Research on trees and their role in nature and cities. Covers forest conservation, tension wood, and the benefits of urban trees.
A team of researchers identified traits that best protect trees against death from drought, finding that xylem stress is a key predictor of survival. The study provides a foundation for improving predictions of drought-induced tree mortality across diverse forests.
Researchers found three tree physiological traits significantly predict drought mortality, related to hydraulics. Trees with lower hydraulic conductivity and safety margins are more susceptible to embolism and death. This study can help forecast tree deaths in drought and inform climate change mitigation strategies.
Researchers found trees exchange large quantities of carbon among different species through mycorrhizal fungi. This discovery questions the concept of tree individuality and adds a new dimension to the role of these fungal networks in forests.
Researchers have discovered over 1,000 new types of bacteria and Archaea, dramatically expanding the tree of life. The newly added organisms come from diverse environments and are characterized by their genome sequences, offering a new perspective on microbiology and its implications for our understanding of biology.
A global network is being set up to use surveillance camera networks and drone data to track changes in trees' growth patterns. Researchers will be able to access time-lapse image data to better understand how climate change affects forests worldwide.
A new genus of treehoppers has been discovered in Texas and northern Mexico, with one species named Selenacentrus wallacei. The researchers found the species among mislabeled specimens from various collections, highlighting the importance of accurate taxonomy.
The invasive black wattle species has rapidly expanded around Kunming International Airport, posing a risk to bird strikes and local vegetation. The study highlights the need for urgent assessment of its potential invasion threat at other airports worldwide.
A recent study published in HortScience provides new recommendations to increase the stock of blight-resistant American chestnut trees. Genetic engineering is proposed as a solution, with the addition of one gene, oxalate oxidase, protecting the tree from the fungus. The study also examined optimized propagation protocols using activat...
University of Missouri researchers analyzed historical forest surveys from the 1800s to gain insights into how natural disturbances and human actions shape forest conditions. They found that historical forests had more total biomass, likely sequestering more carbon than current forests.
A CU study found that large fires in the West followed by drought conditions are affecting high-elevation forests, leading to lower tree densities and increased patchiness. The research team measured tree species, numbers, sizes, and ages of post-fire seedlings in nearly 200 forest plots.
Anthropologists at the University of Oregon have discovered evidence of shea tree harvesting dating back to A.D. 100 in western Burkina Faso, challenging previous estimates of around A.D. 1100. The study reveals a long history of sustainable farming practices and the importance of wild foods in early agricultural diets.
A new study published in Global Ecology and Biogeography finds that drought following wildfires hinders forest recovery in the Rocky Mountains. The research shows that forests are not adapting quickly enough to climate change, with subalpine tree species being negatively impacted by warm, dry conditions.
A new study by University of Florida researchers found that victorious ant colonies recruit members of losing colonies to help defend their territory. After analyzing DNA from nearly 800 ants, the team discovered that fighting changes the genetic makeup of victorious colonies, allowing them to form lasting truces with former foes.
Researchers found that strategic tree planting on floodplains can reduce peak flood height by 6-20% by slowing down rainwater arrival. Extensive forest and river restoration resulted in larger reductions, with mature forests reducing flood risk by up to 100 years post-planting.
Researchers found Eastern US forests are changing, with drought-sensitive tree species dominating and fire-resistant ones declining. This shift, known as mesophication, makes forests more vulnerable to future climate change and droughts.
A research team at the University of Delaware has designed softwood lignin-based polymers with improved thermal and flow properties, making them suitable for applications such as tires, running shoes, and gaskets. The development aims to reduce costs and environmental impact by utilizing waste from the pulp and paper industry.
Researchers discovered chimpanzees in West Africa throwing stones at trees, resulting in accumulations of rocks at these sites. The behavior appears to have cultural elements and has been observed in adult males and females, with no apparent link to foraging or resource availability.
Research uncovers Amazon forest seasonality, revealing a dynamic pattern of leaf growth and death that explains variations in photosynthesis. The findings improve climate models and provide insights into the forest's ability to adapt to dry periods.
Researchers discovered that Amazon forests' annual increase in photosynthesis is caused by synchronization of old leaf loss and new leaf growth, contradicting assumptions about constant canopy greenness. This finding will help improve predictions of forest responses to climate change.
