ScienceDaily: Tree News

Wood not so green a biofuel? Logging may have greater impact on carbon emissions than previously thought

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:21:21 EDT

Using wood for energy is considered cleaner than fossil fuels, but a new study finds that logging may release large amounts of carbon stored in deep forest soils.

Whitebark pine trees: Is their future at risk?

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:31:31 EDT

There's trouble ahead for the whitebark pine, a mountain tree that's integral to wildlife and water resources in the western United States and Canada. Over the last decade, some populations of whitebark pines have declined by more than 90 percent. But these declines may be just the beginning.

Bees and other pollinating insects are just one factor in food production

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 11:15:15 EDT

No food for the human race without bees? It is not quite as straightforward as that. A case study by ecologists in a coffee-growing area in India reveals that pollinating insects are just one production factor among many. Farmers have several possibilities to increase their harvest.

Threatened frogs palmed off as forests disappear

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:39:39 EDT

The study describes how forests converted to palm oil plantations are causing threatened forest dwelling frogs to vanish, resulting in an overall loss of habitat that is important for the conservation of threatened frog species in the region.

Effects of interannual climate variability on tropical tree cover: Satellite data reveal how tropical ecosystems may respond to climate extremes

Sun, 02 Jun 2013 14:44:44 EDT

Tree cover in the tropics will likely change in surprising ways as climate change increases the frequency of extreme rainfall events, according to a new study.

Croaking chorus of Cuban frogs make noisy new neighbors

Thu, 30 May 2013 16:58:58 EDT

Scientists have shown the adverse impact of invasive frog species’ songs.

Subfossil forest discovered at building site in Zurich

Wed, 29 May 2013 09:27:27 EDT

The fact that many finds have happened by chance was demonstrated again recently in Zurich. A dendrochronologist was just having a look at a building site when he noticed a few tree stumps on the edge of the loamy building pit that had been discarded by the construction workers as waste timber. Analysis showed the timber he discovered was dated between 12,846 BP** and 13,782 BP. With the support of the building-site management researchers have managed to salvage some 200 ancient pine-tree stumps.

Ugly plants worse for allergy patients

Tue, 28 May 2013 12:22:22 EDT

As allergy season continues for Middle Tennessee and much of the U.S., a largely unknown adage rings true: the uglier a flower or weed, the more allergy-inducing its pollen tends to be. Ragweed, mugwort, plantain and pigweed have more than just their unappealing appearance in common—they’re some of the worst offenders to allergy sufferers.

Why early human ancestors took to two feet

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:40:40 EDT

A new study by archaeologists challenges evolutionary theories behind the development of our earliest ancestors from tree dwelling quadrupeds to upright bipeds capable of walking and scrambling.

Norway spruce genome sequenced: Largest ever to be mapped

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:10:10 EDT

Scientists have mapped the gene sequence of Norway spruce (the Christmas tree) -- a species with huge economic and ecological importance -- and that is the largest genome to have ever been mapped. The genome is complex and seven times larger than that of humans.

Drought makes Borneo's trees flower at the same time

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:53:53 EDT

Tropical plants flower at supra-annual irregular intervals. In addition, mass flowering is typical for the tropical forests in Borneo and elsewhere, where hundreds of different plant timber species from the Dipterocarpaceae family flower synchronously. This phenomenon is all the more puzzling because both temperature and day length are relatively constant all year round due to geographical proximity to the equator.

Polymer breakthrough inspired by trees and ancient celtic knots

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:53:53 EDT

A new slow-motion method of controlling the synthesis of polymers, which takes inspiration from both trees and Celtic knots, opens up new possibilities in areas including medical devices, drug delivery, elastics and adhesives.

Invasive species: 'Away-field advantage' weaker than ecologists thought

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:23:23 EDT

For decades, ecologists have assumed the worst invasive species—such as brown tree snakes and kudzu—have an “away-field advantage.” They succeed because they do better in their new territories than they do at home. A new study reveals that this fundamental assumption is not nearly as common as people might think.

Helping forests gain ground on climate change

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:50:50 EDT

Researchers in Canada have developed guidelines being used by foresters and the timber industry to get a jump on climate change when planting trees.

Untangling the tree of life

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:48:48 EDT

Phylogeneticists examined the reasons why large-scale tree-of-life studies are producing contradictory results and have proposed a suite of novel techniques to resolve the conflicts.

