https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/trees/ Read all about trees, including the latest research on many tree species, insect infestations, and the role of trees in ecology. Full articles, photos, free. en-us Tue, 17 Mar 2026 08:06:52 EDT Tue, 17 Mar 2026 08:06:52 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/trees/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260314030512.htm Spiders and insects may not be fan favorites, but they are vital to the health of ecosystems—and scientists barely know how they’re doing. Researchers found that nearly 90% of North America’s insect and arachnid species have no conservation status, leaving their fate largely unknown. Even more striking, most states don’t protect a single arachnid species. The study warns that these overlooked creatures are essential to planetary health and urgently need better monitoring and protection. Sat, 14 Mar 2026 20:37:58 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260314030512.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260312222355.htm A study from Kobe University has uncovered a surprising partnership between Japanese red elder plants and Heterhelus beetles. The beetles pollinate the flowers but also lay eggs inside the developing fruit. The plant responds by dropping many of those fruits, yet the larvae survive by escaping into the soil. The discovery suggests that fruit drop is not punishment but a compromise that keeps the plant–insect relationship stable. Thu, 12 Mar 2026 22:44:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260312222355.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260311004829.htm Researchers exploring Uganda’s Kibale National Park have discovered seven new species of frog-like leafhoppers. The tiny insects, named for their frog-shaped bodies and powerful jumping legs, are so similar in appearance that scientists must examine microscopic anatomical details to tell them apart. The find represents the first new African species of this group recorded since 1981. One species was named in honor of the scientist’s late mother. Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:55:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260311004829.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260305223215.htm A tiny piece of moss helped expose a cemetery scandal in Illinois, where workers allegedly dug up graves and resold burial plots. By identifying the moss and analyzing its chlorophyll to estimate its age, scientists proved the remains had been moved recently—evidence that helped secure convictions. Fri, 06 Mar 2026 21:26:56 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260305223215.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260304184226.htm Tyrannosaurus rex may have taken far longer to grow up than scientists once thought. By analyzing growth rings in fossilized leg bones from 17 tyrannosaur specimens and using new statistical methods, researchers found that the famous predator likely took about 40 years to reach its full size—around eight tons—rather than the previously estimated 25 years. Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:10:22 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260304184226.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260304184224.htm A sweeping new study of more than 2,000 insect species reveals a troubling reality: many insects may be far less capable of coping with rising temperatures than scientists once hoped. Researchers found that while some species living at higher altitudes can temporarily boost their heat tolerance, many insects in tropical lowlands—where biodiversity is highest—lack this flexibility. Because insects play essential roles as pollinators, decomposers, and predators, their vulnerability could ripple through entire ecosystems. Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:47:53 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260304184224.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260303050621.htm Earth’s vertebrate diversity may be far richer than anyone realized. A sweeping analysis of more than 300 studies suggests that for every known fish, bird, reptile, amphibian, or mammal species, there are about two nearly identical “cryptic” species hiding in plain sight—genetically distinct but visually almost impossible to tell apart. Thanks to advances in DNA sequencing, scientists are uncovering these long-separated lineages, some evolving independently for over a million years. Tue, 03 Mar 2026 06:49:27 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260303050621.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260208233836.htm Forests around the world are quietly transforming, and not for the better. A massive global analysis of more than 31,000 tree species reveals that forests are becoming more uniform, increasingly dominated by fast-growing “sprinter” trees, while slow-growing, long-lived species are disappearing. These slower species act as the backbone of forest ecosystems, storing carbon, stabilizing environments, and supporting rich webs of life—especially in tropical regions where biodiversity is highest. Mon, 09 Feb 2026 02:17:56 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260208233836.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260207232242.htm A newly discovered deep-sea creature has become an unlikely Internet star. After appearing in a popular YouTube video, a rare chiton found nearly three miles beneath the ocean surface sparked a global naming effort, drawing more than 8,000 suggestions from people around the world. Scientists ultimately chose the name Ferreiraella populi, meaning “of the people,” honoring the public that helped bring it into the scientific record. Sat, 07 Feb 2026 23:32:36 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260207232242.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260116035313.htm Bamboo shoots may be far more than a crunchy side dish. A comprehensive review found they can help control blood sugar, support heart and gut health, and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Laboratory and human studies also suggest bamboo may promote beneficial gut bacteria and reduce toxic compounds in cooked foods. However, bamboo must be pre-boiled to avoid natural toxins. Fri, 16 Jan 2026 23:01:50 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260116035313.