Acipenser transmontanus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and <a href="https://www.earth.com/image/the-fall-rhapsody-in-ottawa/">Canada</a>. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of<a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=north+america&amp;cvid=d55013d210f7439f8ca981b3b73576f2&amp;aqs=edge.0.69i59l2j69i60j69i57j69i60l2j69i59.492j0j4&amp;FORM=ANAB01&amp;PC=HCTS"> North America</a> and the world.

FWS Digital Media Library -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Digital Library is a searchable collection of selected images, historical artifacts, audio clips, publications, and video.White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) is a species of sturgeon in the family Acipenseridae of the order Acipenseriformes. They are an anadromous fish species ranging in the Eastern Pacific; from the Gulf of Alaska to Monterey, California. However, some are landlocked in the Columbia River Drainage, Montana, and Lake Shasta in California, with reported sightings in northern Baja California, Mexico.Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) &gt; Acipenseriformes (Sturgeons and paddlefishes) &gt; Acipenseridae (Sturgeons) &gt; Acipenserinae Etymology: : Latin, = sturgeon, 1853 (Ref. 45335); transmontanus: The specific name is derived from the Latin acipenser (sturgeon), trans (beyond), and montanus (mountain) (Ref. 27436).More on author: Richardson.

Acipenser transmontanus

Acipenser transmontanus NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation...

Tropical forests usually stand as protectors. Their trees capture carbon, cool the planet, and support countless species. For decades, scientists assumed these forests would resist warming better than others.



A new study shows the opposite. The soils of the tropics could release vast amounts of carbon dioxide as the Earth heats up.



The research comes from the <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. Forest Service</a>, with Chapman University as a senior collaborator. The results suggest that tropical soils are not passive players. They may speed up global warming instead of slowing it.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soil-warming-boosts-carbon">Soil warming boosts carbon</h2>



The experiment took place in Puerto Rico’s Luquillo Experimental Forest. Using infrared heaters, scientists raised soil temperatures by 4°C (7.2°F) and monitored respiration every half hour for an entire year.



The findings stunned the team. Warmed soils released 42 to 204 percent more carbon dioxide than unheated plots.



“This research shows that as the planet warms, tropical soils may begin to amplify that warming,” said Dr. Christine Sierra O’Connell of <a href="https://www.chapman.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chapman University</a>. 



“If these patterns persist across time and regions, we may be drastically underestimating the extent to which tropical <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/greenhouse-gases-surge-from-desert-soils-just-minutes-after-rain/">forests</a> will lose carbon and accelerate climate change.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-soil-microbes-drive-warming">Soil microbes drive warming</h2>



The expectation was clear: roots would fuel most of the extra carbon loss. Yet the opposite happened. Root biomass actually declined, dropping by more than 30 percent in warmed plots.



At the same time, microbial biomass grew by more than 50 percent. The boost in microbial activity drove the surge in carbon emissions, while root respiration faded into the background.



This shift matters. Microbes decompose organic matter relentlessly, and under higher temperatures they seem to push soil carbon into the atmosphere at record levels. This mechanism explains why the Puerto Rican results outpaced similar warming experiments elsewhere in the tropics.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-water-adds-complexity">Water adds complexity</h2>



Heat was not the only factor in play. Moisture shaped the outcomes too. On lower slopes, warming dried soils, reducing aeration and limiting respiration after heavy rains.



Mid-slope soils also dried but still produced higher emissions. Strangely, the upper slopes became wetter under warming, and there the soil pumped out extraordinary amounts of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/soil-is-losing-nitrogen-along-with-its-climate-fighting-power/">carbon</a>.



These contrasts show that even within a single forest, warming does not act uniformly. Topography and water balance interact with heat, producing both “hotspots” and “hot moments” of soil carbon release. Predicting future emissions without accounting for these details will likely miss the scale of the threat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-new-climate-state">A new climate state</h2>



The experiment also tested sensitivity, measured by Q10, which tracks how respiration changes with temperature. 



Surprisingly, Q10 dropped by more than 70 percent in warmed plots. Respiration no longer followed predictable rises with each degree. Instead, microbes adapted to sustain high <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/satellites-detect-methane-emission-from-cow-burps/">emission</a> rates regardless of further warming.



This means tropical soils may not just increase output with heat. They may lock into a new functional state where carbon release remains high even without additional temperature jumps. Such shifts challenge Earth system models that rely on fixed assumptions.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-warning-signs">Global warning signs</h2>



“We are witnessing a troubling shift,” O’Connell explained. “The very systems we rely on to stabilize the climate may now be pushing us in the opposite direction.”



The numbers support her warning. On one slope, the extra carbon released each year matched the productivity of entire temperate forests. 



Considering the vast area covered by tropical forests, the potential global impact is enormous. If soils across the tropics respond this way, warming could accelerate far beyond current projections.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-warming-challenges-soil-role">Warming challenges soil role</h2>



Earlier theories held that tropical soils would show limited sensitivity to warming. Those ideas stemmed from lab incubations and elevation studies rather than real-world tests. 



The Puerto Rico experiment proves otherwise. By running the first full warming trial in a tropical rainforest, the researchers showed how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-type-of-microbes-found-earths-deep-soil-critical-zone/">soil microbes</a>, roots, and moisture interact under heat.



The lesson is sobering. Tropical soils may not resist change. Instead, they may shift quickly, releasing carbon in ways both powerful and unpredictable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tropics-may-flip-sink-to-source">Tropics may flip sink to source</h2>



The TRACE project highlights one site, but the message applies widely. Tropical forests cover more than 30 ecological life zones. Each will likely respond differently, but all carry the risk of tipping from sink to source. Scientists argue that only direct experiments across varied forests can reveal the full picture.



Climate action often focuses on stopping <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/deforestation-changes-social-behavior-in-monkeys/">deforestation</a> and cutting aboveground emissions. This study shows another front that cannot be ignored. The soil beneath the forest is alive, active, and capable of reshaping the climate’s future.



If the processes seen in Puerto Rico spread across the tropics, global warming could accelerate in ways humanity has yet to prepare for.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62065-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature Communications</a>.



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Why tropical forest soils could supercharge global warming

Tropical forests usually stand as protectors. Their trees capture carbon,...

Humans have moved plants around the planet for centuries, both on purpose and by accident. Today, more than 16,000 vascular plant species have naturalized outside their native ranges. Most of this spread has occurred since the 1950s, particularly in regions with the greatest human footprint.



Some of these newcomers establish themselves quietly. Others become invasive, outcompeting native flora and reshaping ecosystems.



But what separates the cosmopolitan climbers from the homebodies? Are successful invaders simply taking advantage of empty niches abroad, or do they already have the right stuff at home?



An international team led by the <a href="https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Konstanz</a> tested a deceptively simple idea: plant species that are thriving and expanding within their native habitats are the same ones most likely to take off overseas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-europe-s-role-in-global-spread">Europe’s role in global spread</h2>



Europe is one of the world’s main exporters of naturalized plants, making it an ideal proving ground. 



The researchers compiled decades of distribution records for 3,920 native <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/new-plant-species-has-flowers-with-tiny-horns-ovicula-biradiata/">plant species</a> across ten European regions (countries or subregions). They then reconstructed where each species occurred in an earlier period and where it occurred in a later one.



From those snapshots, they calculated an “occupancy-change” index - essentially, whether a species spread across more grid cells than you’d expect given where it started. 



Then they compared that native-range trajectory to how widely each species has naturalized globally, using a two-part model that accounts for both whether a species naturalizes at all and how many regions it colonizes if it does.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-widespread-plants-spread-farther">Widespread plants spread farther</h2>



Two signals popped out across nearly all the regions. First, species that were already widespread in the early time period were more likely to show up as naturalized aliens elsewhere, and to do so in many regions.



