Coastal California fog—a key source of water for the iconic redwood tree—has declined by a third. Can a trace gas, carbonyl sulfide, be used to assess the effect on plant productivity?
trees
Mossy Oaks Are Dripping with Organic Matter
Epiphyte-bearing trees leach carbon when it rains.
Why Mountainous Upland Forests Emit So Much Methane
New research suggests that moist tree heartwood produces methane and emits the greenhouse gas to the atmosphere.
Eyes in the Sky Look Closer at Under-Surveyed Northern Forests
Spaceborne images give scientists a detailed picture of the boreal forests’ tree heights, which help scientists estimate their contribution to carbon budgets.
Panama Study: Tallest Tropical Trees Died Mostly from Lightning
On Barro Colorado Island in the Panama Canal, scientists map lightning strikes and find that they kill mainly the loftiest trees, likely disturbing the forest ecology.
Follow Earthworm Tracks to Better Simulate Water Flow in Soils
Incorporating paths carved by the critters and by tree roots helps scientists align simulations of tropical soils more closely with real-world data.
Can Tree Planting Really Help Mitigate Climate Change?
It depends on where, when, and how.
As Winters Get Warmer, Sugar Maples May Absorb Less Silicon
Rising temperatures that reduce snow cover leave soils vulnerable to frost, reducing silicon uptake by trees, with potential effects on downstream ecosystems.
How Do Trees Respond to Climate Change? Clues from an Arboretum
The rich diversity of trees at arboreta may allow scientists to home in on the specific traits that allow trees to grow faster or slower in response to warming temperatures.
Can Mangroves Buffer Ocean Acidification?
New research evaluates the ability of coastal foliage to influence the ocean's pH.