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260115220612.htm New research shows tropical forests can recover twice as fast after deforestation when their soils contain enough nitrogen. Scientists followed forest regrowth across Central America for decades and found that nitrogen plays a decisive role in how quickly trees return. Faster regrowth also means more carbon captured from the atmosphere. The study points to smarter reforestation strategies that work with nature rather than relying on fertilizers. Thu, 15 Jan 2026 22:31:47 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260115220612.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260106224625.htm Scientists have created a new way to watch plants breathe—live and in high definition—while tracking exactly how much carbon and water they exchange with the air. The breakthrough could help unlock crops that grow smarter, stronger, and more drought-resistant. Wed, 07 Jan 2026 02:17:23 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260106224625.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260101160851.htm Spruce bark beetles don’t just tolerate their host tree’s chemical defenses—they actively reshape them into stronger antifungal protections. These stolen defenses help shield the beetles from infection, but one fungus has evolved a way to neutralize them. By detoxifying the beetles’ chemical armor, the fungus can successfully invade and kill its host. The discovery sheds light on an unseen forest arms race and may improve biological pest control. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 16:08:51 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260101160851.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225080738.htm Moss may look insignificant, but it can carry a hidden forensic fingerprint. Because different moss species thrive in very specific micro-environments, tiny fragments can reveal exactly where a person has been. Researchers reviewing 150 years of cases found moss has helped solve crimes across multiple countries, including one case where it led investigators directly to a buried child. The study urges law enforcement to pay closer attention to these silent witnesses. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 22:28:09 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225080738.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251224032345.htm The search for life on Earth is speeding up, not slowing down. Scientists are now identifying more than 16,000 new species each year, revealing far more biodiversity than expected across animals, plants, fungi, and beyond. Many species remain undiscovered, especially insects and microbes, and future advances could unlock millions more. Each new find also opens doors to conservation and medical breakthroughs. Wed, 24 Dec 2025 06:06:35 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251224032345.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251218060552.htm Researchers announced over 70 new species in a single year, including bizarre insects, ancient dinosaurs, rare mammals, and deep-river fish. Many were found not in the wild, but in museum collections, proving that major discoveries can still be hiding in plain sight. Fri, 19 Dec 2025 05:59:30 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251218060552.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251130205418.htm Chimpanzees naturally ingest surprising amounts of alcohol from ripe, fermenting fruit. Careful measurements show that their typical fruit diet can equal one to two human drinks each day. This supports the idea that alcohol exposure is not a modern human invention but an ancient primate habit. The work strengthens the “drunken monkey” hypothesis and opens new questions about how animals use ethanol cues in their environment. Mon, 01 Dec 2025 11:40:42 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251130205418.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251121090735.htm Migratory birds that fill North American forests with spring songs depend on Central America’s Five Great Forests far more than most people realize. New research shows these tropical strongholds shelter enormous shares of species like Wood Thrushes, Cerulean Warblers, and Golden-winged Warblers—many of which are rapidly declining. Yet these forests are disappearing at an alarming pace due to illegal cattle ranching, placing both birds and local communities at risk. Sat, 22 Nov 2025 08:35:04 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251121090735.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251102205009.htm Penn State scientists uncovered an ancient bacterial defense where dormant viral DNA helps bacteria fight new viral threats. The enzyme PinQ flips bacterial genes to create protective proteins that block infection. Understanding this mechanism could lead to breakthroughs in antivirals, antibiotic alternatives, and industrial microbiology. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 09:05:12 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251102205009.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251015032304.htm A parasitic worm uses static electricity to launch itself onto flying insects, a mechanism uncovered by physicists and biologists at Emory and Berkeley. By generating opposite charges, the worm and insect attract, allowing the leap to succeed far more often. High-speed cameras and mathematical modeling confirmed this “electrostatic ecology” in action. Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:44:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251015032304.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251008030934.htm Kobe University researchers found that orchids rely on wood-decaying fungi to germinate, feeding on the carbon from rotting logs. Their seedlings only grow near deadwood, forming precise fungal partnerships that mirror those seen in adult orchids with coral-like roots. This discovery highlights a hidden carbon pathway in forest ecosystems and explains the evolution of fully fungus-dependent orchid species. Wed, 08 Oct 2025 03:09:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251008030934.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251007081831.htm Researchers at KAUST have confirmed that the Red Sea once vanished entirely, turning into a barren salt desert before being suddenly flooded by waters from the Indian Ocean. The flood carved deep channels and restored marine life in less than 100,000 years. This finding redefines the Red Sea’s role as a key site for studying how oceans form and evolve through extreme geological events. Wed, 08 Oct 2025 04:27:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251007081831.