Second, species that increased their footprint at home tended to be the very ones that spread abroad - nine of ten regions showed a positive link between “doing better at home” and “going farther away.”



In three regions - the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Switzerland - the effect was particularly strong for species that started out common and then expanded further. 



Together, the results suggest that the same biological advantages helping a plant proliferate in its native landscape - tolerance for varied <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/most-species-are-shifting-their-habitats-due-to-climate-change/">habitats</a>, strong dispersal, flexible life histories - also prime it for success overseas.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-growth-at-home-signals-risk">Growth at home signals risk</h2>



A striking aspect of the study is that it didn’t rely only on static traits like range size. Many past analyses have shown that widely distributed species are more likely to naturalize.



Here, the “change” dimension mattered too: recent expansions at home carry predictive power, hinting that real-time monitoring of native-range dynamics can flag future invaders before they boom abroad.



The association with change was slightly weaker than the link with initial commonness. This was partly because some already-ubiquitous species had little room left to expand on paper. Even so, the pattern was robust across datasets assembled with different time windows and methods.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-traits-of-global-plant-invaders">Traits of global plant invaders</h2>



So what do these winners look like? Broadly, they are big, versatile generalists that thrive in nutrient-rich, human-influenced habitats and compete well. Those traits help them occupy many places at home - and the same traits travel well.



The team also tested “woodiness” (tree or shrub vs. herb) as a coarse biological marker. Woodiness was often associated with increases in native occupancy. Long-lived plants can persist as conditions shift. 



However, woody species that did naturalize tended to do so in fewer regions than herbs. This is likely because they reproduce more slowly and are introduced less often.



The nuance underscores that there isn’t one recipe for success, but a cluster of advantages that often co-occur.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tracking-plants-can-guide-action">Tracking plants can guide action</h2>



If the plant species expanding in their home habitats are the ones most likely to naturalize - and sometimes become <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/growing-threat-of-invasive-species-requires-immediate-action/">invasive</a> - elsewhere, then tracking native-range dynamics becomes a powerful early-warning tool.



Agencies can prioritize surveillance and biosecurity around species currently on the rise in their native regions. This is especially true for species flourishing in disturbed, nutrient-enriched settings that mirror many human-dominated landscapes worldwide.



For exporters and importers, the findings argue for tighter scrutiny of horticultural and trade pathways that disproportionately move “successful” species.



The study also reframes a persistent debate: Are invaders opportunists exploiting empty ecological space, or are they simply robust competitors wherever they go?



The answer, at least for many European exporters, leans toward the latter. Species that are common and spreading don’t succeed abroad because foreign <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-environmental-stress-strengthens-ecosystems/">ecosystems</a> are uniquely vulnerable; they succeed because they are already built to win.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-native-plant-booms-predict-global-spread">Native plant booms predict global spread</h2>



There’s an urgency to this work. Extinction risks are rising, but so is biotic homogenization - the gradual replacement of distinctive local floras with the same set of hardy generalists.



Watching which native plants are surging in their original habitats can help managers anticipate and mitigate that trend. Because policy resources are finite, insights like these can direct limited testing, regulation, and restoration budgets toward the species and pathways that matter most.



The bottom line is elegantly practical: If you want to know which plants will spread worldwide next, look first at which ones are spreading at home.



For Europe’s <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plant-life-on-islands-loses-diversity-when-humans-arrive/">flora</a>, that simple lens predicted global outcomes with surprising consistency. It also offers a blueprint any region can adapt. 



The steps are straightforward: gather good time-series data on native occupancy, calculate change, and connect those trends to known naturalizations. Do that, and tomorrow’s invaders may not catch you by surprise.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63293-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nature</a>.



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Plants that dominate at home pose the greatest invasive threat abroad

Humans have moved plants around the planet for centuries, both...

Imagine running a shop where you must hire both a guard and a salesperson. The guard keeps thieves away but may sometimes scare customers. The salesperson brings revenue but dislikes being interrupted. Balancing both roles can be tricky. 



Plants face a similar dilemma when they attract <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-many-ants-live-on-earth-at-any-point-in-time-total-number-is-astounding/">ants</a> for protection while also needing pollinators for reproduction.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sweet-deals-with-ant-allies">Sweet deals with ant allies</h2>



Plants rarely survive in isolation. They form alliances with many creatures, gaining protection, pollination, and nutrients. 



One of the most fascinating examples involves extrafloral nectaries - small glands on leaves, stems, or branches of around 4,000 plant species.



These glands release sugary nectar not to attract pollinators but to lure protective ants and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/paleontologists-found-the-oldest-ant-species-on-earth-113-million-years-old-with-scythe-like-jaws/">insects</a>. In exchange for this reward, ants chase away herbivores. This partnership benefits plants, but it can complicate relationships with pollinators.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ant-guards-disrupt-pollinators">Ant guards disrupt pollinators</h2>



A new study published in the Journal of Ecology shows that ants can interfere with pollination when nectaries are located near flowers.



Bees, which need close contact with flowers, are disrupted. Their visits shorten or stop altogether when ants patrol nearby.



Yet the story shifts when extrafloral nectaries are found on leaves or stems farther away. In such cases, plants gain the protection of ants without losing pollination benefits, often achieving greater reproductive success.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-different-plant-visitors-different-risks">Different plant visitors, different risks</h2>



Not all flower visitors respond the same way. Butterflies, with their long feeding tubes, remain largely unaffected. They can sip nectar from a distance, safe from ant encounters.



Bees, however, must get close and linger, making them prime targets for interference. This contrast shows how visitor behavior shapes the outcome of plant–ant interactions.



“Bees, on the other hand, need to get very close to the flower to collect pollen and floral nectar, but ants don’t allow them to stay for long,” said Amanda Vieira da Silva, the lead author of the study.



“Not surprisingly, our analysis showed that the presence of ants is detrimental to pollination when extrafloral nectaries are close to flowers but has a positive effect on plant reproduction when they’re located farther away.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-trade-offs-shape-plant-survival">Trade-offs shape plant survival</h2>



The study examined data from 27 experiments across 25 plant <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/earths-quiet-engineers-what-happens-when-common-ant-species-disappear/">species</a>. Overall, the average impact of ants on pollination was low but highly variable.



Ants consistently reduced floral visitation, especially by bees, but this did not always reduce reproductive success. In fact, plants with nectaries on vegetative tissues often benefited, producing more fruits and seeds.



Researchers suggest several reasons for the low costs. Protective benefits against herbivores may offset pollination losses. Some plants with reproductive nectaries gain more defense from florivores, balancing reduced pollinator visits.



Others reduce dependence on pollinators through self-pollination, making ant interference less harmful. Even reduced visits may not matter if short or fewer visits still transfer enough pollen.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ant-guards-change-plant-futures">Ant guards change plant futures</h2>



Ant interference may have influenced the evolution of plant traits. Species with high reliance on <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/honey-bee-invasion-a-growing-threat-to-native-pollinators/">bee pollination</a> may lose nectaries over time. 



Others may evolve seasonal separation, producing leaves with active nectaries at one time and flowers at another, preventing conflict.



“We know that in some groups of plants with extrafloral nectaries and flowers pollinated by the vibration of bees, new leaves with active extrafloral nectaries and flowers are produced in different seasons throughout the year, which would avoid conflict between the two,” said Anselmo Nogueira, co-author of the study.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sweetness-fuels-bigger-networks">Sweetness fuels bigger networks</h2>



Additional partnerships add complexity. Nitrogen-fixing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/some-bacteria-breathe-by-creating-electricity/">bacteria</a> in roots can boost plant productivity, supporting both pollinators and protective ants.



