Image: Belts of green in the Washington suburbs
Along the northeast side of the Capital Beltway in Maryland, green spaces weave through the developed landscape.
Planetary Sciences
Apr 22, 2026
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Page 10: Research news on forest ecosystems
Forest ecosystems are complex, multiscale ecological systems dominated by tree communities and structured by vertical stratification (canopy, understory, forest floor) that regulate energy flow, biogeochemical cycles, and habitat availability. They integrate interactions among primary producers, heterotrophs, decomposers, and abiotic factors such as climate, soils, and hydrology, resulting in distinct successional dynamics and disturbance regimes (e.g., fire, windthrow, pest outbreaks). Forest ecosystems play central roles in carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and water regulation, exhibit high spatial heterogeneity and biodiversity, and are key model systems for studying resilience, feedbacks between vegetation and climate, and anthropogenic impacts such as fragmentation, land-use change, and altered disturbance frequencies.
Wildfire-driven deforestation rates in California among highest in world
California has one of the highest rates of wildfire-driven deforestation in the world, and the trend has accelerated over the past three decades, according to a study from the University of California, Davis. The study, published ...
Environment
Apr 22, 2026
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Discovering a favorite pit stop and communication hub for cloud forest canopy dwellers
In his time spent in the lush canopies of Costa Rica's cloud forest, UConn Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Ph.D. student Jeremy Quirós-Navarro has worked as an arborist, helped place camera traps, collected ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 22, 2026
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Birds and monkeys in the Amazon share information via 'internet of the forest'
You might go for a walk in the forest to disconnect from work and calm your nerves after a busy week. The chirping and calls of birds in the canopy above might be exactly what allows you to relax.
Ecology
Apr 21, 2026
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Our efforts to halt global forest loss aren't working: New research
The loss of our forests is one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time. Forests are key to curbing carbon emissions and protecting the plants, animals, and humans that call Earth home.
Environment
Apr 21, 2026
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The fast-track tree breeding method that is restoring European ash to the landscape
A fast-track method of breeding disease-resistant ash trees has been developed by researchers leading efforts to conserve the species. Researchers at the John Innes Center, who have adapted the embryo extraction method, found ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 21, 2026
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Well-placed poplar plantations can enhance forest connectivity for birds
A new study shows how fast-growing poplar plantations can improve functional connectivity for forest birds in fragmented agricultural landscapes, provided they are strategically located and species have moderate to high dispersal ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 20, 2026
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Indonesia's fire crisis comes into focus as high-resolution satellite maps expose 5.62 million hectares affected
Indonesia experiences massive forest fires as the dry season approaches. They are a major environmental challenge because they damage forests and other land, endanger lives, and disrupt local economies. Using sharp, high-resolution ...
Burning plus tree retention boosts natural forest regrowth in Finland after 11 years
Prescribed burning, when combined with tree retention, can effectively support natural regeneration in managed boreal forests, new research shows. The study demonstrates that post-fire seedling establishment remains strong ...
Ecology
Apr 15, 2026
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Hurricane-resilient coastal forests in the Northeastern US may be nearing their limits, project indicates
A research paper led by William Paterson University environmental science professor Nicole Davi finds that coastal forests demonstrate incredible resiliency following major hurricane events, but these forests are increasingly ...
Plants & Animals
Apr 15, 2026
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