Articles tagged with Trees
The Critically Endangered Cycas wadei population is threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and fires. Empirical methods were used to determine the structure and density of the population, highlighting deficiencies in potassium in the soils as a major resource constraint.
Researchers characterized a mysterious fungus found in North Carolina's pine forests and discovered its home in the fungal tree of life. The study highlights the potential value of environmental sequencing to guide taxonomic and ecological discovery.
Research reveals that European ash tree populations have acquired genetic diversity from the invasive Hymenoscyphus fraxineus fungus, allowing natural selection to operate. However, new arrivals of more genetically diverse strains could be disastrous for the species.
Geckos using narrower perches exhibit longer limbs compared to those on wider perches, contrary to previous assumptions. This finding suggests a different adaptation strategy for geckos, potentially due to greater frictional and adhesive forces that enable them to cling to narrow perches effectively.
Researchers finally found a giant, tree-dwelling rodent after years of searching in the Solomon Islands. The newly discovered species, Uromys vika, is approximately 4 times larger than black rats and can weigh up to 2.2 pounds.
Two new species of bird-catcher trees from Puerto Rico have been discovered and named after Frances W. Horne and Ana Roque de Duprey, unrecognised women who devoted decades to educational projects in botany. The research highlights the importance of these trees thriving in well-studied areas like the Luquillo Mountains.
A study examines the role of fungi in drought tolerance in pinyon pines, finding that parent and offspring trees share similar fungal communities and that these communities differ between drought-tolerant and intolerant trees.
Researchers found that tree species with drought tolerance traits and soil amendments like rice hulls and hydrogel improved seedling survival. The study provides a general approach to screen native tree species for restoration, offering hope for restoring tropical dry forests.
A new model for tropical plant biodiversity suggests that the storage effect enables tree species to coexist and is stronger in the tropics. Long-term forest monitoring data from 10 plots across 64 degrees of latitude reveal that successful reproductive events become more synchronized as latitude increases.
A new study from Ohio State University found that community forest concessions in Guatemala's Maya Biosphere Reserve slowed deforestation by almost 8%, compared to areas without management and ownership. The programs also preserved biodiversity, history, and culture, while reducing carbon levels.
A study of New Orleans' plant life post-Katrina found that demographic factors, such as wealth and race, were better predictors of vegetation patterns than flood intensity. The research highlights the need for better public policy and management to address the social and environmental challenges in post-disaster recovery.
A joint Canada-France study reveals evidence of wildfires in the French Alps during an ice age 20,000 years ago. The presence of tree charcoal and macro-remains confirms that fires occurred in high mountain areas with no vegetation to burn, challenging long-held assumptions about climate and forest ecology.
Climate change is causing bristlecone pine trees to lose ground to limber pine as they race up the tree line in the Great Basin. The study found that limber pine is successfully 'leapfrogging' over bristlecone pines, taking valuable space for them to germinate.
A 30-year forest regeneration experiment in Interior Alaska shows that planting white spruce seedlings is the most effective method to produce a spruce-dominated stand, with broadcast seeding as the next best option. The study's findings provide valuable insights for forest landowners and reforestation practices.
Researchers from Wake Forest University and Smithsonian detail a new genus of large forest tree commonly found in the tropical Andes. The Incadendron esseri, also known as 'Esser's tree of the Inca', is a canopy tree that stretches up to 100 feet tall and is susceptible to climate change.
A new species of primitive monotrysian micromoth, Cecidonius pampeanus, has been discovered in Brazil, inducing noticeable galls on the Uruguayan pepper tree. The larvae's low survival rate and lack of gene flow amongst populations threaten their extinction.
Researchers found that large stem cuttings of the Endangered Cycas microneica tree can produce adventitious roots, enabling the creation of large transplants. However, this approach may not address underlying threats such as insect pests and tropical cyclones.
A recent experiment by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute found that native tree species outperformed teak in infertile tropical soils. The study showed that Amarillo (Terminalia amazonia) trees grew exceptionally well, accumulating biomass faster than teak and having excellent timber value.
Researchers found that ant fecal droplets contain amino acids and urea, which are commercially used fertilizers. The study showed that visited trees had higher nitrogen content and larger crowns than untreated trees.
