Articles tagged with Trees
New research shows that decades-old logging restrictions have failed to reverse population declines of spotted owls in US national forests due to a 'tree deficit', requiring longer-term restoration efforts. The study found stable owl populations in nearby national parks with intact habitats.
A recent study found that California's urban forest canopy cover per capita is the lowest in the US, despite providing significant ecosystem services valued at $8.3 billion annually. The state's arid climate and high population density may contribute to this result.
A new study suggests that dominant forest tree mycorrhizal type affects understory plant invasions, with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) forests more vulnerable to invasive species. This research helps explain the establishment and spread of invasive plants in forests.
A new computational framework simulates each stage of tree combustion, capturing detailed geometry and effects on branches and leaves. The method efficiently models the kinetic behavior of plants and their reaction to heat release in the combustion process.
Research by Stellenbosch University found that fynbos seeds can still be viable in soils where pines have grown for up to 30 years, enabling restoration. Clearing pine plantations within 40-50 years saves time and effort in rehabilitating sites.
Researchers at Dartmouth College created an evolutionary taxonomy of world constitutions using big data and machine learning. The study identifies surprising relationships and unexpected information about constitutional inspirations.
A new study found that higher biodiversity in forests leads to faster tree growth, increased carbon storage, and improved pest resistance. Forest managers can simultaneously improve multiple ecosystem functions without negatively affecting each other.
Researchers created detailed photomosaics of the coral reef at Palmyra Atoll, discovering non-random clustering and a link between coral growth and reproductive strategy. The findings have implications for coral reef management and conservation.
A set of fundamental tactics can be used to combat the challenges brought on by pests in rapidly changing forests. Eight general tactics for improved pest management include growth of practical theory, improved biosecurity, and management plans that anticipate continuing change.
Researchers found that poison-ivy can co-exist with knotweed, supporting native understory plant species and tree seedlings. This unexpected partnership could help restore degraded forest ecosystems threatened by knotweed invasion.
Researchers developed a new remote-sensing method to map functional diversity of forests from small to large scales, independent of predefined vegetation units or species information. This allows for the assessment of forest health, resource use efficiency, and adaptation to environmental conditions.
A global study reveals that urban trees have been growing faster than rural trees since the 1960s, with an average growth rate of 20% across all climate zones. The heat island effect is believed to be the primary driver of this acceleration, leading to increased photosynthetic activity and prolonged vegetation periods.
Pinyon pine trees rely on specific microclimates to recover from drought events. Cooler and wetter climates with high tree cover, abundant juvenile trees, and mature seed-producing trees are essential for regeneration. Microsites under shaded canopies also provide favorable conditions for young pinyon pine growth.
Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin discovered that tiny bees, no bigger than a grain of rice, promote long-distance pairings between trees. These small pollinators aid in preventing inbreeding among closely related plants, ensuring a thriving new generation of offspring.
Researchers have successfully cultivated the Périgord black truffle in the UK for the first time, providing a breakthrough in the fight against climate change's impact on this luxury ingredient. The truffle was grown in collaboration with local farmers in Monmouthshire, South Wales, using a Mediterranean oak tree as host.
A Colorado State University team will research how a deadly citrus disease propagates and can be stopped, supported by a $1.2 million gift from Cutrale. The team aims to understand the spread of the disease and identify effective control methods.
University of Delaware doctoral student Desiree Narango found that native trees are better at providing caterpillars for birds, which is a crucial food resource. In contrast, non-native plants offer little to no resources for breeding birds.
Fossilized tree trunks from China suggest early forest trees grew by building a hollow cylindrical skeleton that collapsed under its own weight. This controlled collapse allowed the tree to achieve great size and provide insights into the evolution of tree growth.
Researchers uncover fossil evidence of a novel growth mechanism used by the Earth's first trees, allowing them to achieve large sizes. The study reveals that these early forests played a critical role in shaping global processes.
New research reveals fossils from 374-million-year-old tree trunks show interconnected xylem strands that conducted water to branches and leaves. These ancient trees had a unique growth mechanism, with individual strands growing their own rings like mini-trees.
Researchers developed a test to predict bitter pit disorder in stored Honeycrisp apples, which can save growers millions of dollars annually. The test analyzes calcium levels in fruit peels and indicates whether the disorder will develop.
A new University of Stirling study suggests that the environmental impact of Amazonian hydropower generation may be greater than predicted. Forest fragmentation and liana growth can lead to biodiversity and carbon losses associated with tropical hydropower, highlighting the need for more accurate assessments in dam decision-making.
An international team developed a statistical approach to examine forest populations and predict biodiversity, highlighting the importance of rare species in maintaining ecosystem health. The new method provides accurate estimates of species numbers and abundances, enabling conservation efforts to focus on vulnerable species.
Researchers from the University of Leeds and others have developed more accurate methods for estimating biodiversity in large regions. The study found that rare tree species are poised to become dominant if conditions change in their favor.
A study in Belize found that herpetofaunal communities remained relatively unchanged after Hurricane Earl, despite significant changes in the environment. The research highlights the ability of these species to adapt to anthropogenic pressures.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE found that tropical tree roots account for almost 30% of the total biomass of young trees. The research also revealed diverse root architectures among species, with some sending large tap roots and others extending laterally just below the soil surface.
Researchers studied the evolution of sticky toe pads in lizards, finding that geckos took an 'adaptive stumble' approach, while anoles committed to a single type. This divergence highlights the complex nature of evolutionary processes and challenges assumptions about the predictability of evolution.
A recent study published in Geoderma suggests that high-intensity forest land use like grazing can counteract the positive effect of tree planting on reducing flood risk. Researchers found that infiltration rates were higher under trees when the forest was undisturbed, but decreased when sheep grazed underneath
A study led by University of California, Davis found that spotted owls prefer forests with tall trees (over 105 feet) and high canopy cover, rather than dense understory. This discovery could resolve the management dilemma of balancing owl habitat with forest resilience to wildfires and droughts.
A new study reveals that the Malagasy striped whirligig beetle is an ultra-rare survivor with a genetic pedigree dating back at least 206 million years to the late Triassic period. The beetle's isolated location in Madagascar may have allowed it to persist, and it now thrives in marginal environments.
The durian tree relies on the pollination services of the island flying fox, which is critically endangered. The discovery has significant implications for Southeast Asia's tropical ecosystems and the lucrative durian industry.
Researchers developed an algorithm based on ant trail networks, which adapts to changes in the environment and avoids taking the shortest path. The algorithm is inspired by how ants navigate through complex vegetation and repair broken trails using a 'greedy search' method.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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 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.
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.