the Peruvian lowland Amazonia.
Researchers at OHSU used 3D imaging to investigate airway nerves in asthma. They found that denser nerves are associated with more severe symptoms and increased eosinophils. This new insight could lead to better treatments for asthma.
A study led by Duke University estimates total population sizes and geographic ranges for 19 lemur species across Madagascar using trees as a proxy. The findings suggest that not all lemurs are endangered, with some species having healthy populations remaining, while others face significant declines due to habitat loss and hunting.
A University of Basel study reveals that native forest trees can adapt to extreme drought by closing their pores, preventing damage and reducing water loss. Despite this, researchers caution that prolonged dry spells could weaken trees and make them more susceptible to insect infestations.
A new phase has been proposed in the relationship between figs and wasps, revealing a sixth developmental cycle where insects other than wasps can insert their eggs into figs. This finding highlights the complex mutualism between figs and wasps, which have evolved over 65 million years.
Research found that biodiversity increases live tree carbon storage by up to 20 megagrams per hectare, but has a smaller impact on overall carbon storage. Climate and site topography have a more significant effect on forest carbon storage.
Research suggests that tree felling in African savannas is releasing at least three times more carbon than previously thought. The study found that degradation releases around twice as much carbon as deforestation, leading to combined losses of three to six times higher than expected.
A new Yale study examines the role of 'natural enemies' in promoting tropical species diversity. However, findings suggest that disparities in enemy susceptibility can make communities less stable. The research contradicts a long-held hypothesis, highlighting the need for alternative explanations.
Researchers analyzed over 23,000 tree cores to investigate how adult trees respond to changes in climatic conditions. The study found that trees responded to variations in climate during a roughly 40 year period and adapted locally.
A new interaction between plant and insect parasites is found when the two exist on a shared host. The parasite-leeches nutrients and moisture away from the wasp larvae developing in the tree, while also attacking unusual growths caused by the wasps. This discovery has implications for agriculture and medicine.
Biologists at Rice University have discovered a new trophic interaction between love vines and gall-forming wasps. The study found that the vines attack tumor-like growths called galls made by the wasps, leaving behind mummified adult wasps.
A University of Montana researcher found that trees surviving a recent outbreak of mountain pine beetles had a distinct genetic makeup, differing from the susceptible population. This discovery suggests that resistance to the beetles may be heritable and provides hope for managing forest adaptation.
A new study found widespread logging permit fraud in the Brazilian Amazon, which is undercutting conservation efforts and threatening high-value timber species like ipe. The researchers discovered a deliberate overestimation bias of these species, indicating corruption or simple misidentification.
A new mathematical model suggests that balancing demand variability and costs can significantly reduce the risk of importing exotic forest pests and diseases. The research, published in The Journal of Applied Ecology, recommends longer-term grant schemes and higher import duties to help nurseries manage fluctuations.
A study by the Technical University of Munich found that European trees' wood density has decreased continuously since 1870, despite increased growth. The decrease in wood density is attributed to factors such as rising temperatures and nitrogen input from agriculture and industry, affecting forest ecosystems.
Researchers found that lichen communities in severely burned areas showed significantly lower abundance and diversity, even 16 years after the fire. The loss of tree canopy and hot, dry microclimate left in the forest post-fire hindered lichen growth, suggesting that recolonization may not occur until mature trees regrow.
Researchers from CNRS and Cirad have discovered that the bark of certain tree species generates forces that control tree growth and upright posture. This motor function was previously overlooked, but is now recognized as a crucial component of a tree's ability to grow vertically.
A study found that tropical tree species have distinct nutrient-capture strategies, with some producing more phosphatase in poor soils. The research highlights the importance of biodiversity for successful reforestation projects and suggests that applying basic biological processes can maximize carbon capture.
A groundbreaking study by Oregon State University demonstrates the potential for genetically modified forest trees to prevent new seedlings from establishing. Researchers successfully engineered containment traits that limit the spread of genetically modified or exotic poplar trees, mitigating societal concerns over gene flow.
Research reveals that tropical pioneer tree species employ physical and chemical defenses to survive, with seeds relying on different strategies based on their persistence time. The study's findings have implications for crop production, weed management, and understanding natural plant community dynamics.
A new study reveals that animal and fungal species have a significant impact on forest performance, including carbon storage and climate regulation. The research, conducted over ten years in subtropical forests, found that biodiversity must be considered as a whole to maintain forest health.
Research finds 73% of tree species have shifted westward, largely associated with changes in moisture availability. Climate change impacts are more near-term and related to moisture availability than temperature changes.