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251003033926.htm The matador bug’s flamboyant leg-waving puzzled scientists for years, with early guesses pointing to courtship. But experiments revealed the waving is a defense tactic against predators. Related species also share the behavior, possibly signaling toxicity or creating visual confusion. The discovery raises fresh questions about insect evolution and survival strategies. Fri, 03 Oct 2025 03:39:26 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251003033926.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250920214304.htm Researchers uncovered how ants keep their powerful sense of smell clear: by using a genetic safeguard that silences surrounding receptor genes. This discovery not only solves a decades-old puzzle but also reveals how ants can rapidly evolve new olfactory abilities. Sat, 20 Sep 2025 21:43:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250920214304.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250914205835.htm Researchers discovered two new parasitic wasp species living in the U.S., tracing their origins back to Europe and uncovering clues about how they spread. Their arrival raises fresh questions about biodiversity, ecological risks, and the role of citizen science in tracking hidden species. Mon, 15 Sep 2025 03:08:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250914205835.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250908175502.htm Orangutans, humans’ close evolutionary relatives, have developed remarkable strategies to survive in the unpredictable rainforests of Borneo. A Rutgers-led study reveals that these apes balance protein intake and adjust their activity to match food availability, avoiding obesity and metabolic disease. Unlike humans, who often overeat processed foods without adjusting energy use, orangutans switch between fruits, leaves, and even stored body fat depending on the season. Their ability to maintain protein levels and conserve energy during scarcity offers insights not only into their survival but also into healthier dietary habits for people. Tue, 09 Sep 2025 01:47:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/09/250908175502.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250824031532.htm Ripple bugs’ fan-like legs inspired engineers to build the Rhagobot, a tiny robot with self-morphing fans. By mimicking these insects’ passive, ultra-fast movements, the robot gains speed, control, and endurance without extra energy—potentially transforming aquatic microrobotics. Sun, 24 Aug 2025 09:58:42 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250824031532.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250822073805.htm A new study reveals that the majority of Earth’s species stem from a few evolutionary explosions, where new traits or habitats sparked rapid diversification. From flowers to birds, these bursts explain most of the planet’s biodiversity. Sat, 23 Aug 2025 05:33:02 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250822073805.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250820000810.htm Planting more trees can help cool the planet and reduce fire risk—but where they are planted matters. According to UC Riverside researchers, tropical regions provide the most powerful climate benefits because trees there grow year-round, absorb more carbon dioxide, and cool the air through processes like evapotranspiration, or “tree sweating.” Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:34:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250820000810.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250806094112.htm Apple snails can fully regrow their eyes, and their genes and eye structures are strikingly similar to humans. Scientists mapped the regeneration process and used CRISPR to identify genes, including pax6, as essential to eye development, raising hopes for future human vision restoration. Wed, 06 Aug 2025 23:00:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250806094112.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250803233109.htm Glasswing butterflies may all look alike, but behind their transparent wings hides an evolutionary story full of intrigue. Researchers discovered that while these butterflies appear nearly identical to avoid predators, they produce unique pheromones to attract suitable mates from their own species. A massive genetic mapping effort has now revealed six new butterfly species and uncovered a surprisingly high level of chromosomal rearrangement that helps explain why these butterflies evolve so rapidly. Mon, 04 Aug 2025 08:11:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250803233109.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250803233107.htm In a surprising twist of conservation success, a U.S. Air Force bombing range in Florida has become a sanctuary for endangered species like the red-cockaded woodpecker. Michigan State University researchers used decades of monitoring data to study the impact of moving birds from healthier populations to struggling ones. The outcome? A powerful success story showing that with long-term commitment, strategic partnerships, and smart interventions like controlled burns and translocations, even isolated wildlife populations can rebound and thrive. This model may hold the key to saving many more species teetering on the edge. Mon, 04 Aug 2025 07:55:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250803233107.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250801020109.htm Ape behavior just got a name upgrade — “scrumping” — and it might help explain why humans can handle alcohol so well. Researchers discovered that African apes regularly eat overripe, fermented fruit off the forest floor, and this habit may have driven key evolutionary adaptations. By naming and classifying this behavior, scientists are hoping to better understand how alcohol tolerance evolved in our ancestors — and how it might have helped shape everything from safety in the trees to social drinking rituals. Fri, 01 Aug 2025 04:18:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250801020109.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250729001204.htm In the quest to understand how and why early humans started walking on two legs, scientists are now looking to chimpanzees living in dry, open savannah-like environments for clues. A new study reveals that these chimpanzees, despite the open terrain, still frequently climb trees to gather fruit and other foods found high in the canopy. Their behavior suggests that bipedalism may not have evolved purely as a response to ground-based travel, but also for safe and efficient movement within trees. Tue, 29 Jul 2025 01:17:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250729001204.