Flower power fights orchard pests

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:14:14 EDT

Researchers have found they can control one of fruit growers' more severe pests, aphids, with a remarkably benign tool: flowers. The discovery is a boon for organic as well as conventional tree fruit growers. The researchers found that plantings of sweet alyssum attracted a host of spiders and predator bugs that in turn preyed on woolly apple aphids, a pest that growers often control with chemical sprays.

Loss of eastern hemlock will affect forest water use

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:36:36 EDT

The loss of eastern hemlock from forests in the Southern Appalachian region of the United States could permanently change the area's hydrologic cycle, reports a new study.

Biologist maps the family tree of all known snake and lizard groups

Wed, 08 May 2013 17:22:22 EDT

Biologists have created the first large-scale evolutionary family tree for every snake and lizard around the globe.

U.S. urban trees store carbon, provide billions in economic value, finds state-by-state analysis

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:58:58 EDT

America's urban forests store an estimated 708 million tons of carbon, an environmental service with an estimated value of $50 billion, according to a recent study.

Sahara olive tree: Genetic heritage to be preserved

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:47:47 EDT

The Saharan cousin of Mediterranean olive trees remains largely unknown. However, this subspecies (called the Laperinne's olive tree) is of great interest for several reasons. Researchers have shown that its longevity is ensured by its original vegetative reproduction. Extremely drought-resistant, this "relict" tree could act as a genetic resource to improve its domestic counterparts, provided conservation actions are implemented to prevent its disappearance.

Primate hibernation more common than previously thought

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:47:47 EDT

Until recently, the only primate known to hibernate as a survival strategy was a creature called the western fat-tailed dwarf lemur, a tropical tree-dweller from the African island of Madagascar. But it turns out this hibernating lemur isn't alone.

Is the humble fig more than just a fruit?

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:36:36 EDT

Figs and fig trees are familiar to a wide cross-section of human society, both as a common food and for their spiritual importance. What is less well understood is the global nature of this association between figs and humans, which is maintained across species, continents and societies.

A beautiful species of tree iguana redescribed 179 years after its discovery

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:23:23 EDT

The tree iguana, Liolaemus nigromaculatus, was the second species of the genus Liolaemus to be described and the nominal species of the group nigromaculatus. However, since its description, no scientific study further clarified the identity of this engaging species or its type locality. A recent study by Chilean biologists clarifies the mysteries around this tree iguana, characterizing the species and its dwelling areas.

Ant family tree constructed: Confirms date of evolutionary origin, underscores importance of Neotropics

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:12:12 EDT

Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the higher species numbers in the tropics, but these hypotheses have never been tested for the ants, which are one of the most ecologically and numerically dominant groups of animals on the planet. New research is helping answer these questions.

Something's fishy in the tree of life: Largest and most comprehensive studies of fish phylogeny

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:26:26 EDT

A team of scientists has dramatically increased our understanding of fish evolution and their relationships. The group integrated extensive genetic and physical information about specimens to create a new "tree of life" for fishes. The vast amount of data generated through large-scale DNA sequencing required supercomputing resources for analysis. The result is the largest and most comprehensive studies of fish phylogeny to date.

Neural activity in bats measured in-flight

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:23:23 EDT

Scientists have, for the first time, measured the activity of place cells in the brains of bats as they navigated in three-dimensional space.

Frog-like robot will help surgeons

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:47:47 EDT

Researchers are using the feet of tree frogs as a model for a tiny robot designed to crawl inside patients' bodies during keyhole surgery.

Tulip tree reveals mitochondrial genome of ancestral flowering plant

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:00:00 EDT

The extraordinary level of conservation of the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) mitochondrial genome has redefined our interpretation of evolution of the angiosperms (flowering plants). This beautiful ‘molecular fossil’ has a remarkably slow mutation rate meaning that its mitochondrial genome has remained largely unchanged since the dinosaurs were roaming Earth.

Chimpanzees use botanical skills to discover fruit

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:41:41 EDT

Fruit-eating animals are known to use their spatial memory to relocate fruit, yet, it is unclear how they manage to find fruit in the first place. Researchers have now investigated which strategies chimpanzees in the Taï National Park in Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa, use in order to find fruit in the rain forest. The result: Chimpanzees know that trees of certain species produce fruit simultaneously and use this botanical knowledge during their daily search for fruit.

