A study on the endangered coco de mer palm tree found that inbreeding depression may not be a major threat to its survival, contrary to previous assumptions. The researchers discovered that female trees prefer closely related kin to sire their offspring, suggesting outbreeding depression as a possible issue.
Research by Dominik Stolzenburg reveals that aerosols from volatile organic substances can cluster together to form condensation nuclei for water vapor. This process affects cloud density and global warming, potentially offsetting the effect of CO2 increases on climate change.
Researchers at Stanford and Columbia universities found that low-intensity fires can dramatically reduce the risk of devastating wildfires for years at a time. By analyzing satellite data from over 100,000 square kilometers of California forests, the team showed that controlled burning can significantly decrease the risk of high-intens...
Researchers tracked endangered thick-billed parrots using solar-powered satellite transmitters, revealing new critical habitat and migratory routes. Less than 20% of the newly identified habitat is protected from timber industry, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts.
A team of experts identified 15 over-looked issues that could impact UK forests, including catastrophic ecosystem collapse, competition for water resources, and tree viral diseases. The research calls for urgent action to increase forest resilience.
Researchers studied how 4-year-old tree species respond to extended drought and heat, finding that different species have varying levels of drought tolerance. The study's findings can help shape forest management policy and understand future landscape changes.
A survey of social media posts suggests that people are more positive about nature-based efforts to protect carbon-storing ecosystems than human technological solutions. The study found that tree-planting solutions, such as afforestation, received the most approval, while geoengineering was associated with negative sentiments.
A global study reveals that regions with abundant large herbivores have a more variable tree cover, benefiting biodiversity. This finding highlights the crucial role of megafauna in shaping ecosystems and underscores the need for conservation strategies to protect these species.
A new AI-driven mapping study from the University of Copenhagen has discovered a billion tons of hidden biomass in Europe, including trees outside forested areas. The research found that countries like Denmark, Netherlands, and UK have significant tree cover outside forests, which can impact biodiversity and climate models.
Researchers at West Virginia University are studying the effects of acid rain on forests and watersheds, a project involving middle school students. The team aims to understand how ecosystems respond to chronic changes in environmental conditions, including the recovery phase after acid rain stops falling.
Mycena fungi have been found to be consistently present in the roots of living plant hosts, suggesting an evolutionary leap from saprotrophic decomposers to invasive species. They also exhibit early signs of mutualism with trees, exchanging nitrogen for carbon and working together to benefit their hosts.
A new study reveals that periodical cicada emergences have a cascading effect on forest ecosystems, shifting bird diets and leading to increased abundance of caterpillars and subsequent leaf damage. This research has implications for bird conservation and understanding the interconnectedness of complex food webs.
A new study published in Conservation Physiology identifies the critical limits of plant function under stress, enabling more effective conservation strategies. By understanding these limits, conservationists can identify vulnerable species and allocate resources more wisely.
A recent study reveals that emerging infectious diseases are accumulating rapidly globally, particularly in Holarctic trees. The 'big data' approach used in the study characterizes the growing threat posed by emergent infectious diseases, with some tree species, such as pines and oaks, showing high new disease accumulation.
Researchers have identified that ancient quakes occurred in shallow faults on the Puget Lowlands in western Washington, which could lead to another devastating event. The study used tree rings to pinpoint the dates of these quakes and found a link between them, suggesting regional hazard models may need to be updated.
A new study uses leaf and wood traits to estimate each species' preferred temperature and rainfall, enabling scientists to better identify suitable habitats and develop conservation strategies. The approach also helps prioritize threatened species in need of protection.
Researchers found that climate change can cause a shift from high to low biomass fungal species, leading to simpler networks between trees. This disruption can have cascading effects on tree performance and ecosystem function. The study suggests that warming and drought may harm forest resilience by breaking down ectomycorrhizal networks.
The study predicts that climate change will lead to the loss of 99% of plant species in the Caatinga biome by 2060, resulting in a decrease in vegetation diversity and complexity. Biotic homogenization is expected to affect approximately 40% of plant assemblages, simplifying their composition due to the loss of rare species.
Deforestation contributes to climate change, producing 6-17% of global greenhouse gas emissions. New satellite-based technology tracks forest change globally, enabling policymakers to understand the problem and develop solutions.
A team of international plant and forest researchers criticized the attribution of human characteristics to plants, stating that such claims are scientifically untenable. They analyzed two widely received books on forests and found no evidence to support assertions about tree feelings, communication, and altruistic behavior.