Polypterids, known as living fossils, are repositioned on the fish evolutionary tree, shifting their origin and that of modern ray-finned fishes. The study uses CT scans to analyze fossil skulls and DNA sequences, revealing ancient cousins and specializations that evolved later.
A study published in Biotropica found that Asian elephants prefer to eat monocot plants like palms, grasses, and bamboo, whereas African elephants feed on tree saplings. This difference has significant implications for forest dynamics and human-elephant conflict.
Researchers at Portland State University found a correlation between wildfires and warm weather fluctuations, known as the Southern Annular Mode (SAM), in fire-scarred trees dating back to 990 A.D. This study, published in PNAS, indicates that wildfires have become more frequent due to climate change.
New research reveals that root extension rates vary depending on plant age and size, with younger plants extending roots more at night and older plants doing so during the day. This study contributes to our understanding of ontogeny, or the study of organisms from initiation to maturity.
A team of researchers found a 176% increase in aboveground biomass within the 3-hectare area studied, with the orange peels enriching the soil's nutrients and promoting tree growth. The study demonstrates the unique power of agricultural waste to regenerate forests and sequester carbon at no cost.
A recent study finds that megacities generate an average of $505 million in ecosystem services from trees, including air and water filtration, stormwater management, and energy savings. The value of tree benefits could be doubled by increasing tree cover, improving urban well-being and mitigating climate change.
Researchers studied 61 tropical tree species with age ranges of 84 to 255 years and found that old trees stored more carbon than younger ones. The trees maintained high carbon accumulation rates until the end of their lives, accumulating up to 50% of their final carbon stock in the last quarter.
A new critically endangered tree species, Melicope stonei, has been discovered on Kaua'i, with unique habitat features and limited distribution. Threats to its survival include habitat degradation, predation by invasive species, and environmental events.
Researchers have successfully used probiotic bacteria to boost the speed and effectiveness of natural processes that capture and remove pollutants from soil. The technology has shown promising results in cleaning up contaminated groundwater with trichloroethylene, a common pollutant found in industrial areas.
Research by James Cook University found that tree cover helps both tree-dwelling and ground-dwelling reptiles thrive on grazed land. Conservative stocking rates and retaining standing trees can increase native animal populations.
Researchers found that hydraulic failure is universal when trees die during droughts, while carbon starvation occurs roughly half the time. This study aims to improve climate change models by understanding tree mortality mechanisms.
Researchers found that droughts cause tree death by disrupting water transport (hydraulic failure) and limiting carbon supply (carbon starvation). This discovery will enhance regional-scale predictions of drought impacts on forests.
A recent study from Guam found that non-native Acacia trees alter the soil chemistry and root-zone nutrient budgets, causing collateral ecosystem deviations. The results contribute to ongoing global discussions about afforestation for revegetating tropical degraded habitats.
A study found that Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus) trees can produce up to 52 million seeds during their lifetime, making them a major invasive threat in US forests. The tree's ability to maintain seed viability over its lifetime is unique among species.
A new study found that trees can increase wind speed by a factor of two when removed, making it more challenging for pedestrians to walk. Trees also reduced the impact of wind pressure on buildings, particularly through small gaps, and contributed to a more comfortable environment.
A new study in Uganda found that payment programs to protect forests can be highly effective in reducing deforestation and mitigating global carbon emissions. The program, which offered modest payments to landowners for leaving trees intact, resulted in a 50% reduction in tree loss compared to a control group.
A new Northwestern University study suggests that paying people to conserve their trees could be a highly cost-effective way to reduce deforestation and carbon emissions. The program, known as Payments for Ecosystems, was found to have large impacts on forest cover in western Uganda.
A new study published in Science found that offering small financial incentives to Ugandan landowners cut deforestation in half, preserving 3,000 tons of CO2 and costing just 46 cents per ton. The program, which worked despite initial skepticism, could be a cost-effective way to meet climate change goals.
Researchers found that orangutans prefer areas with strong branches to move laterally through the forest canopy, explaining their preference for enclosed canopy. The study's findings contribute to a larger Bornean biodiversity mapping mission and inform conservation efforts in human-impacted forests.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University developed a system that considers cellular and molecular factors to determine functional age of cells. The results show that biophysical qualities of cells, such as movement and structural features, are better measures of functional age than other factors.