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706225819.htm Kenyan fig trees can literally turn parts of themselves to stone, using microbes to convert internal crystals into limestone-like deposits that lock away carbon, sweeten surrounding soils, and still yield fruit—hinting at a delicious new weapon in the climate-change arsenal. Sun, 06 Jul 2025 23:54:49 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250706225819.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705084325.htm Immersing stressed volunteers in a 360° virtual Douglas-fir forest complete with sights, sounds and scents boosted their mood, sharpened short-term memory and deepened their feeling of nature-connectedness—especially when all three senses were engaged. Researchers suggest such multisensory VR “forest baths” could brighten clinics, waiting rooms and dense city spaces, offering a potent mental refresh where real greenery is scarce. Sun, 06 Jul 2025 08:17:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250705084325.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250617014210.htm Beetles that can see the color red? That s exactly what scientists discovered in two Mediterranean species that defy the norm of insect vision. While most insects are blind to red, these beetles use specialized photoreceptors to detect it and even show a strong preference for red flowers like poppies and anemones. This breakthrough challenges long-standing assumptions about how flower colors evolved and opens a new path for studying how pollinators influence plant traits over time. Tue, 17 Jun 2025 01:42:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250617014210.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250610080025.htm A prehistoric digestive time capsule has been unearthed in Australia: plant fossils found inside a sauropod dinosaur offer the first definitive glimpse into what these giant creatures actually ate. The remarkably preserved gut contents reveal that sauropods were massive, indiscriminate plant-eaters who swallowed leaves, conifer shoots, and even flowering plants without chewing relying on their gut microbes to break it all down. Tue, 10 Jun 2025 08:00:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250610080025.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250608071743.htm In a paper published in National Science Review, a Chinese team of scientists highlights the discovery of well-preserved blue-stain fungal hyphae within a Jurassic fossil wood from northeastern China, which pushes back the earliest known fossil record of this fungal group by approximately 80 million years. The new finding provides crucial fossil evidence for studying the origin and early evolution of blue-stain fungi and offers fresh insights into understanding the ecological relationships between the blue-stain fungi, plants, and insects during the Jurassic period. Sun, 08 Jun 2025 07:17:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250608071743.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250607231851.htm Humpback whales have been observed blowing bubble rings during friendly interactions with humans a behavior never before documented. This surprising display may be more than play; it could represent a sophisticated form of non-verbal communication. Scientists from the SETI Institute and UC Davis believe these interactions offer valuable insights into non-human intelligence, potentially helping refine our methods for detecting extraterrestrial life. Their findings underscore the intelligence, curiosity, and social complexity of whales, making them ideal analogues for developing communication models beyond Earth. Sat, 07 Jun 2025 23:18:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250607231851.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529145725.htm Forest-based agroforestry can restore forests, promote livelihoods, and combat climate change, but emerging agroforestry initiatives focusing only on tree planting is leading to missed opportunities to support beneficial outcomes of forest management, scientists found. Thu, 29 May 2025 14:57:25 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529145725.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250528132310.htm Researchers compared the whole genome sequence of two genetically distinct lineages of bed bug, and their findings indicate bed bugs may well be the first true urban pest. Wed, 28 May 2025 13:23:10 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250528132310.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250528132224.htm A new species of velvet worm, Peripatopsis barnardi, represents the first ever species from the arid Karoo, which indicates that the area was likely historically more forested than at present. In the Cape Fold Mountains, we now know that every mountain peak has an endemic species. This suggests that in unsampled areas there are likely to be additional novel diversity, waiting to be found. Wed, 28 May 2025 13:22:24 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250528132224.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250528131557.htm Many bat species native to Germany, such as the Leisler's bat, are forest specialists. However, as it is becoming increasingly hard for them to find tree hollows in forest plantations, so they are moving to settlements instead. Using high-resolution GPS data from bats, a team led by scientists has analyzed in greater detail than ever before how Leisler's bats use their habitats, which tree species they look for when searching a roost, and which forest types they avoid. They found that these bats increasingly seek refuge in old trees in urban areas and in old buildings such as churches. Wed, 28 May 2025 13:15:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250528131557.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250527124632.htm Researchers conducted a systematic review of 99 scientific publications that compared the flora or fauna of old-growth forests, managed forests and clearcut sites in boreal Europe. The reviewed studies showed large differences in the species communities inhabiting these forest types. The species richness of full-canopy forests increases as the forest gets older. Clearcut sites are also species-rich, but they are inhabited by a distinct set of species in comparison to full-canopy forests. Tue, 27 May 2025 12:46:32 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250527124632.