Forest trees also take up nanoplastics
Plastic is a petroleum product that is extremely slow to decompose. According to the German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union, a plastic bag takes 10 to 20 years, a plastic straw 200 years and a plastic bottle 450 years to decompose. During.....»»
Counter-drug strategies in Central America are worsening deforestation, threatening many species of birds
Activities associated with cocaine trafficking threaten two-thirds of the most important landscapes in Central America for 196 forest bird species, including 67 migratory species. This is the key takeaway from a study that colleagues and I published.....»»
Heat-sensitive trees moving uphill due to rising temperatures, study finds
Trees in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest are migrating in search of more favorable temperatures, with species in mountain forests moving uphill to escape rising heat caused by climate change, a new study reveals......»»
Using forest resources strengthens food security, study finds
Forests can reduce hunger in rural households while also capturing carbon and advancing sustainability goals for low- and middle-income countries, according to new research by University of Notre Dame experts......»»
With fires in east Canada "under control," evacuations ending
A forest fire in northeastern Canada that forced the evacuation of more than 9,000 people a week ago is now under control, allowing those displaced to begin returning home, authorities said Saturday......»»
Smallholder farmers, efficient ranching practices critical to meet restoration targets in Brazil"s Atlantic Forest
A new study led by King's College London simulated the effects of various restoration policies to assess their impact on biodiversity and agricultural production......»»
Study shows tree species have different strategies for coping with light conditions in forest understory
Scientists at the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have made a breakthrough in understanding why Korean pine trees are struggling to regenerate naturally in certain forests. These broad-leaf Korean pine forests are vita.....»»
Climate change threatens age-old Mauritania date harvest
Wandering atop a small sand dune in central Mauritania, Aliene Haimoud gazed despondently at the yellowing date palms before him –- the trees are dying if they are not already dead......»»
Genome study informs restoration of American chestnut tree
Native trees adapt to the climate and environmental conditions of their area to survive. Researchers in the College of Natural Resources and Environment in collaboration with the American Chestnut Foundation confirmed this by examining the genome of.....»»
Of ants and trees: "Evolutionary déjà vu" in the tropical rainforest
Ants are famous for their regimented and complex social behaviors. In the tropics, they are also famous for forming mutualisms with plants. Certain species of trees have conspicuous hollow swellings that house ants, often feeding the ants with specia.....»»
FruitFlow: A new citizen science initiative unlocks orchard secrets
The "FruitWatch" initiative, a groundbreaking citizen science project, has significantly enhanced the accuracy of predicting flowering times for fruit trees across Great Britain. This improvement is vital for the agricultural sector, enabling better.....»»
Forest monitoring reveals self-cleansing effect of radiocesium in ecosystem after Fukushima Daiichi plant accident
A forest monitoring survey conducted more than 13 years after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident has revealed that the natural downward migration of radiocesium in soil exhibits a decontamination effect that reduces the air dose rate.....»»
Sierra Leone rangers fight uphill battle against deforestation
As the rainclouds descend on Sierra Leone's tropical Kambui forest, a handful of khaki-clad rangers assemble for their daily patrol in the fight to preserve the West African country's dwindling wilderness......»»
Scientists use machine learning to predict diversity of tree species in forests
A collaborative team of researchers led by Ben Weinstein of the University of Florida, Oregon, US, used machine learning to generate highly detailed maps of over 100 million individual trees from 24 sites across the U.S., and published their findings.....»»
Wildfire smoke has a silver lining: It can protect vulnerable tree seedlings
Forest scientists at Oregon State University studying tree regeneration have found that wildfire smoke comes with an unexpected benefit: It has a cooling capacity that can make life easier for vulnerable seedlings......»»
Can rattlesnakes really climb trees in California? Swim? Here"s what experts say
You're enjoying the evening breeze in your California backyard when you notice something dark and scaly slithering up a tree branch......»»
Amid a sweltering summer, a new study finds street trees thrive in NYC
So far this summer, New York City—like much of the country—has clocked more than 11 90-plus degree days. In addition to the increasing frequency of extreme heat waves, if it seems hotter in the city than in other environments, it typically is......»»
Impacts of extreme drought on forest ecosystems reveal species-specific adaptation differences in Northeast China
A recent study from China has shed light on the profound impacts of extreme droughts on forest ecosystems, particularly in water-limited regions. The findings revealed significant differences in how various tree species respond to such stressors......»»
Selection processes play dominant role in shaping coexisting assemblages of trees and soil fungi: Study
Community assembly is shaped by four main processes: selection—fitness differences between organisms; dispersal—organisms' movement across space; drift—unpredictable variation in abundance; and diversification—new genetic variants. However, w.....»»
Forest carbon storage has declined across much of the Western U.S., likely due to drought and fire
Forests have been embraced as a natural climate solution, due to their ability to soak up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow, locking it up in their trunks, branches, leaves, and roots. But a new study confirms widespread doubts about th.....»»
Pest predictor identifies ingredients for ecological recipe for destruction
If you've felt the familiar itch of browntail moth rash, seen the grayish-green needles of an infested hemlock or watched as woodpeckers bore into ash trees for a meal hidden beneath the surface, you've experienced the devastating effects of non-nati.....»»