Above and belowground traits vary in response to soil moisture availability and plant competition
Functional traits have been used to explain plant responses to alterations in water availability. Our understanding of plant responses to biotic and abiotic drivers are largely based on aboveground plant traits. Due to the limited consideration of be.....»»
Apple opens massive research lab in China amid stiff iPhone competition
Apple has opened a huge new research lab in Shenzhen, China. The lab was first announced back in March, but the South China Morning Post reports that it became operational this week. Here’s what Apple has planned for the facility, and how it relate.....»»
One-third of European plant species could be in trouble due to declining seed disperser populations
A team of ecologists at the University of Coimbra, Aarhus University and the University of Bristol has found that approximately one-third of plant species in Europe are under threat of population reduction as the number of seed dispersals declines......»»
Plant stem cells: Understanding the biological mechanism of growth control
Researchers from the University of Freiburg have identified the HAN molecule as an important regulator that controls plant growth in conjunction with WOX5. Understanding this mechanism is relevant for breeding more resilient or higher-yielding crops......»»
New plant-based glitter shows no harm to soil organisms
Plastic pollution is everywhere. Each year, over 368 million metric tons of plastics are produced with over 13 million metric tons of it ending up in the soil where it can be toxic to wildlife......»»
Researchers develop technique that enables breeding of genetically identical hybrid plants
When different varieties of one plant species are crossed with each other, their hybrid offspring are often more robust and grow more quickly than their parents. However, in the next generation, this effect disappears again......»»
Phytoplankton community shifts after wastewater treatment plant closure
A study by the UPV/EHU's Department of Plant Biology and Ecology has evaluated the response of Urdaibai estuary phytoplankton to the changes brought about after the closing-down of the Gernika wastewater treatment plant; a novel tool based on pigment.....»»
Red milkweed beetle genome offers evolutionary insights into plant-insect interactions
Studying the secrets of how the common red milkweed beetle can safely feed on a toxic plant helps illuminate the ecological, evolutionary and economic impact of insect-plant interactions from a genomic perspective......»»
Dark energy: Could the mysterious force we think of as constant actually vary over cosmic time?
,As I finished my Ph.D. in 1992, the universe was full of mystery—we didn't even know exactly what it is made of. One could argue that cosmologists had made little progress in our understanding of these basic facts since the discovery of the cosmic.....»»
Survey reveals Australians" lukewarm response to urgent action on global heating
An annual climate action survey has highlighted concern for the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and a desire for renewables over nuclear power, however, Australians impacted by the cost-of-living crisis seem less enthusiastic on taking climate change action.....»»
Increasing plant diversity in agriculture can promote soil carbon sequestration
A study carried out at the University of Helsinki demonstrates that boosting plant diversity in agriculture can increase plant biomass and improve plant–microbe interactions, both of which promote the storage of carbon in the soil......»»
Declines in plant resilience threaten carbon storage in the Arctic
Rapid warming has impacted the northern ecosystem so significantly that scientists are concerned the region's vegetation is losing the ability to recover from climate shocks, suggests a new study......»»
China has detained four employees from the world’s largest iPhone plant
China has detained four Taiwanese employees at Foxconn’s Zhengzhou plant, the largest iPhone production facility in the world, responsible for around 80% of global production. The employees were detained using powers the Chinese government last.....»»
IIHS finds significant improvement in seat belt safety alerts
Since testing began in 2022, brands are releasing models with enhanced alerts, though safety improvements vary across different vehicles......»»
Cosmic-ray neutron rover assists in estimating mesoscale soil moisture on eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau
Soil water resources are crucial for hydrological processes and ecosystem functions on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. However, accurately measuring soil moisture distribution in this region is challenging due to diverse ecosystems, complex terrain, and.....»»
Researchers find dragonfly species with darker wings have evolved to withstand heat and attract partners
Temperature determines where species can live and if they are threatened by a warming climate. So, for a long time, biologists studied how heat tolerance affects survival. Yet, less is known about how thermal traits influence reproduction, which is d.....»»
Environmental factors influence Southeast Brazil"s coastal biodiversity more than ecological processes, study finds
Sea surface temperature, wave energy and freshwater discharge from rivers influence the abundance and size of the marine organisms that inhabit rocky shores along the coast of Southeast Brazil more than ecological processes such as competition and pr.....»»
Stellantis CEO eyes management shake-up as pressure mounts
Stellantis Chief Executive Officer Carlos Tavares is planning a deep management reshuffle in response to the automaker’s disastrous profit warning, according to people familiar with the situation......»»
Can carbon credits help close coal plants?
A few dozen kilometers from the Philippine capital Manila sits a coal plant that some hope could be a model for how developing countries can quit the polluting fossil fuel......»»
The transition to a circular bioeconomy requires getting prices right, study says
Conventional food and agricultural production systems employ a linear "take, make, waste" approach: taking natural resources from the Earth to make food and fuel, generating waste that contaminates the soil and water, and emitting harmful pollutants......»»
Daily 5 report for Oct. 8: How does a flooded car catch fire? Here"s how
In a hurricane, often, a dealership is damaged. Or an auto parts plant gets shut down. Sometimes, an assembly plant goes offline. But in the aftermath of Helene, an unanticipated automotive story: cars that catch fire in a flood......»»