Research on trees and their role in nature and cities. Covers forest conservation, tension wood, and the benefits of urban trees.
Researchers used ancient pollen data to test hypotheses on species diversity and coexistence in forests. They found that stabilizing forces, not neutral dynamics, were maintaining forest diversity, contradicting long-held views.
Researchers found that half of the ozone is lost through unknown mechanisms in summer, but absorbed by trees in winter. The study suggests that understanding natural processes is crucial for developing scientifically-based air quality management policy.
A study by Sean Brady reveals that army ants originated from the same source on Gondwana 100 million years ago, instead of evolving independently on separate continents. The ants' unique characteristics, including nomadic behavior and reproductive adaptation, have remained unchanged over time.
A new theory describes a fundamental pattern that unifies various ecological relationships, providing insight into species abundance and biodiversity. The theory also suggests a predictable relationship between the sizes of rock pieces and species populations.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have successfully reduced lignin content in aspen trees by 45-50% through genetic modification. This reduction increases cellulose content and accelerates tree growth, offering economic and environmental advantages for the wood, paper, and pulp industries.
A newly discovered fungus, estimated to be between 2000 and 8500 years old, has rewritten the concept of individual organisms. The fungus, a clone of Armillaria ostoyae, covers an area of 9.65 square kilometers and has implications for forest management practices.
Research shows that fire frequency impacts the ability of forests to store carbon, with younger stands storing less carbon than older ones. Forests dominated by rapidly growing aspen trees tend to store more carbon than those with slower-growing black spruce and jack pine trees.
Research analyzed DNA differences among 50 squirrel genera to deduce their interrelationships and evolutionary history. The study found that climate change and geological events played a significant role in shaping the squirrel family tree, with major branches diverging around 5 million years ago.
Biologist Patrick Jansen found that acouchy rodents, large guinea-pig-like animals, disperse larger nuts further away from trees. This leads to more successful germination and increase in nut-producing trees over time. Protecting animals in managed forests is crucial for tree regeneration.
Research by the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station sheds light on red-cockaded woodpecker conservation, revealing a preference for older pine trees with resin-rich bark. The study also shows that converting loblolly pine stands to longleaf pines can increase available food for endangered woodpeckers.
A CU-Boulder study suggests that elevated CO2 concentrations in agriforests can reduce isoprene emissions, a key contributor to ground-based ozone pollution. This finding could have significant implications for mitigating regional ozone pollution and enhancing climate mitigation strategies.
Amazon wildfires contribute significantly to atmospheric carbon dioxide, reducing tree-life viability to less than half of unburned areas. Dr Barlow's research found that fires damage large, thicker-barked trees, leading to increased emissions and further loss of vegetation.
Researchers at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station have discovered a promising new treatment for eliminating mistletoe from urban trees. The plant hormone has shown to be effective in controlling up to 90% of mistletoe infestations, with potential applications for widespread use across the United States.
A team of US researchers study Polish forest plots with 14 different temperate tree species to understand biodiversity and ecosystem structure. They investigate how tree species influence the environment, soil acidity, and decomposition.
Forest thinning may improve plant diversity and support animal habitats if done correctly, according to USGS-funded research. The study found that selective thinning of dense young forests can promote the growth of hardwoods, large trees, and old-growth characteristics.
A pilot study in the Ozark region found that half of the red oaks on plots were dead, and 10% of white oaks were dying. The study estimates that up to 33% of red oaks may be lost due to the outbreak.
A Texas Agricultural Experiment Station study found that early planting, even in September, can give slash pine trees a growing head start towards better survivability. Container-grown trees showed more than 90% survival after the first year, compared to 60% for bare-root trees.
A new study by University of Vermont scientists sheds light on what makes leaves turn red, finding that nutrient stress, particularly low nitrogen, can instigate early and more intense red color in maples. The research uses computer imaging technology to measure the percentage of color in each leaf throughout the seasonal cycle.
Woodpecker finches rely on tool use to extract food from bark and tree-holes in scarce environments, outperforming conventional foraging techniques. This unique adaptation allows them to acquire larger, high-energy prey.
A breakthrough in genetic engineering has enabled scientists to transform loblolly pine trees with improved drought tolerance and disease resistance. The study demonstrates the use of a shoot-based transformation method, which can accelerate the improvement of this important species.
