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An image of a pale, dead tree taken from the ground, so that the tree limbs stretch up into the sky.
Certain Tree Species Are More Susceptible to Death by Lightning
Expected increases in lightning strikes due to climate change could alter the botanical composition of tropical forests.
Certain Tree Species Are More Susceptible to Death by Lightning
Certain Tree Species Are More Susceptible to Death by Lightning

Expected increases in lightning strikes due to climate change could alter the botanical composition of tropical forests.

Expected increases in lightning strikes due to climate change could alter the botanical composition of tropical forests.

forest

dense evergreen forest with mountains in distance
Climate Change Likely to Slow Plant Growth in Northern Hemisphere
Margaret Osborne | Jun 14, 2022 | 2 min read
While the higher temperatures and CO2 levels associated with climate change currently fuel plant productivity, a study finds that changing conditions could take a toll on photosynthesis rates in regions outside the Arctic within a decade.
edge of the amazon showing deforestation
Amazon Rainforest Nearing Savannah “Tipping Point”
Christie Wilcox, PhD | Mar 8, 2022 | 3 min read
Half or more of the world’s largest forest is in danger of transitioning into grassland, researchers say.
Vector drawing of a tropical rainforest with diverse trees
More Than 9,000 Tree Species Await Scientific Description
Christie Wilcox, PhD | Feb 1, 2022 | 2 min read
A new study of tree biodiversity estimates that Earth boasts 14 percent more tree species than previous efforts have identified.
a large, mossy cedar tree in a forest
Book Excerpt from Finding the Mother Tree
Suzanne Simard | May 1, 2021 | 4 min read
In the book’s introduction, “Connections,” Suzanne Simard relates how her “perception of the woods has been turned upside down.”
Opinion: Western Canada Must Stop Clearcutting Its “Mother” Trees
Suzanne Simard and Teresa Ryan | May 1, 2021 | 4 min read
Feeding the world’s insatiable appetite for wood products is sacrificing the future of a crucial ecosystem.
Forest Fungi Ride Out Wildfires by Hiding Inside Plants
Annie Greene | Apr 1, 2020 | 5 min read
Researchers uncover the “body-snatching” tactics of fungi that flourish immediately after wildfires.
Interactive Infographic: How Salt Transforms Coastal Forests
Ashley Yeager | Mar 1, 2020 | 2 min read
Rising sea levels are pushing salty tides and storm surges farther inland, leading to the forest death and a shift from forested habitats to marsh.
Climate Change Is Killing East Coast Forests
Ashley Yeager | Mar 1, 2020 | 10+ min read
As the salty Atlantic Ocean pushes farther inland, forests are turning to marsh. Some scientists want to speed the transition.
Image of the Day: Changing Forests
Emily Makowski | Nov 27, 2019 | 1 min read
Carbon dioxide and temperature need to increase in a constant ratio for plants to keep up with climate change.
forest climate change trees ecosystem carbon storage
Researchers Find Flaws in High-Profile Study on Trees and Climate
Katarina Zimmer | Oct 17, 2019 | 5 min read
Four independent groups say the work overestimates the carbon-absorbing benefits of global forest restoration, but the authors insist their original estimates are accurate.
Tree stump analyzed for water flow from nearby trees sharing root system
Image of the Day: Tree Hugger
Nicoletta Lanese | Jul 29, 2019 | 1 min read
Water flows between a dead-looking stump and nearby trees on an alternating schedule.
deer forest sounds
Browsing Deer Affect How A Forest Sounds
Jef Akst | Jun 1, 2019 | 3 min read
Changes in the auditory environment as a result of herbivory could influence how animals communicate, and may have implications for sound-based monitoring of species.
Climate Change Impairs Trees’ Recovery from Wildfires
Kerry Grens | Mar 12, 2019 | 1 min read
Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir are less able to regenerate in the face of climate change, and some areas have already “crossed a critical climate threshold.”
hurricane infographic
Infographic: How Forests Survive the Storm
Amber Dance | Feb 1, 2019 | 2 min read
Trees are resilient, but researchers wonder if climate change will outpace their adaptations.
How Trees Fare in Big Hurricanes
Amber Dance | Feb 1, 2019 | 10+ min read
Forests are resilient, but researchers wonder if climate change will outpace their adaptations.
Deforestation Tied to Changes in Disease Dynamics
Katarina Zimmer | Jan 29, 2019 | 8 min read
Numerous studies link habitat destruction to malaria and other vector-borne diseases, but the relationship isn’t always clear.
A Mysterious Disease Is Killing Beech Trees
Carolyn Wilke | Jan 22, 2019 | 4 min read
Scientists suspect the rapidly spreading beech leaf disease is due to an unidentified microbe.
Diverse Forests Are Better at Accumulating Carbon
Catherine Offord | Dec 1, 2018 | 2 min read
A higher species richness could boost plant communities’ ability to mitigate climate change, a study suggests.
Huge Arthropod Declines Documented in Puerto Rican Rainforest
Ashley P. Taylor | Oct 16, 2018 | 2 min read
The study authors attribute the decreases to climate change.
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