Articles tagged with 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.