Resource quality also shapes interactions: plants with richer nectar attract more aggressive ants, which can either improve defense or worsen pollinator deterrence. Context, environment, and species traits all decide the balance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-plant-protection-and-pollination-intertwined">Plant protection and pollination intertwined</h2>



Studies have typically focused on the effect of only one isolated interaction on plants. For example, they quantify how much ants favor the defense of plants against herbivores or how much <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/pollinators-face-extinction-risk-due-to-climate-change/">pollinators</a> favor plant reproduction. 



"But these interactions can occur at the same time," said Laura Carolina Leal, co-author of the paper. "So, to understand how these interactions influence plant growth and reproduction, we need to look at them in an integrated way.” 



The findings highlight how delicate balances shape ecosystems. Ants reduce visits but can still help plants thrive, depending on where nectaries sit and which visitors dominate. Long term, these dynamics may influence the evolution of floral traits and mating systems.



The study is published in the <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2745.70087" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Ecology</a>.



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Plants pay ants "sugar bribes" to act as their bodyguards to help them survive

Imagine running a shop where you must hire both a...

The Falkland Islands are known today for cool winds, broad grasslands, and very few trees. That modern picture is accurate, but it is not the whole story. Pollen found beneath the capital shows these islands once supported a cool-temperate forest - wet, shaded, and biologically rich.



The clue came from a dark, woody layer uncovered during construction in Stanley. It was not random debris. 



It was a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/fossilized-frozen-forest-reveals-climate-impacts-on-ancient-alpine-ecosystems/">buried forest</a> bed - plant-heavy sediment preserved in place - holding microscopic grains and real pieces of ancient wood.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-forest-pollen-and-wood-fragments">Forest pollen and wood fragments</h2>



Scientists collected three kinds of evidence: pollen grains, spores, and chunks of <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/north-americas-oldest-known-pterosaur-eotephradactylus-mcintireae-discovered-arizona/">fossilized wood</a>. 



Pollen and spores keep their species-specific shapes for millions of years when they get trapped in wet sediment and then buried. 



Wood fragments preserve internal features that point to the type of tree and the conditions in which it grew.



This layer is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/lignite" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lignitic</a> - formed as plant material piled up in waterlogged, low-oxygen settings where leaves and twigs do not fully rot. 



Over time, that mush compressed into a dense, carbon-rich stratum, likely in a shallow, protected basin near the coast.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collecting-and-identifying-samples">Collecting and identifying samples</h2>



After the discovery, Dr. Zoë Thomas of the <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Southampton</a> hurried to the site with colleagues to salvage fresh samples before they dried and cracked. 



“The tree remains were so pristinely preserved they looked like driftwood,” recalled Dr. Thomas.



In the lab, the team separated tiny grains from the sediment and examined them under high magnification. 



The mix showed southern beech (<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/nothofagus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nothofagus</a>) and podocarps - Southern Hemisphere conifers - alongside moisture-loving plants that thrive in soggy ground. 



“The fossil pollen, spores, and wood paint a much different picture of the ancient environment, providing direct evidence of cool, wet forests,” noted Michael Donovan, collections manager at <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Chicago’s Field Museum</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reading-the-forest-s-pollen-and-wood">Reading the forest's pollen and wood</h2>



Pollen alone can be misleading because wind can carry it far. That is why the wood matters. 



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/giant-trees-never-seen-before-up-to-3000-years-old-tessmannia-princeps-tasmania/">Wood anatomy</a> - cell sizes, pits, and rays - helps confirm whether pieces came from conifers or broadleaf trees and whether the community matches the pollen record. 



Here, it does. The agreement points to a local forest, not distant pollen that drifted in.



Modern relatives of Nothofagus and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podocarpus" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">podocarps</a> form cool, mossy forests in parts of southern Chile and Patagonia. 



Their presence in the Falklands’ fossil record supports the idea that the islands once held a wet, shaded habitat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dating-the-forest-fossils">Dating the forest fossils</h2>



Radiocarbon dating tops out around 50,000 years, so the team turned to regional comparison. They lined up the Falklands’ pollen 'cast' with well-dated South American records. 



When the same key pollen types appear and fade in the same order across sites, timelines can be matched.



Those comparisons point to the mid-to-late Cenozoic - tens of millions of years ago - when warmer intervals let rainforests extend to higher latitudes and outlying islands.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ancient-forest_treeless-island_falklands_pollen-discovered_1m.jpg"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ancient-forest_treeless-island_falklands_pollen-discovered_1s.webp" alt="Selected photomicrographs of fossil pollen produced in an ancient forest by gymnosperm and angiosperm living relatives in the rainforest of southern South America. Credit: Antarctic Science" class="wp-image-1985897"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Selected photomicrographs of fossil pollen produced in an ancient forest by gymnosperm and angiosperm living relatives in the rainforest of southern South America. Click image to enlarge. Credit: Antarctic Science</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pollen-explains-the-disappearing-forest">Pollen explains the disappearing forest</h2>



Islands get new species in bursts. Seeds and spores ride wind, float on ocean debris, and travel with birds. During milder, wetter stretches, the odds of survival jump. 



Once early trees took root in a sheltered, waterlogged basin, they could trap moisture, calm ground-level winds, and gradually build a stable community.



That is a familiar pattern in island biology. Given time and the right conditions, a few arrivals can turn into a functioning forest.



The climate shifted. Cooling trends and glacial cycles brought colder, windier conditions. 



The Falklands lack high mountains to block strong westerlies or snag extra rainfall, and many soils are thin and peaty. Those factors make it hard for trees to outcompete grasses today.



Ecosystems do not just follow latitude. Local wind, rainfall, and topography set the rules. Under the current rules, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mountain-greening-threatens-genetic-diversity-of-iconic-plants/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">open grassland</a> wins across most of the islands.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-does-any-of-this-matter">Why does any of this matter?</h2>



Fossil evidence gives climate scientists real targets for testing models. 



If a model run with mid-to-late <a href="https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/cenozoic/cenozoic.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cenozoic</a> conditions places a cool-temperate rainforest on the Falklands, that is a sign it is on track. If it does not, something is missing. 



These checks turn evidence from a single site into valuable test data.



There is also a wider lesson. Ecosystems can move, shrink, expand, or appear in places that seem unusual by today’s standards. 



The Falklands’ buried forest shows how temperature, rainfall, and wind can reshuffle living communities over long spans of time.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-the-case">Building the case</h2>



Fieldwork documented and sampled the lignitic layer in place. Lab work isolated pollen and spores, then identified them under microscopes. 



Wood pieces were sectioned to reveal diagnostic features. Together, those signals established both habitat and local origin.



For age, researchers matched the Falklands’ pollen sequence to dated South American profiles, tracking the same marker taxa as they rose and fell. 



That approach pinned the layer to a deep time window without relying on radiocarbon.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-have-we-learned">What have we learned?</h2>



To sum it all up, hidden beneath Stanley on the Falkland Islands lies a pollen record of a cool, wet forest dominated by southern beech and podocarp relatives, growing in a sheltered, waterlogged basin. 



The age falls in the mid-to-late Cenozoic, when warmer intervals allowed trees to push farther poleward and onto islands. 



This clear snapshot - written in pollen, spores, and wood - adds a useful data point to Earth’s climate history and helps scientists check the tools we use to understand past, present, and future change.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antarctic-science/article/evidence-for-a-floristically-diverse-rainforest-on-the-falkland-archipelago-in-the-remote-south-atlantic-during-the-mid-to-late-cenozoic/B4CFF913DD8F1BB43B570E4086C7CF7B" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Antarctic Science</a>.



