Scottish forests protective forts for red squirrels
Twenty natural strongholds would protect red squirrels in Scotland even if grey squirrels were to run rampant across the country, a new study shows......»»
Experiments to simulate Mars" core may explain the loss of its magnetic field and oceans
It has long been known that Mars once had oceans due in part to a protective magnetic field similar to Earth's. However, the magnetic field disappeared and new research may finally be able to explain why. Researchers recreated conditions expected in.....»»
Do forests lead to more or fewer clouds? It depends
Large-scale deforestation, forest restoration, forest fires, and droughts all have one thing in common: Most research on these topics focuses on forest ecosystems' impact on carbon storage and release. Other effects of forests are less often explored.....»»
Treasure in tree rings: Using untapped tree ring data to calculate carbon sequestration
Having a solid estimate of the amount of carbon that forests can pull from the atmosphere is essential for global accounting of climate change—leaders are counting on forests to pull a good chunk of human-produced carbon back to earth. But in reali.....»»
Japanese squirrels can consume "poisonous" mushrooms
Associate Professor Suetsugu Kenji (Kobe University Graduate School of Science) and independent photographer Gomi Koichi have observed a Japanese squirrel (Sciurus lis) routinely feeding on well-known species of poisonous toadstool mushroom, includin.....»»
Identifying a protective mechanism against the negative consequences of ammonium fertilization
Nitrogen (N) is an essential mineral element for plant development and is widely used in crop production. While synthetic nitrogen fertilizers significantly improve global crop yields, the use of nitrate-based nitrogen fertilizers bears the risk of n.....»»
Microbes making tree methane "farts" in ghost forests are in the soils, study shows
A new study from North Carolina State University shows that methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is largely generated in the soils below standing dead trees in so-called ghost forests, or coastal forests that are being killed off by rising sea levels. .....»»
Did comet"s fiery destruction lead to downfall of ancient Hopewell?
The rapid decline of the Hopewell culture about 1,500 years ago might be explained by falling debris from a near-Earth comet that created a devastating explosion over North America, laying waste to forests and Native American villages alike......»»
Ancient trees deemed vital to forest survival
New research suggests that ancient trees possess far more than an awe-inspiring presence and a suite of ecological services to forests—they also sustain the entire population of trees' ability to adapt to a rapidly changing environment......»»
How a humble mushroom could save forests and fight climate change
The conversion of forests to agricultural land is happening at a mind-boggling speed. Between 2015 and 2020, the rate of deforestation was estimated at around 10 million hectares every year......»»
Gut microbes help hibernating ground squirrels emerge strong and healthy in spring
Ground squirrels spend the end of summer gorging on food, preparing for hibernation. They need to store a lot of energy as fat, which becomes their primary fuel source underground in their hibernation burrows all winter long......»»
What wintering squirrels can teach astronauts
When bears and ground squirrels hibernate in winter, they stop eating, lasting until spring simply on the fat reserves they've stored up in their bodies. Usually, this sort of prolonged fasting and inactivity would significantly reduce the mass and f.....»»
Crowding, climate change, and the case for social distancing among trees
For many, an ideal forest is one that looks the same as it did before European colonizers arrived. As today's forests are hit with disturbances like fire, drought, and insect invasions, restoration efforts often attempt to nudge the landscape back to.....»»
"Atomic Armor" for accelerators enables discoveries
Protective coatings are common for many things in daily life that see a lot of use. We coat wood floors with finish; apply Teflon to the paint on cars; even use diamond coatings on medical devices. Protective coatings are also essential in many deman.....»»
Tapirs and large peccaries are key to ecological balance in Neotropical forests, study shows
A study conducted by researchers affiliated with São Paulo State University (UNESP) in Brazil shows that large mammals have a major impact on plant diversity, primary productivity and biomass in the understory of Neotropical forests. Species like th.....»»
How does mercury accumulation vary in tropical forests?
As a global pollutant, mercury (Hg) is emitted directly into the atmosphere from geogenic and anthropogenic sources and previously deposited Hg in natural surfaces. Previous studies in subtropical evergreen forests have shown that climate, vegetation.....»»
Savannas suffer greater loss and fragmentation than forests over 30 years in Yunnan
Savannas are ecosystems characterized by a ground layer dominated by grasses and an open canopy of trees that allows direct sun to penetrate to the understory. Several national environmental policies have been put in place in China aiming for landsca.....»»
Just what is a "resilient" forest, anyway?
What does a "resilient" forest look like in California's Sierra Nevada? A lot fewer trees than we're used to, according to a study of frequent-fire forests from the University of California, Davis......»»
US plans $50B wildfire fight where forests meet suburbia
The Biden administration plans to significantly expand efforts to stave off catastrophic wildfires that have torched areas of the U.S. West by more aggressively thinning forests around areas called "hotspots" where nature and neighborhoods collide......»»
Regent honeyeaters were once kings of flowering gums but are now on the edge of extinction
Less than 80 years ago, regent honeyeaters ruled Australia's flowering gum forests, with huge raucous flocks roaming from Adelaide to Rockhampton......»»
Global firms fall short on forest protection vows: report
Global companies and financial institutions with the highest potential for curbing deforestation are largely failing to do so, undermining pledges to protect forests made at the COP26 climate summit in November, a report said Thursday......»»