By 2070, 44.61% of koala habitats in Australia will be highly susceptible to bushfires, up from 39.56% today. Koalas may struggle to survive due to habitat fragmentation and food source vulnerability.
A new study found that creating physical gaps in the forest canopy improves the health and growth of eastern hemlocks infested with the woolly adelgid, a highly invasive insect. By giving the trees better access to resources like water and nutrients, canopy gaps may help them 'outgrow' the insect's impact, at least temporarily.
Researchers found that pollination by both honey bees and mason bees increases sweet cherry production, with a synergy effect observed in orchards using both species. Growers can attract mason bees to their orchards by providing nest material, such as bamboo sticks, to enhance cross-pollination.
A recent study published in Journal of Ecology reveals how natural regeneration develops in protected European forests. The researchers found that positive interactions between trees are rare and dependent on tree species and environmental factors.
Four sub-Saharan countries aiming to restore degraded landscapes with trees face a major challenge: sourcing enough native seeds and planting material. Communities involved in seed management could play a crucial role in ensuring the success of restoration goals.
A new spatial database created by Purdue University scientists combines data collected on-site and via satellite to provide detailed maps of planted forests in East Asia. The database lists the most common tree species growing there, such as pine and eucalyptus, and covers 87.0% of planted forest in China.
A recent study found that grasses account for over half of the soil carbon content across tropical savannas, including soils directly beneath trees. The researchers' findings suggest that increasing tree cover in these ecosystems has a negligible impact on soil carbon storage.
A study by Oregon State University found that forest thinning is enhancing native biodiversity and improving the resilience of older trees on federal lands in eastern Oregon. The research, led by James Johnston, involved long-term monitoring and partnerships between OSU, the US Forest Service, and local groups.
A study by the University of Leeds found that South American forests lost their ability to absorb carbon from the atmosphere during an extreme El Niño event in 2015-2016. This suggests that tropical forests may no longer be able to mitigate climate change, but conservation efforts can still protect them.
Scientists have engineered trees to be easier to disassemble into simpler building blocks using callose-enriched wood. This approach increases the efficiency of converting woody plant biomass to fuel and other useful products.
New research by Penn State suggests that hardwood trees such as maple, willow and birch are unlikely to see significant impacts from the sap-feeding spotted lanternfly. The study found that increased feeding pressure resulted in reduced growth during the first two years, but native trees recovered when feeding was less intense.
A study published in Ecology and Evolution found that bison bulls in northern Yellowstone are breaking aspen saplings, preventing them from growing into trees. The researchers suggest that this behavior may be related to displays of aggression, and could hinder the recovery of aspen stands.
Researchers advocate for a forest-first approach to specifying timber species in forestry and building practices, emphasizing the need for climate-adaptive strategies. By selecting suitable tree species based on ecological and building traits, builders can create resilient forests and support functional diversity.
A new study by WCS found that overhunting of fruit-eating mammals and birds can lead to a shift in forest composition, resulting in lower carbon storage. The loss of these species changes the ecosystem, making it more challenging for forests to sequester and store carbon.
A team of researchers from UC Davis has developed a tool that can predict which forests are likely to survive or die after a drought. By analyzing changes in precipitation, soil moisture, and temperature, the tool links these factors to tree growth and carbon reserves.
Researchers mapped canopy soils to determine where they form and how they support biodiversity. These 'soil-in-miniature' contain abundant plant and animal life, including epiphytes and air plants.
The study found that local communities in coastal Ecuador depend less on tagua trees today than their grandparents did, but still use them for cultural and supporting services. The research highlights the importance of conservation efforts to protect these ecosystem services.
Researchers found that sinking culled fruit trees into the Wadden Sea boosted local marine life diversity and abundance. The study shows native biodiversity can be restored using trees as reefs.
A study published in Science found that overestimations of forest preservation in voluntary REDD+ projects result in the generation of millions of worthless carbon credits. The research team calculated that only 6% of these credits are linked to actual reductions in carbon emissions.
Climate impacts like dry summers causing tree growth reduction and increased mortality in the Black Forest. The study found a peak in tree mortality in 2019, with mortality rates exceeding 40% of sustainable annual growth.
A global study reveals that proximity to human activity and native biodiversity are crucial factors in determining the likelihood and severity of non-native tree invasions. Native species help buffer the intensity of these invasions by filling available niches, making it harder for non-native trees to spread.