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Scientists accidentally discover that a treeless island was once a tropical rainforest

The Falkland Islands are known today for cool winds, broad...

Plants don’t stay put. They grow, spread, and sometimes end up far from where they started. In the tropics, that movement is causing big changes. Plants from other parts of the world - called alien species - are taking root in places they’ve never belonged. Some are harmless, but others are taking over.



Across the tropical and subtropical regions of the planet - an area known as the greater tropics - roughly 10,000 alien plant species are now thriving. Many of these plants were brought in on purpose. People wanted them for farming, gardening, or medicine. But once they got loose, a few of them started spreading fast.



Not every alien plant causes problems. In fact, most don’t. But the ones that do are known as invasive species. And their impact goes beyond plants - they’re changing entire ecosystems, pushing out native species, and even making life harder for the people who live nearby.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-plant-that-pushed-people-out">The plant that pushed people out</h2>



One of the most invasive plants in the world is called Lantana camara. It’s originally from the tropical Americas and was brought to Europe in the late 1600s as a pretty <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/hundreds-of-invasive-species-are-for-sale-as-garden-plants-in-the-u-s/">garden plant</a>. Later, the Portuguese carried it to their colonies, including India.



“In the last century, large areas in the Western Ghats of India became overrun by Lantana. This triggered the native forest-dependent Soliga people to abandon their traditional livelihood and migrate in search of alternatives,” said Ninad Avinash Mungi, a researcher from <a href="https://international.au.dk/">Aarhus University</a>.



India isn’t alone. Lantana now covers 74 million acres there - an area larger than the state of Arizona. In Australia, it has taken over 9.9 million acres, and in Hawaii, about 395,000 acres. And it keeps spreading.



“Invasive plants like Lantana competitively suppress native food plants in forests and on savannas. Scarcity of food makes herbivores decline, which further affects the carnivores. We’ve seen examples of tigers preying on livestock when herbivores decline,” said Mungi.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ecosystems-lose-their-balance">Ecosystems lose their balance</h2>



This isn’t just a plant problem - it’s a people problem too. In poor areas where communities depend on forests and savannas for food, firewood, and medicine, invasive plants can cut off their access. 



As ecosystems get weaker, animals get hungrier. And that means more conflict - between <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/human-wildlife-overlap-is-rapidly-rising-across-the-globe/">wildlife</a> and people. But this didn’t start yesterday. 



“The tropics have historically been changed by people for thousands of years," said Mungi. "But the pace changed during the colonial era."



"People brought species from colony to colony, spreading plants and animals all over the tropics. Global trade after World War 2 has even further accelerated the process. Today, species are being exchanged all the time.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invasive-plants-overwhelm-weakened-lands">Invasive plants overwhelm weakened lands</h2>



Forests used to keep these invaders in check. But human activity has changed that. Researchers point out that human-caused <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/global-deforestation-crisis-how-can-we-stop-massive-forest-losses/">deforestation</a>, wildlife extirpation, pollution, and land-use transformations are important drivers of invasive plant spread. 



"These changes weaken the natural control over alien plants, facilitating their spread. Thus, invasive plants are initially passengers of disturbances, but eventually become drivers of disturbances,” Mungi said.



And with climate change speeding up, things are getting worse. In the Amazon, rising temperatures, logging, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasive-species-use-wildfires-and-drought-as-an-opening-to-move-in/">wildfires</a> are killing off native trees and plants. Invasive grasses make fires worse. They dry out easily and act like kindling, fueling the flames and preventing native species from regrowing.



“Paradoxically, increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere supports woody plants in place of grasses across savannas in the greater tropics," Mungi said. "Here, woody invasive plants are benefitting from CO2, fire suppression, and loss of large herbivores.” 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-some-invasive-plants-help-not-harm">Some invasive plants help, not harm</h2>



There’s another side to this story. Some alien plants aren’t entirely harmful. In fact, they may help, especially when native species are already struggling.



“While <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/international-plant-trade-is-spreading-invasive-species-and-pests/">invasive species</a> require focused management, more neutral alien species can sometimes play a positive ecological role, particularly when native species are stressed by a <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/how-plants-adapt-to-survive-a-changing-climate/">changing climate</a> or have been removed by people,” said Jens-Christian Svenning, a researcher at Aarhus University.



New types of ecosystems are emerging. These “novel ecosystems” may actually be more stable in a world of rising temperatures, extreme weather, and pollution. Protecting and expanding biodiversity can help keep invaders in check.



Alien plants are often seen only as a threat, but the reality is more complex. Most alien plants are neutral, and some can even play positive roles - especially as climate change pushes ecosystems toward collapse.



“Understanding both the risks and the buffering potential is key for smart management,” Svenning said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-fighting-invaders-is-costly">Fighting invaders is costly</h2>



Managing widespread invasive plants is costly, and complete eradication is often uncertain because the species can easily re-invade.



“Since invasive plants have spread across natural areas, they can’t simply be bulldozed, as that would cause several undesirable impacts on ecosystems,” said Mungi. “A sustainable alternative is urgently needed.”



Mungi and Svenning have proposed a solution called Nature-based Solutions for Biological Invasions. Instead of fighting nature, this approach works with it.



One idea? Reintroduce large animals - such as elephants and buffalo - into floodplains and savannas. They can naturally control invasive plants simply by grazing.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-adapting-to-invasive-plants">Adapting to invasive plants</h2>



In some places, invasive plants are already part of the landscape and have become quite useful.



“In many areas across the greater tropics, locals have begun using invasive plants such as Lantana to build crafts and furniture, Prosopis juliflora for biochar production, and water hyacinth for commercial products. They have adapted to a new reality,” said Mungi.



Both studies emphasize the importance of working in partnership with local communities when managing invasive plants.



“Local communities are often more aware of their ecosystems and of creative ways to manage them,” said Mungi.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-invasions-reshape-our-world">Invasions reshape our world</h2>



The world is not what it used to be. And it won’t stay the same. Invasive species are part of this shift. They’re changing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/invasive-plants-are-taking-over-ohios-forests/">forests</a>, savannas, and coastlines. And they’re changing how people live, work, and survive.



The question isn’t just how to get rid of them - it’s how to live with them, manage them, and make better choices about the future of nature.



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Invasive plants are transforming the tropics, forcing people to adapt

Plants don’t stay put. They grow, spread, and sometimes end...

Plants protect themselves. They often produce chemicals that discourage animals from feeding on them. For herbivores, survival means eating enough food while avoiding dangerous toxins. This delicate balance shapes how animals forage and adapt to their environment.



The challenge is not only about survival in the present moment. It is also about long-term adaptation. Animals that fail to strike this balance risk starvation or poisoning, while successful ones pass on their strategies to future generations. 



This ongoing evolutionary tug-of-war between plants and herbivores defines much of the natural world.



<a href="https://www.usu.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utah State University</a> ecologist Sara Weinstein believes these choices reveal much about survival. “Understanding how these animals navigate these choices is fundamental to understanding what these creatures need to survive and how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/woodrats-duplicated-their-genes-to-survive-eating-poisonous-plants/">species</a> respond to changing conditions."



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-woodrats-and-toxic-plants">Woodrats and toxic plants</h2>



Among the many plant eaters, woodrats offer a surprising case study. Native to North America, these rodents consume a wide range of plants.



“Woodrats are remarkable in their ability to eat truly awful, toxic plants,” said Weinstein. “If there are no other options, woodrats can consume plants like creosote bush, mesquite and juniper, which are full of disagreeable compounds like alkaloids and terpenes.”