Geckos keep firm grip in wet natural habitat

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 18:15:15 EDT

Geckos' ability to stick to trees and leaves during rainforest downpours has fascinated scientists for decades, leading a group of researchers to solve the mystery.

Soils in newly forested areas store substantial carbon that could help offset climate change

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:07:07 EDT

Surface appearances can be so misleading: In most forests, the amount of carbon held in soils is substantially greater than the amount contained in the trees themselves, according to new research.

New models predict drastically greener Arctic in coming decades

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 16:56:56 EDT

New research predicts that rising temperatures will lead to a massive "greening," or increase in plant cover, in the Arctic. In a new paper, scientists reveal new models projecting that wooded areas in the Arctic could increase by as much as 50 percent over the next few decades. The researchers also show that this dramatic greening will accelerate climate warming at a rate greater than previously expected.

Decimation of critically endangered forest elephant detailed

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

African forest elephants are being poached out of existence. A new study shows that a staggering 62 percent of all forest elephants have been killed across their range in central Africa, for their ivory over the past decade.

Pirate perch probably use chemical camouflage to fool prey

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:59:59 EDT

Dark and sleek, it hides beneath the water waiting for prey. A researcher says the target will never know what hit them because they probably can’t smell the voracious pirate perch.

Mountain pine beetle genome decoded

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:36:36 EDT

The genome of the mountain pine beetle -- the insect that has devastated British Columbia's lodgepole pine forests -- has now been decoded.

Lemur lookalikes are two new species, DNA says

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:15:15 EDT

Scientists have identified two new species of mouse lemur, the saucer-eyed, teacup-sized primates native to the African island of Madagascar.

Peach genome offers insights into breeding strategies for biofuels crops

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:23:23 EDT

Rapidly growing trees like poplars and willows are candidate "biofuel crops" from which it is expected that cellulosic ethanol and higher energy content fuels can be efficiently extracted. Domesticating these crops requires a deep understanding of tree physiology and genetics. Scientists are turning to fruit trees for hints, leading to an international initiative, publishing the 265-million base genome of the Lovell variety of Prunus persica.

Genetic analysis saves major apple-producing region of Washington state

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 15:29:29 EDT

A genetic analysis has saved a major apple-producing region of Washington state.

Hunting for meat impacts on rainforest, fruit tree seed dispersal

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 09:48:48 EDT

Hunting for meat in the African rainforests has halved the number of primates. However, the hunting also has other negative consequences. The decline in the number of primates causes a reduction in the dispersal of seed by the primates, and this leads to a reduction in the numbers of important fruit trees and changes to the rainforest.

Suggestions for a middle ground between unlogged forest and intensively managed lands

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:28:28 EDT

In the world's forested regions, two management systems -- retention forestry and agroforestry -- are being used to alleviate conflicts between preserving biodiversity and addressing human needs in production landscapes. A new article draws a parallel between the ecological effects of the two systems.

Scientists map genome of fungus that causes Dutch elm disease

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:02:02 EDT

Researchers have successfully mapped the genes in the fungus that causes Dutch elm disease. The researchers believe this is the first time the 30 million DNA letters for the fungus Ophiostoma ulmi have been mapped. The findings could help scientists figure out how to prevent the fungus from destroying elm trees in the future.

Logging debris gives newly planted Douglas-fir forests a leg-up

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:25:25 EDT

The downed limbs and other woody debris that are inevitable byproducts of timber harvest could be among the most important components of post-harvest landscapes, according to a new study.

Monsoon failure key to long droughts in Southwest

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:11:11 EDT

Long-term droughts in the Southwestern North America often mean failure of both summer and winter rains, according to new tree-ring research. For the severe, multi-decadal droughts that occurred from 1539 to 2008, both winter and summer rains were sparse year after year. The finding contradicts the commonly held belief that a dry winter rainy season is generally followed by a wet monsoon season, and vice versa.

Pancakes with a side of math: A physiological model for sap exudation in maple trees

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:07:07 EST

The mechanisms behind sap exudation in sugar maple trees -- processes that trigger pressure differences causing sap to flow -- are a topic of much debate. In a new paper, researchers shed light on this subject by proposing a mathematical model for the essential physiological processes that drive sap flow.

