How a butterfly tree becomes a web
Evolution is often portrayed as a tree, with new species branching off from existing lineages, never again to meet. The truth however is often much messier. In the case of adaptive radiation, in which species diversify rapidly to fill different ecolo.....»»
Biologists investigate what happens when traits jump between branches of the tree of life
We all must play the game of life with the cards we're dealt, so the common aphorism goes. In biology, this means organisms must compete through natural selection with the genes and anatomy they were born with......»»
Give Fitbits (of Sorts) to the Trees
You can tell a lot about a tree by its sway, so scientists are outfitting them with accelerometers. That could help the West better manage its water......»»
Researchers home in on Thera volcano eruption date
A University of Arizona tree-ring expert is closer than ever to pinning down the date of the infamous Thera volcano eruption—a goal she has pursued for decades......»»
Highly valuable Asian rosewood trees face a host of threats to survival
Safeguarding native tree diversity through improved conservation and restoration efforts is at a critical juncture in Southeast Asia, as many tree species face threats from habitat loss, fire and climate change, among other human-caused threats. A ne.....»»
A new model predicts forest tree growth in new environments
Trees are an essential cornerstone in the functioning and survival of forest ecosystems. But as global change accelerates, certain tree populations, too slow to adapt, may experience population decline or even extinction. Conservation and forest mana.....»»
Tree loss in tropics casts doubt over climate goals
Tropical regions of the world lost 11.1 million hectares of forest cover in 2021, new data shows, calling into question global pledges to end deforestation by 2030......»»
Millions of Trees Were Removed in 2021, Hurting Climate Goals
The dramatic loss of tree cover in the tropics and northern boreal forests is releasing vast amounts of carbon dioxide -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.....»»
First leaf fossil study of Borneo"s rainforest reveals current ecosystem is ancient
The first study of leaf fossils conducted in the nation of Brunei on the island of Borneo has revealed that the current dominant tree group, the dipterocarps, has dominated the rainforests for at least 4 million years, according to an international r.....»»
Techniques that rely on adaptive silviculture can help trees become more resilient to severe storms
If a tree sways in the woods, what could it tell us about how likely it is to fall?.....»»
Researchers quantify effects of remnant tree abundance on forest landscape recovery
Remnant trees play an important role for post-disturbance forest landscape recovery. Due to the nucleation of remnant trees in forest recovery, their spatial configuration, e.g., location and abundance, is a critical factor driving forest landscape r.....»»
Nanoclusters self-organize into centimeter-scale hierarchical assemblies
Nature may abhor a vacuum, but it sure loves structure. Complex, self-organized assemblies are found throughout the natural world, from double-helix DNA molecules to the photonic crystals that make butterfly wings so colorful and iridescent......»»
Researchers biosynthesize anti-cancer compound found in venomous Australian tree
The Australian stinging tree (Dendrocnide moroides) is a plant that many people avoid at all costs. The tree, which is a member of the nettle family, is covered in thin silicon needles laced with one of nature's most excruciating toxins, a compound c.....»»
Why should we prioritize lithium-ion battery recycling? (Part 2 of EV battery recycling report)
In 1848, Michael Faraday, an English scientist, published a study in the Philosophical Magazine about the use of gutta-perca (a milky white natural latex from a Southeast Asian tree called Palaquium gutta) as an electrical insulator. Since then, this.....»»
Trees wearing accelerometers help track snowstorms
Knowing how tree canopies affect snowpack is a key part of predicting water availability. Despite this importance, hydrologists are still working to accurately quantify how snow "intercepted" by tree canopies affects snowpack. Conifers, for instance,.....»»
Alexa launches Grow a Tree Skill for Earth Day
Amazon teams up with One Tree Planted to help Alexa users easily donate money to the reforestation charity organization......»»
Growth-climate sensitivity of two pine species varies with site-specific environmental conditions
A better understanding of tree growth-climate sensitivity across regions and species may reduce uncertainties in simulating forest carbon budgets. However, few studies have explored the growth-climate sensitivity of different tree species in Southwes.....»»
What"s in store for Europe"s tree species?
Scientists supported by the EU-funded FORGENIUS project have presented a new data set showing current and potential future distributions of European tree species. Called EU-Trees4F, the data set provides a detailed model on how the ranges of 67 tree.....»»
Attempting to understand the pollination secrets of the cacao tree
Cacao has long been a sought-after raw material for the worlds food industry. At first glance, it therefore seems surprising that biology knows little about the pollination of the cacao tree—although it is precisely this process that is the basis f.....»»
Mysterious benefactor returns Charles Darwin’s missing notebooks after 20 years
One of the notebooks contains Charles Darwin's iconic 1837 "Tree of Life" sketch. Two notebooks belonging to Charles Darwin, one of which contains his iconic 1837 "Tree of Life" sketch, have been safely returned to Cambridge University Lib.....»»
Britain"s butterflies are getting bigger as the climate changes
New research using computer vision to analyze tens of thousands of butterfly specimens in the Natural History Museum's collection has found that some British butterflies are getting bigger in response to climate change......»»