Weinstein and colleagues from several universities recently published findings from an eight-year survey of woodrat populations across North America.



“Woodrats are a phenomenal model organism for understanding how wild <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/humans-have-super-sized-domestic-animals-and-shrunk-wildlife/">animals</a> make choices about what to eat,” Weinstein explains. Their habitats provide varied food choices, allowing researchers to study how animals decide among safer or riskier plants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-analyzing-the-diets-of-woodrats">Analyzing the diets of woodrats </h2>



Unlike city-dwelling rats, woodrats avoid people. "Woodrats are very distant cousins of the better known, and omnivorous, New York pizza rat,” Weinstein noted. “You are unlikely to see woodrats, unless you’re in relatively undeveloped habitat.”



Despite their shy nature, woodrats are widespread across the United States. Their abundance makes them excellent research subjects, especially since multiple <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ancient-survivors-dragonflies-face-their-toughest-test/">species</a> often share the same environment.



“Compared to large herbivores like deer, moose or elephants, woodrats are much easier to capture and handle,” said Weinstein. “They also readily provide us with material for diet analyses, because they tend to defecate in traps.”



These droppings become data-rich samples. Weinstein noted that each sample combines about a day of food choices. This allows scientists to capture a snapshot of their diets.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-patterns-in-herbivore-diets">Patterns in herbivore diets</h2>



Advancements in DNA metabarcoding, using next-generation sequencing, have transformed diet research. 



“It’s a very powerful and accessible technique to characterize the unseen,” Weinstein said. This method has helped reveal important patterns in how herbivores eat.



Despite progress, dietary niche breadth remains poorly understood. The research shows that both specialization and generalization carry costs for herbivores.



“A longstanding notion is that if you’re highly specific in what you eat - you only eat one thing - then, if you lose access to that plant - say, it disappears because the ecosystem changes or an invasive species pushes it out - you’re going to be in trouble,” said Weinstein.



Generalists adapt more easily, shifting diets when needed. Yet the story is more complex. Most woodrat populations are generalists, but at the individual level, these generalists’ diets may not be as broad as we previously assumed, explained Weinstein.



“We tend to think of generalists as being a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. However, it looks like most generalists are more aptly described as jacks-of-all trades, master of some.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-implications-for-ecosystems">Implications for ecosystems</h2>



Individuals often select consistent subsets of plants, helping them manage risks from toxins. These findings matter beyond woodrats.



“Ultimately, these constraints on animal diets have important implications for our understanding of food webs, species interactions and which populations are more likely to persist in changing ecosystems,” said Weinstein.



The study highlights how much we still have to learn about herbivores. By tracing dietary strategies across individuals, populations, and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/not-just-birds-and-beetles-iridescence-found-in-unexpected-animals/">species</a>, scientists gain insight into resilience and vulnerability in a changing climate. 



In the end, the secret lives of woodrats remind us that even the smallest animals can unlock big lessons about survival.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2413556122" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</a>.



Image Credit: Sara Weinstein



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Woodrats reveal how herbivores survive eating toxic plants

Plants protect themselves. They often produce chemicals that discourage animals...

Parents often ask the same question: what should I feed my baby first? Cereal, bananas, sweet potatoes, or something else? For years, advice has been vague. Scientists now suggest that blueberries may deserve a place on that list.



Blueberries are packed with color-rich compounds, fiber, and vitamins. Adults eat them for heart and brain health. 



Until now, though, no one had rigorously tested them in infants. A team at the <a href="https://www.cuanschutz.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Colorado Anschutz</a> decided to change that.



The researchers designed a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Sixty-one babies between five and twelve months joined. Some received blueberry powder each day.



Others received a powder without blueberries. Parents mixed the powder into normal <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/unstable-gut-microbes-can-worsen-child-malnutrition/">meals</a>. Nothing else in the routine had to change.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-linking-blueberries-and-allergies">Linking blueberries and allergies</h2>



By the end of the study, the blueberry group showed fewer allergy symptoms, especially respiratory ones. Inflammation markers also shifted. IL-13, a molecule tied to asthma and allergies, dropped. 



IL-10, known for calming the immune system, nudged upward. These results suggest blueberries encourage balance, not overreaction.



“For parents beginning to wean their infants, it’s incredibly difficult to find solid, research-backed advice on what <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/key-to-cutting-food-waste-is-in-our-daily-routines/">foods</a> to introduce,” said senior author Minghua Tang, PhD, adjoint associate professor of pediatrics at <a href="https://www.cuanschutz.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CU Anschutz</a>. 



“This study is a critical first step in filling that gap by offering real data on how a specific food like blueberries can improve your infant’s health.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-blueberries-protect-babies">How blueberries protect babies</h2>



Blueberries owe much of their power to anthocyanins, the pigments that give them a dark blue color. These compounds protect the gut lining, reduce inflammation, and discourage harmful bacteria. 



They also influence immune cells by turning down allergy-driving signals and boosting tolerance-building ones. In plain words, they help the immune system learn when to stay calm.



Infant gut bacteria shifted too. Beneficial groups such as Lactobacillus linked with more IL-10. Less friendly microbes like Citrobacter showed ties to IL-13. These shifts reveal how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/everyday-kitchen-tool-that-could-be-leaching-toxins-into-your-food-polypropylene-cutting-board/">diet</a> influences microbes.



The pattern suggests blueberries push gut communities in directions that support calmer immune activity, reducing unnecessary inflammation, encouraging tolerance, and possibly lowering the chance of early allergy development in infants.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-blueberries-support-long-term-health">Blueberries support long-term health</h2>



Not every improvement lined up neatly. Some babies improved without clear biomarker changes, and some biomarker shifts didn’t translate directly into fewer symptoms. 



That mismatch highlights the complexity of the gut–immune connection. Diet seems to nudge the system, but it doesn’t act through one simple pathway.



“This research supports the idea that blueberries are not only safe for infants but also offer meaningful health benefits,” said Minghua Tang, who is also a researcher at the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute and <a href="https://www.colostate.edu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colorado State University</a>.



“Just a few blueberries a day could make a difference in supporting long-term health. We view infancy as a critical window of opportunity and what we introduce during this time can have lasting effects as children grow.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-early-diet-and-allergy-risks">Early diet and allergy risks</h2>



Allergic conditions are on the rise worldwide. Eczema, <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/simple-way-to-remove-microplastics-from-tap-water-home-faucet/">food</a> allergies, and asthma often appear in childhood and can persist into adulthood. Scientists increasingly believe that early diet plays a role in either fueling or calming these risks. 



Breastfeeding remains the gold standard, but once solids start, the choice of foods may also matter more than once thought. 



Blueberries now join a list of foods being tested for their ability to train the immune system during this vulnerable window.



Health agencies encourage introducing a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains around six months. Yet parents often hesitate, especially with foods they fear might trigger allergies. 



Research like this helps reduce uncertainty. It suggests that some foods not only avoid harm but may actively help protect against allergies when offered early in life.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-introducing-babies-to-blueberries">Introducing babies to blueberries </h2>



The team stresses this was an early trial. More infants, longer follow-ups, and fresh blueberries instead of powder are next on the agenda. Other foods rich in similar compounds may also help, but those studies still lie ahead.



For now, families can introduce blueberries safely once babies begin solids. Puree them for the youngest. Mash or slice them for older babies and toddlers to avoid choking. 



A handful here and there may help more than just nutrition - it could shape long-term health.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/17/2795" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nutrients</a>.



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Feeding blueberries to babies is a great idea for many reasons, according to a new study

Parents often ask the same question: what should I feed...

Sargassum seaweed is piling up on Florida’s beaches, and it’s making a dangerous journey for sea turtle hatchlings even riskier.