A promising fruit: The tree tomato

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:19:19 EST

Biologists are collaborating in the characterization of genetic resource of the tree tomato to enhance its cultivation and commercialization in Andean and Mediterranean countries.

Turning pine sap into 'ever-green' plastics

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 17:06:06 EST

Scientists are developing new plastics that are “green” from the cradle to the grave. Given that the new polymers they are working on often come from pine trees, firs and other conifers, they are giving the word “evergreen” added resonance.

Genetic variation controls predation: Benefits of being a mosaic

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:15:15 EST

A genetically mosaic Eucalyptus tree is able to control which leaves are saved from predation because of alterations in its genes, finds a new study. Between two leaves of the same tree there can be many genetic differences – this study found ten SNP, including ones in genes that regulate terpene production, which influence whether or not a leaf is edible

Phosphorus starvation linked to symptoms of citrus disease Huanglongbing in new study

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 10:23:23 EST

The citrus disease Huanglongbing is the most destructive disease threatening the citrus industry worldwide. Powerful diagnostic tools and management strategies are desired to control it. A new study profiled small Ribonucleic Acids from diseased and healthy plants and found that some could potentially be developed into early diagnosis markers.

Tree-ring data show history, pattern to droughts

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 08:30:30 EST

Researchers used more than 1,400 climate-sensitive tree-ring chronologies from multiple tree species across North America to reconstruct the Palmer drought severity index (PDSI), a widely used soil moisture index.

Wetland trees a significant overlooked source of methane

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 10:07:07 EST

Wetland trees are a significant overlooked source of the potent greenhouse gas methane, according to a new study. The study may help to resolve an ongoing controversy about the origins of methane in the tropics.

Southwest regional warming likely cause of pinyon pine cone decline

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 13:20:20 EST

Creeping climate change in the Southwest appears to be having a negative effect on pinyon pine reproduction, a finding with implications for wildlife species sharing the same woodland ecosystems, says a University of Colorado Boulder-led study.

Tree die-off triggered by hotter temperatures

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:50:50 EST

Scientists have determined that the recent widespread die-off of Colorado trembling aspen trees is a direct result of decreased precipitation exacerbated by high summer temperatures. The die-off, triggered by the drought from 2000-2003, is estimated to have affected up to 17 percent of Colorado aspen forests.

Most comprehensive tree of life shows placental mammal diversity exploded after age of dinosaurs

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:14:14 EST

Scientists have generated the most comprehensive tree of life to date on placental mammals, which are those bearing live young, including bats, rodents, whales and humans.

Largest-ever study of mammalian ancestry completed

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:14:14 EST

A groundbreaking six-year research collaboration has produced the most complete picture yet of the evolution of placental mammals, the group that includes humans. Researchers utilizes molecular (DNA) and morphological (anatomy) data on an extraordinary scale. By combining these two types of data scientists reconstructed, to an unprecedented level of detail, the family tree of placental mammals.

Genome of Chinese tree shrew provides new insights into facilitating biomedical research

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 09:31:31 EST

The genome of the Chinese tree shrew provides new insights into facilitating further biomedical research.

Disease spread in ladybugs with sexually transmitted disease

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 09:31:31 EST

A new study into the spread of sexually transmitted infection in ladybugs has shown that disease risk to large populations cannot be predicted without a full understanding of the disease dynamics at small geographical scale.

Tapping into the rubber plant genome

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:14:14 EST

Scientists have sequenced the draft genome sequence of the rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis, the major commercial source of natural rubber.

Planting trees may not reverse climate change, but it will help locally

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:06:06 EST

Afforestation, planting trees in an area where there have previously been no trees, can reduce the effect of climate change by cooling temperate regions, a new study finds.

Biologists use diag trees to help solve gypsy moth mystery

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:17:17 EST

Working beneath towering oaks and maples, researchers have helped explain an observation that had puzzled insect ecologists who study voracious leaf-munching gypsy moth caterpillars.

Spring may come earlier to North American forests, increasing uptake of carbon dioxide

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:14:14 EST

Trees in the continental US could send out new leaves in the spring up to 17 days earlier in the coming century than they did before global temperatures started rising, according to a new study. . These climate-driven changes could lead to changes in the composition of northeastern forests and give a boost to their ability to take up carbon dioxide.