Research on trees and their role in nature and cities. Covers forest conservation, tension wood, and the benefits of urban trees.
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 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.
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.
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.
Researchers found that biochar application successfully reduced soil acidity and made heavy metals less bioavailable, converting them into less toxic forms. This locally sourced biochar can be used to prevent metal accumulation in soils near abandoned mines, potentially reviving degraded ecosystems.
Researchers found that forest biomass had a major peak at altitudes of 2400-3100m, where forests struggle to reach more than 15m tall. This discovery challenges the assumption that tall mountains make small trees and reveals unique climate conditions on mountain tops of PNG.
A new study from the University of Helsinki suggests that climate change may increase the damage caused by a naturally circulating fungal disease in Norway spruce trees. The researchers found that future climate changes can alter the impact of forest pathogens, highlighting the need for further research on this topic.
A team of scientists has provided a new evolutionary tree for Archaea, resolving their deepest relationships. The study suggests that early Archaea likely used the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway to make energy, dating back over 3.5 billion years.
A new study predicts a significant decline in carbon storage in the Sierra Nevada mountains under projected climate-wildfire interactions. The research highlights the need for policy makers to take action to maintain these forested ecosystems, which can help regulate water flow and mitigate the effects of global warming.
In a unique mechanism of seed dispersal, goats spit out argan tree seeds during rumination, benefiting the trees' survival. This novel method may be essential for some plant species.
The study found that edible dormice prefer areas with a mix of beech trees and conifers, providing a balanced food supply. The rodents adapt to the lifecycle of beech trees by making pragmatic choices about territory selection and hibernation patterns.
Researchers estimated that Los Angeles lost about 100 gallons of water per person per day to the atmosphere in 2010 due to overwatering of lawns and trees. The study found a surprising water efficiency of tree cover, with trees using significantly less water than grassy lawns.
A University of Utah study found that LA lawns account for 70% of water loss, while trees use relatively less water. Wealthy neighborhoods lose more water due to larger lot sizes and other factors.
A new study from the University of Illinois suggests that simple metabolic functions were the precursor to the emergence of life on Earth. The research analyzed gene ontology data and constructed a tree tracing the evolutionary path of molecular functions over time.
A new study published in New Forests finds that the American chestnut rescue effort will eventually succeed, but at a slower pace than anticipated. The research team reviewed decades of breeding records and transgenic experiments to conclude that it is just a matter of time before blight resistance is achieved.
Researchers discovered the oldest known evidence of Homo at Ledi-Geraru, dated to 2.8 million years ago, with early Homo associated with open and arid grassy environments. The diet of early Homo appears similar to that of Australopithecus, challenging previous assumptions about the origins of Homo.
A study in PLOS ONE reveals that Yellowstone grizzly bears continue to forage for declining whitebark pine seeds, a key food source. The analysis suggests that some bears may be consuming more plants and berries in response to the decline of whitebark trees.
Early human ancestors may have been able to exploit the forest canopy for resources by using a 'light touch strategy', improving their balance in simulated arboreal environment by up to 30%.
Researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, discovered that tiny soil organisms create 'soil highways' for young trees, influencing their migration patterns. The study suggests that these invisible biotic communities could be used to encourage tree migration and preserve heat-sensitive species.
A UC Berkeley study has found significant flaws in research used to challenge the US Forest Service's plan to restore Sierra Nevada forests. The study, published in Ecological Applications, uses historic field data to estimate forest density and finds two major methodological flaws.
A new study sequencing 80 silver birch genomes reveals genetic mutations influencing tree growth, wood production, and environmental adaptations. These findings hold potential for breeding trees better suited to various industries and climates.