Every summer, the sand becomes a highway as thousands of tiny turtles burst from their nests and scramble toward the ocean. For most of them, this short sprint is the difference between life and death.



They’ve already beaten the odds just by hatching. Now, they must avoid predators, stay cool under the rising sun, and find the water before their strength runs out.



But this growing <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/sargassum-seaweed-a-growing-problem-could-become-a-sustainable-solution/">seaweed problem</a> is more than just beach clutter - it’s a new threat that’s slowing them down at a time when every second counts.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-more-than-just-smelly-beach-junk">More than just smelly beach junk</h2>



Sargassum seaweed often washes up along Florida’s coast. It’s that brown, leafy stuff that starts to smell after a while. Out in the Atlantic, it floats in huge mats that provide habitat for marine life.



But when too much piles up on shore, sargassum seaweed creates a thick, tangled mess that’s hard for anything small to get through - including baby sea turtles.



Over the past few years, sargassum levels have exploded. Summer beachgoers aren’t the only ones frustrated. 



Sea turtle <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rainfall-impacts-the-size-of-sea-turtle-hatchlings/">hatchlings</a> are now struggling to cross these growing piles to reach the ocean. It’s not just an inconvenience. It’s a survival threat.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-testing-how-turtles-navigate-the-sargassum">Testing how turtles navigate the sargassum</h2>



Until recently, no one had looked closely at how sargassum affects sea turtle hatchlings. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University (<a href="https://www.fau.edu/science/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FAU</a>) set out to investigate.



The team tested three species common in Florida: <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/leatherback-sea-turtles-where-the-worlds-largest-turtles-go-to-eat/">leatherbacks</a>, loggerheads, and green turtles. These are the same turtles that nest on beaches from Boca Raton to Juno Beach.



The researchers built 50-foot (15 meter) crawlways in the sand and placed mats of loose sargassum up to 7.5 inches (19 centimeters) high - roughly the height of a large shoebox on end - at the finish line.



A dim light at the far end mimicked the natural glow over the ocean that hatchlings instinctively head towards. Then the team observed how the turtles responded.



The team measured how long it took for the turtles to reach the water, tracked whether they got flipped over while crawling through the seaweed, and even checked their blood sugar levels to see how much energy they were burning.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sargassum-slows-turtles-down">Sargassum slows turtles down </h2>



The results were clear. All three species took much longer to reach the ocean when sargassum was in the way. Leatherbacks were slowed by 54% with lighter sargassum, and 158% with heavier coverage.



<a href="https://www.earth.com/news/loggerhead-turtles-migrate-using-a-secret-thermal-corridor/">Loggerheads</a> saw a 91% delay in light coverage and 175% in heavy seaweed. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/reintroduction-of-green-turtles-has-been-a-success-in-the-cayman-islands/">Green turtles</a> slowed by 75% and 159%, respectively.



Some turtles couldn’t even finish the crawl in time. The biggest delay came when hatchlings had to climb over the thick seaweed, which slowed them down to a crawl - literally.



“The longer a hatchling stays on the beach, the more at risk it becomes - not just from predators like birds and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/why-did-billions-of-crabs-vanish-from-the-bering-sea/">crabs</a>, but also from overheating and dehydration, especially after sunrise,” said Dr. Sarah Milton of the FAU Department of Biological Sciences.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7xqe2C6RR6I?feature=share"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/leatherback-hatchling_sargassum-seaweed-obstacles_FAU_1s.webp" alt="A leatherback hatchling navigates over sargassum on Juno Beach in July 2021. Credit: Abbey M. Appelt, Florida Atlantic University" class="wp-image-1986078"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A leatherback hatchling navigates over sargassum on Juno Beach in July 2021. Click image for video. Credit: Abbey M. Appelt, Florida Atlantic University</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-getting-stuck-and-flipped">Getting stuck and flipped</h2>



The sargassum didn’t just slow the turtles down. It threw them off balance. Hatchlings kept flipping over while trying to climb the mats. In some cases, it happened over and over.



One unlucky turtle flipped more than 20 times in a single trial. Every time that happened, it wasted time and energy, and made hatchlings easy targets for predators.



These juveniles only have a small window to make it to the water before heat and dehydration kick in.



“When sargassum piles are higher - some can be over a meter high on South Florida beaches in the summer and extend for hundreds of meters down the beach - we can expect more failed attempts, particularly when hatchlings have to cross multiple bands of <a href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sargassum/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seaweed</a> just to reach the ocean,” said Milton.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-no-sign-of-burnout-yet">No sign of burnout - yet</h2>



Even with all that effort, the turtles didn’t show signs of physical exhaustion - at least not in their blood sugar levels. Glucose remained in normal ranges for all three species, no matter how much seaweed they faced. 



Only leatherbacks in the no-crawl control group had noticeably higher glucose, which researchers say shows that crawling itself is demanding - but the sargassum didn’t drain them any faster, at least in the short term.



Still, that doesn’t mean it’s harmless.



“For sea turtle hatchlings, reaching the ocean is already a race against time – and survival. Now, increasingly large mats of sargassum are adding new challenges to this critical journey,” said Milton.



“As these <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/robot-discovers-surprising-food-source-sargassum-for-deep-ocean-creatures/">seaweed accumulations</a> grow taller and more widespread, they risk blocking hatchlings entirely, draining their limited energy or leaving them stranded. Beyond impeding movement, sargassum may also reduce nesting space and alter incubation conditions.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sargassum-management-and-turtles">Sargassum management and turtles</h2>



Sargassum isn’t going away anytime soon. <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/ocean-warming-broke-records-for-450-straight-days/">Warmer oceans</a> and nutrient runoff are fueling massive blooms across the Atlantic, and more of it is expected to hit Florida’s shores every year.



This growing issue isn’t just about beach aesthetics. It's quietly making a tough journey even tougher for baby turtles trying to survive their first few minutes of life.



Without changes in how beaches are maintained, these seaweed mats could keep getting in the way - and turtle populations may suffer down the line.



The full study was published in the journal <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-24-00092.1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Journal of Coastal Research</a>.



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Sargassum seaweed is a deadly obstacle course for baby sea turtles

Sargassum seaweed is piling up on Florida’s beaches, and it’s...

Summer heat waves are becoming harsher across urban areas. Concrete, asphalt, and dense buildings trap heat, creating what scientists call the urban-heat-island effect.



For city dwellers, this translates into hotter days and nights, increased discomfort, and higher health risks. As global temperatures climb, researchers and planners are looking closely at natural ways to cool cities.



Urban trees are often viewed as allies against sweltering heat. Their shade can offer instant relief, while their leaves help cool air through evaporation. But new research shows that trees alone are not guaranteed to ease urban heat.



A study led by environmental engineers at <a href="https://ethz.ch/en.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ETH Zurich</a> and <a href="https://www.eawag.ch/en/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eawag</a> highlights that the key factor lies beneath the surface: soil moisture.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-water-drives-cooling-power">Water drives cooling power</h2>



The research investigated several neighborhoods in Zurich to measure cooling potential. Findings revealed that trees noticeably lower surrounding air temperatures only when the soil around them is moist. 



Dry soil limits their cooling power. The researchers also found that evaporation from the ground itself plays a vital role, working much like a damp sponge slowly drying out.



The study also compared city layouts. In Zurich’s less dense areas, where green space is more available, watered trees created zones with little heat stress. 



In compact neighborhoods, though, even extensive <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/heat-is-making-crop-harvests-wildly-unpredictable/">greening</a> had limits, especially during extreme heat. Cooling potential depends not only on vegetation but also on water supply and available space.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shade-evaporation-and-water">Shade, evaporation, and water</h2>



Cooling in cities comes mainly from two mechanisms: shade and evaporation. Shade reduces radiant heat from buildings and streets, while evaporation removes heat by transforming water into vapor. 