UC researchers have confirmed that coast redwood and Douglas fir are susceptible to Phytophthora ramorum, the pathogen causing Sudden Oak Death. The disease has already killed tens of thousands of oaks and tanoaks along California's northern coast.
A UGA research study discovered that genetic diversity is vital for maintaining ecosystem balance. The study found that reduced genetic biodiversity affects an ecosystem's predictability and nutrient release, highlighting the importance of conserving both species and genetic diversity.
Research at six experimental field sites found that trees and shrubs invading grasslands in wet environments can lead to significant losses of soil organic carbon, offsetting the carbon stored in growing wood. This challenges previous estimates suggesting that woody encroachment could balance emissions.
A study of 15 community parks found that bird diversity and abundance are linked to neighborhood income, not park size or vegetation. However, the correlation between trees and bird populations is weak, suggesting other factors, such as cat populations or urban planning, may be at play.
Red pine groves in the Boundary Water Canoe Area may vanish due to lack of natural fires. A new model suggests that continued fire suppression would lead to the loss of red pines and other tree species within 300 years.
The Ecological Society of America honored its 2002 award winners for their contributions to ecology, including George Mercer Award recipient Jonathon Levine's innovative approach to managing invasive species. The Eugene P. Odum Education Award was given to Margaret Lowman for her work in ecology education and research.
A new study reveals acid rain's damage to American forests is more widespread than believed, potentially creating compromised immune systems in trees. The study suggests that acid rain can suppress the capacity of trees to survive environmental stresses, with far-reaching consequences for forest ecosystems and wildlife.
New research suggests that acid rain can deplete the nutrient pool available to trees in forests, making them more vulnerable to acid rain's effects. This finding has important implications for industrially influenced forests in the northeastern United States and Europe.
Researchers studying isoprene emissions from oak trees in Houston have found that these reactions can lead to increased ozone production and ground-level air pollution. The study aims to understand the critical steps in this process to mitigate environmental damage.
Researchers found that certain fungi can supply calcium to trees in acidic soils, reducing the loss of essential nutrients. However, not all tree species have beneficial fungal associations, and other factors like soil acidity can still hinder plant growth.
Researchers discovered that some trees use fungi to obtain calcium from an intermediate pool of apatite, previously unknown as a plant-available source. This finding has implications for forest management and understanding the effects of acid rain on forests.
Researchers at Duke University found that density-dependent mortality plays a role in promoting tree species diversity, just like in tropical forests. Their study suggests that preserving natural enemies is crucial for maintaining tropical diversity.
A recent study by Penn State researchers found that urban forest fires have led to increased tree density of specific species in New York City's undeveloped parklands. In contrast, an old-growth urban forest in Cleveland, Ohio, has remained stable with no history of forest fires since 1935.
A new study estimates 3.7 to 5.9 million insects worldwide, down from Erwin's initial estimate of 30 million. The research suggests that specialist herbivores are rare, and genera rather than species are the preferred unit for biodiversity calculations.
A Purdue University method estimates how much UV-B radiation people receive under different amounts of tree cover, affecting land use and skin cancer risk. The model suggests that even partial shade provides significant protection against skin cancer, with 90% tree-canopy coverage offering the equivalent of SPF 10 sunblock.
A new statistical approach reveals primates originated 85 million years ago, rather than 65 million, due to gaps in the fossil record. This challenges traditional methods of interpreting fossils and constructing evolutionary trees, including the human lineage.
A study found that traditional floodplain forest restoration may decrease bird diversity, with some species preferring uncommon tree species. The researchers recommend replanting floodplain forests with rare and heavy-seeded trees to support a diverse avian community.
Researchers have found that innovative soil fertility replenishment programs can increase crop yields by two- to four-fold, providing strong evidence for their effectiveness. The programs use natural resources available in Africa, such as trees and rocks, to replenish nutrients depleted from the soil.
A new water mold fungus, Sudden Oak Death, is killing oaks in California and poses a threat to Eastern US forests. The fungus can spread through plant transportation or infected mud, and has already killed over 100,000 trees.
Researchers from Cornell University and the University of Arizona found that plant stem and leaf biomass are proportional to root biomass across various plant species. This discovery provides environmental researchers with clues to estimate global carbon sequestration in plants.
The Chinese tallow tree is outcompeting native species in Texas prairies due to its ability to grow quickly and use nitrogen inefficiently. Researchers are studying methods to control the spread of the invasive tree using techniques such as fire, flooding, and fertilization.
