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.
Forests play a crucial role in providing precipitation to agricultural areas, importantly supporting crop production and global trade activities. A recent study published in Nature Water emphasizes that to manage global food ...
Ecology
Nov 3, 2025
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As British Columbia faces increasingly severe wildfire seasons, new research at UBC is revealing the hidden helpers at work underneath the ash. Assistant professor Dr. Monika Fischer studies pyrophilous fungi—fire-loving ...
Ecology
Nov 3, 2025
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Scientists from the Yale School of the Environment discovered that forests in the Everglades bounce back quickly after fires, often surpassing their previous levels of productivity. The research reaffirms the need to continue ...
Ecology
Oct 29, 2025
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Forests have been benefiting humanity since long before the health benefits of forest bathing were discovered. They are major carbon sinks that provide a wide range of ecosystem services, including timber and non-timber forest ...
Ecology
Oct 29, 2025
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A new study has shown areas of state forest in Northern New South Wales, currently zoned as hardwood eucalypt plantation and slated for logging in 2025–2026, are in fact vital koala habitat.
Plants & Animals
Oct 28, 2025
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Look up in the woods and you may see a familiar sight: squirrels using tree limbs like a leafy highway, crossing a patch of land without putting their paws on the ground.
Plants & Animals
Oct 22, 2025
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When farmland is abandoned and allowed to return to nature, forests and grasslands naturally regrow and absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere—helping fight climate change.
Earth Sciences
Oct 20, 2025
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The vast tropical forest nations of Brazil and Indonesia are both home to millions of people, including Indigenous communities. They store enormous amounts of carbon to protect our climate and are home to staggering numbers ...
Ecology
Oct 20, 2025
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Whether strolling through the woods or taking a rest from outdoor labor, autumn is a time when people contemplate the value of our trees and forests. The curious can now also explore the historical documents of the nation's ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 20, 2025
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For most visitors, the Mediterranean is a symbol of summer and sun-scorched landscapes. In reality, however, it harbors one of the world's greatest natural treasures. It is home to tens of thousands of plant and animal species, ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 17, 2025
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