The ETH study found that shade was often the stronger cooling force, but irrigated <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/warming-soils-release-more-carbon-than-plants-can-replace/">soils</a> added significant benefits through evaporation. Soil moisture kept leaves functioning, yet once temperatures climbed beyond certain thresholds, leaves closed their pores, reducing evaporative cooling. 



To maintain this cooling effect, steady irrigation was essential. For Zurich’s soil, bringing one cubic meter (about 35 cubic feet) from dry to optimal moisture required nearly 100 liters of water (about 26 gallons).



Daily upkeep ranged from 2 to 4 liters (0.5 to 1 gallon) per square meter during summer. Larger tree patches helped conserve water by shading the soil, while automated irrigation systems guided by weather forecasts offered a more efficient way to keep moisture levels stable.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-balancing-trees-heat-and-water">Balancing trees, heat, and water</h2>



The study also noted that water management must strike a balance. Heavy irrigation improves cooling but can increase flood risk if soils remain oversaturated.



Frequent, light watering combined with good drainage works better than heavy irrigation.



Another trade-off involves <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/mixed-cover-crops-may-be-the-future-of-sustainable-farming/">mulching</a>. While mulch conserves water and benefits plants, it suppresses soil evaporation, which plays a key role in cooling at pedestrian level. The researchers suggest using tree grates as a compromise, allowing evaporation while still protecting roots.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cities-share-heat-lessons">Cities share heat lessons</h2>



Zurich’s case is not unique. Cities like Singapore and Melbourne have pioneered integrated blue-green infrastructure, combining water features with greenery to create cooler urban pockets. These efforts show that irrigation and vegetation design must work hand in hand. 



In desert cities such as Phoenix, irrigation of urban trees has already been shown to reduce local air temperatures by several degrees. Yet the challenge remains to balance cooling benefits with sustainable water use, especially in water-scarce regions.



"On heat-wave days in Zurich, it will not be possible to create heat shelters that fully solve heat by only using trees and water," said Lucas Gobatti, first author and doctoral student at ETH Zurich and Eawag.



During extreme events, even fully irrigated large tree patches could not eliminate heat stress.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-preparing-for-extreme-heat">Preparing for extreme heat</h2>



The study stresses that <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/planting-trees-in-the-wrong-place-can-make-cities-hotter/">planting trees</a> without considering water supply and soil conditions will fall short. Intelligent water management, such as irrigation systems that adapt to rainfall and heat forecasts, is vital. 



But other measures must complement greenery, such as cooling centers, shaded public spaces, and indoor shelters.



"The city should also consider improving heat adaptation plans, following examples such as Barcelona, where citizens are given access to public buildings to cool down, rehydrate, and reduce heat exhaustion during heat waves," said Gobatti.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-green-meets-blue">Green meets blue</h2>



The findings reinforce that urban cooling requires combined strategies. Trees provide shade and comfort, but water management, species choice, and urban design play equally important roles. 



Future research is exploring how <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/common-weed-may-lead-to-drought-resistant-crops/">drought-resistant</a> trees or varying planting patterns might influence cooling. 



What remains clear is that climate resilience in cities will depend on integrated approaches - green infrastructure paired with thoughtful water use and inclusive public-health planning.



The study is published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s42949-025-00220-0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">npj Urban Sustainability</a>.



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Urban trees can cool cities, but only if they get enough water

Summer heat waves are becoming harsher across urban areas. Concrete,...

The Mojave Desert’s Joshua trees look timeless, but their future isn’t guaranteed. Despite being built for heat and drought, these long-lived yuccas are already showing signs of stress as temperatures rise and dry spells lengthen. Fewer young trees are making it past their first years, and the species’ range appears to be shrinking.&nbsp;



A new study led by a multi-institution team that includes <a href="https://uconn.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">University of Connecticut</a> ecologist Karolina Heyduk asks a simple, crucial question: how much wiggle room do Joshua trees have to adapt? The answer points to a surprising ally - how they breathe at night.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-joshua-trees-in-a-warming-climate">Joshua trees in a warming climate </h2>



Most plants throw open microscopic pores on their leaves during the day to take in carbon dioxide for <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/key-to-life-on-earth-photosynthesis-begins-on-the-quantum-level-with-a-single-photon/">photosynthesis</a>, but that comes with a cost: precious water escapes while the sun is blazing.&nbsp;



Some desert specialists dodge that trade-off by using a different playbook, called crassulacean acid metabolism, or CAM. CAM plants take in CO₂ at night when it’s cooler and stash it away until daylight returns to power sugar production.



“We sort of stumbled upon this idea that Joshua trees might use CAM photosynthesis,” Heyduk said. “Finding evidence of CAM in Joshua trees is great news - it may help the plants tolerate the warming climate across their range.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-common-gardens-uncommon-insights">Common gardens, uncommon insights</h2>



To see whether all Joshua trees play by the same rules - or whether some populations are naturally better tuned to today’s harsher conditions - the team established common garden test plots. 



The researchers grew seedlings from populations across the species’ ranges, including both recognized species, Yucca brevifolia and Yucca jaegeriana, side by side under the same conditions. That setup strips away local weather and soil differences, letting genetic and physiological differences rise to the surface.



As the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/rainforests-replanted-seedlings-after-logging-do-not-recover-well/">seedlings</a> grew, the researchers tracked growth, water use, leaf gas exchange, and the chemical signatures that reveal when and how carbon is taken up.&nbsp;



The patterns were clear: many seedlings showed nighttime CO₂ uptake consistent with CAM, and the intensity of that CAM-like behavior varied among populations.&nbsp;



In other words, Joshua trees appear to have some built-in flexibility in how they photosynthesize, and some lineages lean into the night-shift strategy more than others.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-genes-back-up-the-physiology">Genes back up the physiology</h2>



The team didn’t stop at leaf measurements. They looked under the hood - profiling gene activity and the metabolites plants stockpile when they run CAM.&nbsp;



“We’re bridging a lot of fields in biology,” Heyduk said. “We measured a lot of physiological traits, but we also looked at the gene expression of these plants in the gardens, and the accumulation of metabolites.”&nbsp;



The timing of gene activity matched expectations for CAM, bolstering the case that Joshua trees can switch - or at least blend - between daytime and nighttime <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-absorb-31-more-co2-than-previously-estimated/">carbon uptake</a>.&nbsp;



The two species also differed in how they process carbon and <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/nitrogen-was-plentiful-for-early-life-on-earth/">nitrogen</a>, hinting at deeper physiological distinctions that may help explain why both persist as separate lineages despite overlapping ranges and occasional hybrids.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-this-matters-for-conservation">Why this matters for conservation</h2>



If CAM capacity is real and variable, it could be a lifeline. Nighttime carbon uptake reduces water loss, a critical edge as the Mojave gets hotter and, importantly, as nights warm too.&nbsp;



But flexibility is only half the story - longevity complicates the rest. A mature Joshua tree can live for centuries; some living trees have experienced the entire arc of industrial-era climate change. The seedlings trying to establish today face a very different climate than the one their elders grew up in.



“We’re not focusing on desert species quite as much as other ecosystems,” Heyduk said. “I think partially that’s because we think they’re already adapted to the super-hot environment and they’ll be fine." 