New research suggests ancient, dormant fungi could aid trees in migrating due to rapid climate warming in Canada's boreal and tundra ecosystems.
Scientists have discovered that nearly all beech trees in Scotland are derived from native populations, suggesting they should be considered native to the country. The study challenges current woodland management practices and highlights the need to reassess the distinctiveness of native Scottish forests.
Scientists discovered silver fir and Douglas fir are more tolerant to extreme droughts than Norway spruce in the Black Forest. Replacing spruce forests with mixed-species forests of these conifers could have a greater positive effect on biodiversity.
Researchers found that self-suppression is stronger in tropical forests and changes systematically with latitude, contributing to the biodiversity gradient. The Janzen-Connell hypothesis proposes that host-specific natural enemies suppress locally common species, giving rare species space to flourish.
Research found that tropical trees have fewer neighbors to compete with, allowing for more space for rare species. This phenomenon, CNDD, contributes to the higher biodiversity in tropical forests compared to temperate regions.
A new study by University of Montana scientists found that slow-growing ponderosa pines have a greater chance of survival during mountain pine beetle outbreaks, contradicting previous findings. The research suggests that fast growth may be costly and is often detrimental to tree survival in such scenarios.
Researchers developed a modeling framework that quantifies the economic value of nature's ecosystem services, such as clean air and water, food, and paper. The framework helps determine how to protect biodiversity by managing ecosystem services, balancing current costs with future risks of losing critical species.
A study reveals how individual-based modeling can help researchers predict the long-term effects of introduced herbivores on invasive species, such as melaleuca. The model suggests that introducing a native beetle can reduce melaleuca growth by 83% and its reproduction by 49% over 20 years.
A recent Michigan State University study reveals that panda conservation in China has far-reaching benefits for the environment, including increased biodiversity and carbon sequestration. The research found that nature reserves created to protect pandas are also benefiting other plant and animal species.
The spruce budworm's massive defoliation can lead to devastating consequences for the forest industry, causing an estimated $3 billion to $4 billion in losses over the next 30 years in New Brunswick alone. Defoliation increases the risk of natural fires igniting eight to 10 years after a budworm outbreak.
Researchers found that Scots pine benefits from beech presence in forest with high rainfall, while beeches adapt to dry conditions by increasing water efficiency. These findings highlight the importance of considering species complementarity and climate in managing mixed forests.
A team of ecologists has introduced five new species of the Syzygium genus, one of the world's largest tree genera, to the island of Sulawesi. The discovery highlights the vast, undocumented plant diversity on the island and raises concerns about the conservation of endemic species.
Research at Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute found that fig wasps that cheat by not collecting pollen can still flourish in populations where they have a time and energy advantage. This suggests that cheaters may become more common when punishment is too severe, allowing them to reproduce and pass on their non-cooperative behavior.
The CorsicArchive project, funded by the German Research Foundation, uses tree ecology, hydrology and climatology to analyze past and present climate changes. The researchers aim to understand the effects of climate extremes on forest ecosystems and provide insights for forestry industry and tourism.
Climate change threatens tropical peat swamps, which once removed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Peatland forests in Southeast Asia have been disappearing due to clear-cutting and drainage projects, now potentially destroying forested peatlands.
A new study reveals that lianas prevent canopy trees from producing fruit, reducing the availability of a critical food resource for tropical animals. The effects of removing lianas are dramatic, with a 173% increase in canopy tree production five years after removal.
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.
Researchers discovered that Cope's gray treefrogs use comodulation in background noise to pick out high-quality male calls. This finding has implications for human hearing and could lead to better hearing aids and speech recognition systems.
Florida researchers have identified a small protein from the Wolbachia bacterium that can silence viral material in Asian citrus psyllids, potentially helping trees fight off bacterial invasion. The protein could serve as a target for spray treatments to protect trees against the disease.
Researchers from Rutgers University and international collaborators introduce the SYMPHY framework, which classifies life based on symbiotic relationships. This new approach could lead to breakthroughs in environmental issues, sustainable agriculture, and human health.
Researchers developed a method to identify imported wood using its chemical fingerprint, distinguishing between two separate populations of Douglas-fir trees with high accuracy. The technique has the potential to help law enforcement tackle illegal logging by accurately tracing the origin of wood samples.