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250523120439.htm A new study shows that monitoring and managing select bird species can provide benefits for other species within specific regions. Fri, 23 May 2025 12:04:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250523120439.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522162538.htm Scientists have analyzed ancient DNA and compared more than 400 fossils from 17 natural history museums to figure out how and why extinct sloths got so big. Thu, 22 May 2025 16:25:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522162538.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522125022.htm Planting flower strips in a field with at least two species can increase the number of natural enemies of pests by 70 percent. The more flower species, the better the effect, according to a new meta-analysis. Thu, 22 May 2025 12:50:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250522125022.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521124438.htm Songbirds who make the arduous flight from their nesting sites in northern boreal forests to warm, southern climates in the winter may be rewarded for their journey with greater genetic diversity. Wed, 21 May 2025 12:44:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521124438.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250519131439.htm The demand for the widely used cancer drug Taxol is increasing, but it's difficult and expensive to produce because it hasn't been possible to do it biosynthetically. Until now, that is. Researchers have now cracked the last part of a code that science has struggled with for 30 years. The breakthrough could halve the price of the drug and make production far more sustainable. Mon, 19 May 2025 13:14:39 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250519131439.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250515132021.htm When trees and soil fungi form close associations with each other, both partners benefit. Many tree species have further enhanced this cooperation by forming a concurrent symbiosis with two different groups of mycorrhizal fungi. Those trees cope better with water and nutrient scarcity, which is an important trait for forestry in the face of climate warming. Thu, 15 May 2025 13:20:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250515132021.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250515131830.htm Natural ecosystems comprise groups of species capable of living in the specific conditions of a biological system. However, if we visit a specific natural area, we will not find all the species capable of living in it. The proportion of species that could live in a specific location but do not do so is known as dark diversity, a concept coined in 2011. Research has now discovered that this dark diversity increases in regions with greater human activity. Thu, 15 May 2025 13:18:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250515131830.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250513112306.htm In order for trees to grow, they need to control their water balance meticulously. A study shows how trees react to drought -- and revises previous perceptions. Tue, 13 May 2025 11:23:06 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250513112306.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250512133649.htm Pink salmon, Purple Asian clams, marine invertebrates that form spaghetti-like colonies and a nematode worm that causes extensive deaths of trees are among the new entries in experts' watchlist of invasive non-native species that could threaten Great Britain in the next 10 years. The latest version of the watchlist again includes known problem species such as the yellow-legged (Asian) hornet, raccoon and twoleaf watermilfoil. Mon, 12 May 2025 13:36:49 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250512133649.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250509132216.htm In a groundbreaking discovery in Brunei, scientists have found two-million-year-old fossils of Dryobalanops rappa—an endangered tropical tree that still lives today. The find marks the first fossil evidence of a living, endangered tree species and sheds light on the deep history of Asia’s lush rainforests. This ancient lineage, confirmed through microscopic leaf analysis, reveals that these iconic dipterocarp trees have thrived in Borneo’s peatlands for millions of years. Fri, 09 May 2025 13:22:16 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250509132216.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250509122113.htm In a new study, researchers are investigating the interaction of major global change drivers on insects. Fri, 09 May 2025 12:21:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250509122113.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250509121929.htm A scientist decided to find out why a bacterial infection makes fruit flies promiscuous. What he discovered could help curb mosquito-borne diseases and manage crop pests. Fri, 09 May 2025 12:19:29 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250509121929.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508112548.htm Scientists have found that a mere 30 species of trees in the Cerrado -- the world's largest and most floristically diverse savanna -- account for nearly half of all its trees. The 'hyperdominance' by a few species could help researchers understand how this vast ecosystem functions. Thu, 08 May 2025 11:25:48 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250508112548.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250506224350.htm Termites -- infamous for their ability to destroy wood -- are rarely welcomed into rainforests that have been painstakingly replanted. But a new paper suggests that termite transplants may be necessary to help regenerating forests to thrive. Scientists found that termites are not thriving in replanted rainforests in Australia. Because decomposers like termites are essential for recycling nutrients and carbon, the researchers worry that the insect's slow recovery could hinder the growth and health of the young forests. Tue, 06 May 2025 22:43:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250506224350.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250506170943.htm Researchers have identified a chemical that kills about 95 percent of a western drywood termite colony without off-target effects on mammals. Tue, 06 May 2025 17:09:43 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250506170943.htm