"However, the deserts are getting hotter, and in particular the nighttime temperatures are getting hotter.” If nights stop offering relief, even CAM users may struggle.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-heat-and-joshua-tree-survival">Heat and Joshua tree survival</h2>



One red flag is the lack of young trees. Fewer seedlings are making it to sapling stage, suggesting a new bottleneck right where populations renew themselves.&nbsp;



To test how temperature - especially warmer nights - affects survival, the team is now growing seedlings under tightly controlled conditions, dialing nighttime temperatures up and down to see how water use, growth, and CAM behavior respond. 



The goal is to pinpoint whether hotter nights are tipping the balance, and which populations cope best.



“What today’s seedlings are experiencing is going to be very different from what they might experience in 100 years when they’re mature plants,” Heyduk said. “We need to understand how they will respond to that change.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-collaborative-blueprint-for-action">A collaborative blueprint for action</h2>



This project is as much about method as it is about the Mojave. University researchers, federal scientists, and teams from primarily undergraduate institutions pooled fieldwork, greenhouse trials, physiology, genomics, and metabolomics. 



That breadth matters because it lets scientists connect genotype to phenotype - tying genetic differences to real-world traits that influence survival.



The immediate conservation takeaway is practical: not all Joshua tree populations are the same. Some may harbor greater CAM capacity or other physiological tweaks that make them better bets in a warming desert. Identifying and prioritizing those lineages - while protecting the habitats they occupy - could buy the species time.



Joshua trees won’t outpace <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/plants-defy-climate-change-through-acclimation/">climate change</a> by migrating quickly; they don’t disperse far, and they don’t grow fast. But if they can lean on a night-shift photosynthesis strategy - and if we focus protection on the populations best at it - they may have a fighting chance to hold their ground as the Mojave’s thermostat keeps climbing.



The research is published in the journal the <a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.70437" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New Phytologist</a>.



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Joshua trees have a hidden trick to survive climate change

The Mojave Desert’s Joshua trees look timeless, but their future...

A tiny desert flower with horn-like tips has been hiding in plain sight in West Texas. Scientists have confirmed Ovicula biradiata is both a new species and a new genus, a rare one two in botany.



The plant, informally called the woolly devil, sits within the <a href="https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/family/25" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Asteraceae</a> family, the same group as sunflowers and daisies. It turned up inside Big Bend National Park and surprised experts who know this rugged country well.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finding-ovicula-biradiata">Finding Ovicula biradiata</h2>



Lead researcher <a href="https://rockdaisy.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Isaac H. Lichter Marck</a> works at the California Academy of Sciences (<a href="https://www.calacademy.org/scientists/botany" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CAS</a>) and coordinated the formal description.



Researchers compared its DNA and examined specimens in an herbarium, the scientific library of preserved plants, to check what it was not. 



They then built a phylogenetic tree, a diagram that maps evolutionary relationships, to test where it belongs.



The detailed paper reports that the plant is a member of the sunflower group yet differs enough from its nearest relatives to require a new genus, which is a taxonomic rank above species. 



“While many assume that the plants and animals within our country’s national parks have probably been documented by now, scientists still make surprising new discoveries in these iconic protected landscapes,” said Lichter Marck.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-makes-ovicula-biradiata-unique">What makes Ovicula biradiata unique</h2>



The species is named Ovicula biradiata, nicknamed the woolly devil for its fuzzy leaves and small red and white flowers. It is tiny, usually about 1 to 3 inches across, and it grows low among pale limestone gravel.



<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><img src="https://www.earth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/first-photograph-ovicula-biradiata-taken.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1985272"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">First photograph of Ovicula biradiata taken by Deb Manley on 2 March 2024.</figcaption></figure>



Each head carries two ray florets, the narrow outer <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/corpse-flowers-amorphophallus-titanum-smell-like-death-but-thousands-rush-to-see-them-bloom/">flowers</a> that look like small petals in the daisy family. Seeds develop with a five scaled pappus, the set of small scales or bristles at the top of a seed that help it detach.



The leaves are covered with dense trichomes, which are tiny hairs that trap air and reduce water loss. That woolly coat likely helps the plant endure short bursts of sun and wind at ground level.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-it-lives-and-why-that-matters">Where it lives and why that matters</h2>



Ovicula biradiata grows in the northern corner of Big Bend on coarse limestone alluvium within a very narrow range. The plant is ephemeral, which means it lives fast and blooms only after rain.



The Chihuahuan Desert is a hot, dry region spanning West Texas and northern Mexico, and Big Bend offers many microhabitats within that larger desert. 



The park <a href="https://www.nps.gov/bibe/learn/news/new-plant-species-discovered-in-big-bend.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced</a> the discovery and noted that the plant appears after spring rainfall in harsh, rocky terrain.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ovicula-biradiata-extinction-risk">Ovicula biradiata extinction risk</h2>



“We have only observed this plant in three narrow locations across the northernmost corner of the park, and it’s possible that we’ve documented a species that is already on its way out,” said Lichter Marck. 



The study team withheld exact coordinates because of the small populations and sensitive habitat.



Based on known range and short life cycle, the authors note the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/stressed-plants-make-sounds-and-moths-can-hear-them/">plant</a> would preliminarily qualify as vulnerable under IUCN criteria, the global standard for conservation status. 



That call signals the need for careful monitoring, not panic, while scientists gather more data.



Big Bend has been surveyed for decades, yet a volunteer still found something new by looking closely at the ground. Community science tools like iNaturalist make it easier to flag unusual finds so specialists can respond quickly.



The woolly devil is also the first new plant genus described from a U.S. national park in nearly 50 years. The last time a similar step was taken was with July gold, a shrub described from Death Valley in 1976.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-scientists-figured-out-its-family-ties">How scientists figured out its family ties</h2>



The team sequenced nuclear DNA and compared the results with related sunflowers stored in museum collections. The analysis shows Ovicula is sister to Psilostrophe, a western group sometimes called paper <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/both-bees-and-humans-like-these-flower-mixes-the-best/">flowers</a>.



That placement explains some of the look, such as very small flower heads and dense hair on leaves and stems. It also confirms that the unusual two ray florets are not a quirk of a known species but a trait of a line all its own.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-scientists-want-to-learn-next">What scientists want to learn next</h2>



The plant’s glands could be chemically interesting because related sunflowers produce compounds linked to anti inflammatory and anti cancer activity. 



The press team reports that researchers saw specific glands under the microscope and plan to test for these compounds in future work.



Climate trends raise concern because hotter, drier conditions can squeeze short lived desert annuals. Long term <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17412920/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">modeling</a> projects a more arid Southwest as temperatures rise, which could make rainy windows less frequent and shorter.



The obvious next steps include tracking when the plant appears, how many individuals emerge after different rain years, and what insects visit the <a href="https://www.earth.com/news/tonights-flower-moon-completes-2025s-micromoon-trilogy/">flowers</a>. Those answers will guide any long term protection plan.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-helping-ovicula-biradiata-thrive">Helping Ovicula biradiata thrive</h2>



Small plants can be easy to overlook, yet they often hold the clearest signals about how a desert is changing. 



Finding a new genus inside a well studied park is a reminder that careful field work still moves science forward.



It also shows why preserving habitat matters even when a species is tiny. If the habitat is intact, the species has a fighting chance to persist through hard years and rebound when conditions improve.



If you visit Big Bend during a wet spring, stay on durable surfaces and avoid fragile gravel flats where small annuals grow. 



Report unusual wildflowers with clear photos and location details using community science apps, and let experts do the collecting.



That approach protects sensitive sites and gives researchers good data over time. It also makes every careful observer part of the discovery pipeline.



The study is published in <a href="https://phytokeys.pensoft.net/article/137624/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PhytoKeys</a>.



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New plant species has flowers with tiny 'horns' and a devilish appearance

A tiny desert flower with horn-like tips has been hiding...

Endangered animals

News coming your way