A new dictionary provides a comprehensive overview of Shakespeare's language, revealing words with reduced mental ability and plant hybrids. The Arden Encyclopedia of Shakespeare's Language offers insights into the linguistic thumbprints of plays and characters, as well as the networks of character interaction.
A new modeling tool called REBURN can simulate large forest landscapes and wildfire dynamics under different management strategies. The tool shows that setting prescribed burns and allowing smaller wildfires to burn can yield more varied and resilient forests over time.
Research from the University of Gothenburg reveals that both innate factors and environmental influences contribute to an individual's attitude towards nature. The study suggests that a wide range of factors shape how people express their love for nature, and emphasizes the importance of considering these variations in urban planning.
A decade-long study in Tanzania's Eastern Arc Mountains reveals that biodiversity conservation benefits vary widely among groups, with local rural communities bearing substantial costs. International funding could help smallholder farmers boost yields on their existing land to incentivize long-term forest protection.
A study by Cambridge University Press reveals that no-spray buffer zones of 30 meters near riparian areas are critical in protecting waterways from herbicide run-off. The research also found that forest litter retains most of the herbicide mixture, rather than soil.
A new tree forensics project, Gigante, aims to investigate the deaths of large tropical trees using drone surveys and on-the-ground observations. The team expects to identify the causes of death for up to 10,000 trees over three years, shedding light on the impact of climate change on forest ecosystems.
Researchers discovered that adult trees in a Panamanian forest are much more far apart than expected, likely due to species-specific enemies and repulsion between trees. This finding helps bridge the gap between contrasting theories on how forests are shaped.
Researchers found Amazon dark earth boosts tree growth by twice to five times normal height with 20% ADE and three to six times with 100% ADE. The soil also contains more nutrients, including phosphorus, and has a higher pH. Biotech applications aim to replicate these characteristics without requiring the finite resource.
A new study reveals a severe bottleneck in US tree nurseries, with only 56% meeting the volume needed for conservation and reforestation. The lack of diverse species and locally adapted trees hinders efforts to plant billions of trees to combat climate change.
A University of Maryland study found that tree species diversity increases spider populations, providing a natural pest regulation service. Spider populations in diverse plots increased by 23-50% compared to single-species plots during late summer months.
A research team from Hokkaido University has found an exceptionally preserved fossil forest of Wataria parvipora, which was predominantly accompanied by Byttneriophyllum leaves. The discovery helps reconstruct a whole Eurasian plant from the late Miocene epoch and sheds light on the taxonomic identity of plants.
Researchers at Cornell University have discovered a mutation in the MdLAZY1A gene responsible for the 'weeping' growth pattern in apple trees. This finding could lead to more productive and labor-saving orchards by allowing branches to grow downwards, thereby increasing resource allocation towards reproductive growth.
Research found trees and shrubs respond differently to warming, with trees advancing and shrubs delaying their growth due to increased sensitivity to chilling accumulation. This phenological mismatch confers a competitive advantage to trees, potentially driving upward treeline shifts.
Researchers at North Carolina State University used CRISPR gene-editing to breed poplar trees with reduced lignin levels, while improving their wood properties. This breakthrough could make fiber production for paper, diapers, and other products more sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective.
A new study conducted by CABI scientists reveals that cut stump and basal bark herbicide application, as well as manual uprooting, were highly effective in killing the invasive tree, with success rates of 85-100%. Restoration interventions also showed promise, particularly those involving divots, mulching, and grass seed sowing.
SourceCABI·JournalCABI Agriculture and Bioscience·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 12, 2023
A study by North Carolina State University researchers identified genes involved in the development of stone cells, which can block weevil feeding on budding branches. The findings could help breed genetically improved Sitka spruce trees resistant to the spruce weevil, a significant pest affecting forest giants.
Biotechnology holds promise for saving endangered tree species through a combination of traditional breeding approaches and innovative genetic engineering. The study emphasizes the need for public acceptance and regulators' support to harness biotech's potential.
UK schoolchildren aged 7-11 drew mammals and birds most commonly, with reptiles and amphibians appearing less frequently. The study suggests children's perceptions of local wildlife are skewed towards mammals and birds, hinting at a wider problem of nature disconnect.
Researchers created a model to forecast eucalyptus leaf health based on temperature data, explaining over 80% of observed damage. This approach has the potential to identify suitable planting regions worldwide.