Researchers are creating a genetic database for ornamental trees by analyzing the DNA of George Washington's trees. The project, led by Virginia Tech and the USDA Forest Service, aims to understand the genetics of specific tree species.
Researchers found a wide swath of the western Amazon has a forest with minimal species change over distances of over 1000 kilometers. In contrast, forests on the Isthmus of Panama exhibit high beta-diversity due to abrupt variation in rainfall across the Central American isthmus.
Research in tropical dry forests reveals that fragmentation decreases seedling quality, with reduced germination rates and smaller leaves. Despite the negative effects, isolated trees can still serve as genetic stepping stones for pollinating moths and gene flow between populations.
Researchers found that moderately intense disturbances contribute to high tree species diversity in tropical rain forests. The study challenges previous findings, which suggested no effect of disturbance on diversity, and instead supports the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. The presence of heliophilous trees indicates recent canop...
Researchers from Cornell University and the University of Reading have given a new kind of precision to the timeline of the Bronze and Iron Ages in the Aegean and Near East. The study, published in Science, dates certain artifacts from around 740 B.C., placing an early appearance of the alphabet outside Phoenicia at this time.
Research reveals Amazon forest fragments are more susceptible to extinction due to overhunting, increased airborne pollutants, and heightened fire risks. Climate change may further exacerbate these effects, threatening biodiversity in fragmented landscapes.
A recent study suggests that predators play a key role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. The research, conducted on small islands with no natural predators, found that the absence of top-down regulation led to an explosion in plant-eating animals and herbivores, resulting in a collapse of vegetation.
A decade-long study suggests forest management can influence carbon uptake, but factors such as tree species and age confound the process. The researchers' findings validate a new method for measuring carbon dioxide levels, highlighting the need for careful consideration of forest management strategies.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison propose that anthocyanins in plants like maples and oaks produce vibrant autumn colors. The pigments shield sensitive photosynthetic tissue from excessive light and other stresses as trees reabsorb nutrients, allowing them to store energy.
Research by Ricardo Carvajal at University of Michigan found a decline in epiphytes on coffee farms with intensive practices. However, even in most intensive plots, 'reservoirs' where epiphytes thrive were discovered, suggesting potential for conservation through targeted planting.
The US Department of Agriculture has awarded a $3 million grant to researchers at North Carolina State University to develop genetically improved strains of the fast-growing loblolly pine. The goal is to produce high-quality wood quickly and efficiently, reducing logging in natural forests and preserving biodiversity.
A team of researchers at Michigan Technological University has identified a gene responsible for producing syringyl lignin, a unique type of lignin found in hardwood trees. This discovery provides new insights into the evolution of angiosperms and their mechanical advantages over gymnosperms.
A study published in Ecology found that interplanting eucalyptus with nitrogen-fixing trees, such as albizia, increases carbon sequestration in soil. This practice has the potential to significantly impact global efforts to measure and promote carbon sequestration in tropical tree plantations.
A 373-year-old white oak in Ohio's Dysart Woods provides a clear picture of a forest without human intervention. The tree's rings reveal information on droughts, weather patterns, and the impact of human activity on the environment.
Researchers propose that wolf presence in Yellowstone reduces elk browsing, allowing aspen trees to grow and recover. Aspen groves were largely lost due to human activity, but the absence of wolves is thought to be a key factor.
A Duke University study found that carbon dioxide-enriched air accelerates pine tree reproduction, resulting in earlier maturation and higher seed production. This trend may have significant implications for forest regeneration and the Southeast's economy, where loblollies are a crucial forest product.
A new study published in Nature magazine suggests that warmer temperatures and changing precipitation patterns are affecting the growth rates of white spruce trees in Alaska. The researchers found that drought-like conditions are inhibiting tree growth, leading to a reduced capacity for these trees to absorb carbon from the atmosphere.
A new study on tropical trees shows that most species are clumped together, rather than randomly dispersed, across the landscape. The findings have significant implications for designing nature reserves, selecting native trees to reforest degraded areas, and determining biologically sustainable harvest rates for timber.
According to the report, Indiana's forests have expanded significantly since the 1960s, with 85% of timberlands in private ownership. The number of trees has increased to 2 billion, providing habitat and food for wildlife.