Researchers found that young leaves grow at the same time as older ones perish, causing a shift in tree canopy towards younger leaves with higher photosynthetic capacity. This internal dynamics of the rainforest drives seasonal changes in photosynthesis, which was not previously accounted for in climate models.
A new cloud software tool called EucaTool estimates eucalyptus production in Galicia. It allows users to calculate growth and future production by measuring four stand variables.
Scientists create a computer simulation that grows realistic forests down to individual trees to predict how climate-related changes will affect fire rates, plant growth, and forest recovery in Quebec hardwood forests. The 'LES' model can help identify necessary species for reestablishing forests after wildfires and other disturbances.
Research from the University of Colorado Boulder found that newly-exposed edges of deforested areas can lead to hotter, drier conditions for remaining forests. This could affect species' ability to regulate their body temperatures, altering local ecosystems.
Journalists Terri Cook and Phil McKenna have been awarded the EGU Science Journalism Fellowship to investigate sustainable water development and seismic wave mitigation. They will explore how artificial floods support water development and whether trees can weaken seismic vibrations.
Nearly all US forests are vulnerable to future declines due to increasing drought and climate change, according to a new study. The effects have been most pronounced in the West, but Eastern forests are also at risk as tree populations struggle to adapt to changing conditions.
Researchers studied tree responses to temperature and dry-season stress in Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica. The study found significant changes in second-growth tropical forests due to multi-year droughts.
A new study finds that US forests are experiencing severe drought effects, with potentially devastating consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem services. The research highlights the urgent need for better understanding of forest responses to drought and climate change.
A new study reveals that certain fungi associated with tree roots can alter the fate of tropical forests, boosting plant diversity or giving one tree species a distinct advantage. The research found that these fungi, particularly ectomycorrhizas, make nitrogen unavailable to competing species, allowing dominant trees to thrive.
Recent studies on the Elaeocarpus joga tree from Guam have identified nitrogen and potassium as limiting factors for its growth in limestone soils. This knowledge is crucial for conserving large charismatic trees and restoring degraded landscapes to improve island ecosystem health.
A New Brunswick family's initial attempt to trap snowshoe hares for sport inadvertently created an ecological experiment that shaped the vegetation of tiny Hay Island and Kent. The hares' impact, including mowing down young saplings and altering tree growth patterns, has now been reversed as scientists monitor the island's recovery.
Researchers studying a massive crack in the ground near Menominee, Michigan, have discovered it's likely a rare geological phenomenon known as a 'pop-up' feature. The team used seismic refraction techniques to confirm the formation of the feature, which is believed to be caused by stress in ancient limestone rock.
Two studies reveal how human-made forest changes affect the carbon cycle and air temperature. Replacing broadleaved forests with conifers increases evapotranspiration and albedo, contributing to warming. Forest clearing causes an increase in average and maximum surface temperatures, except at northern latitudes.
Scientists have identified two new species of tree frogs in Taiwan, characterized by their unique gemstone-colored eyes. The new species, Kurixalus wangi and K. berylliniris, exhibit distinct reproductive behaviors, including egg-eating tadpoles, and are found in moist forests on the island.
A study reveals chimpanzees struggle to find ripe fruit, the most energy-rich food source, in tropical rain forests. They must use cognitive strategies to outcompete other animals and optimize their search for high-energy foods.
Current tree-ring-based climate reconstructions need improvement to account for uncertainty, suggests new research. Researchers developed a unified statistical modelling approach using Bayesian inference that simultaneously accounts for non-climatic and climatic variability.
A new genus of tree hole breeding frogs, Frankixalus, has been identified in India, featuring gel-encapsulated eggs and tadpoles that devour their mother's eggs. This discovery highlights the evolutionary distinctiveness and unique life history features of this lineage.
A team of researchers, including those at Florida State University and the University of Florida, have secured a $4 million USDA grant to tackle citrus greening. They plan to culture the bacteria in labs to test new treatments and approaches to combat the disease, which has devastated citrus crops in Florida.
A University of Washington study found that Seattle's urban crops can only feed between 1 and 4 percent of the city's population, even with extensive backyard and public green spaces converted to farming. To meet the nutritional needs of an adult vegetarian diet, it would require a 58-mile expansion around the city.
A new screening technique has been developed to predict which ash tree seedlings are likely to survive the fungal pathogen Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. This technology could help maintain the UK's ash population and biodiversity by identifying non-disease-susceptible individuals before planting out.
Researchers discovered that altering poplar wood composition affects tree microbiome structure and function. Modifications led to changes in bacterial communities within the endosphere, but not outside the plant tissue.
Researchers have discovered that lasers can improve the penetration of antibiotic treatments into citrus leaves, potentially offering a new approach to treating the deadly citrus greening disease. The method uses laser etching to create microscopic indentations in the leaf tissue, allowing for more effective delivery of substances.
A new study reveals that tropical rainforests' predictable structure is driven by competition for sunlight, which fuels the growth of small trees in sunlit patches. This finding can improve climate simulations and estimate carbon storage in tropical forests.
Researchers used data from the Smithsonian's ForestGEO network to develop biologically sound explanations behind mathematical rules of thumb for estimating tree density and size. This enables more accurate calculations of a tropical forest's ability to store carbon.
A new study by researchers at NIMBioS reveals that consistent size structures exist across tropical rainforests, driven by competition among trees for light following a gap disturbance. The findings have significant implications for modeling tropical forests' sustainability and carbon sequestration.
A new study shows that trees globally compete in some of the same ways, making simpler models of forest response to climate change possible. Trees with denser tissues have more impact on their neighbors.
A new study from Carnegie Institution reveals that up to 58 million large trees in California experienced severe canopy water loss between 2011 and today, putting them at risk. The research used advanced tools to measure the impact of the drought on forest canopies and mapped changes in canopy water content.
Researchers analyzed woody debris and used radiocarbon dating to map the history of activity at the Oso site. The study shows that slopes in the area around Oso have collapsed on average once every 500 years, with a higher rate of about once every 140 years over the past 2,000 years.
Research predicts 72% of Northwest Evergreen Trees will die by 2050, with nearly 100% mortality by 2100 under projected global warming scenarios. Climate models suggest a negative feedback loop could accelerate climate change.
Researchers find that extinction of fruit-eating animals like primates and tapirs disrupts seed dispersal, leading to a decline in heavy-wooded trees and reduced carbon storage. This loss affects the ecosystem's ability to counter climate change.
Researchers studied three species of snakes to understand how their unique belly shapes aid in climbing. Brown tree snakes have sharp-edged keels that allow them to grip and propel themselves up trees efficiently, a trait also seen in some corn snakes but not boa constrictors.
A recent study by the University of Melbourne found that every Australian city and town has threatened species. The study highlights the importance of planning and managing cities for conservation as well as human wellbeing.
The invasive spotted lanternfly can cause considerable damage to crops and ornamental plants. A new resource provides information on how to identify and manage the pest, which has already been detected in Pennsylvania and may spread to other areas.
A study from the University of California, Davis found that 'cleared' abandoned ski runs consistently recovered to blend in with surrounding forests, while 'graded' runs showed stunted recovery. The study highlights the need for active restoration of abandoned graded ski slopes to protect water quality.
A recent study found that widespread tree mortality from mountain pine beetles can reduce water availability due to increased evaporation, rather than increasing streamflow. This challenges previous assumptions and offers new insights for managing healthier forests that are more resistant to drought.
New research on Serianthes nelsonii, a critically endangered tree species in Guam, highlights two critical factors limiting its survival: root diseases and insufficient light. The study's empirical approach sheds light on previously overlooked threats to the tree's health.
Two tree species in southwestern Colorado employ distinct strategies to cope with drought: the ponderosa pine conserves water by shutting down production, while the trembling aspen alters its physiology to continue growing. This study sheds light on how woody plants may confront twin scourges of less water and hot weather in a warmer a...
A new tree frog species, Dendropsophus bromeliaceus, has been discovered in the Brazilian Atlantic forest, where tadpoles develop in pooled rainwater stored in bromeliad leaves. The species is distinguished by its small size and unique color pattern.
Researchers discovered that ancient Puebloans used trees from the Zuni and Chuska Mountains to build massive structures in Chaco Canyon. The switch to Chuska Mountain trees coincides with significant cultural developments in Chacoan culture, including changes in masonry style and construction volume.
Researchers created a one-dimensional model of thrombus formation, similar to Tetris, and later expanded to a two-dimensional model. This allows them to study the dynamics of thrombus growth under various conditions, including damage to the vascular wall.
A new study identifies 91 countries at risk from the 'green cancer' miconia tree's expansion, despite warming. The invasive plant's ability to infest territories will not be hindered, but its growth may slow in some areas by 2080.