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Mycorrhizal fungi help plants access soil nutrients while receiving sugars in return. Image: Rajarshi Rit, USIC department - University of Burdwan Attribution 4.0 International CC BY 4.0 DeedRajarshi Rit, USIC department - University of Burdwan Attribution 4.0 International CC BY 4.0 Deed

A public database collects information on soil fungi

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After years of study, a group of U.S. researchers has mapped the spore traits of 344 species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Gaining relevant information to assess their distribution and resilience to stresses
Grasslands are home to a wide variety of plant species and provide numerous ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, support for pollinators and grazing for livestock. But they are also some of thh most threatened ecosystems due to human activities, including land use change and intensive agricultural practices. Photo: Cortez Rohr/USFWS Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal PDM 1.0 DeedCortez Rohr/USFWS Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal PDM 1.0 Deed

Study reveals how much nitrogen grasslands can tolerate

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According to researchers, applying more than 80 kg of nitrogen per hectare in a year would make grasslands “functionally poor, highly unstable and vulnerable to extreme weather events”
According to the authors, more than 50 percent of mangrove forests undergo significant changes due to El Niño and La Niña phenomena. Photo: Katia Schulz Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 DeedPhoto: Katia Schulz Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 Deed

Climate oscillations are a constant threat to mangroves

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A study shows for the first time how temperature changes in the Pacific Ocean impact mangroves as they follow a specific pattern. In degraded areas, their ecosystem services are at risk
Mountain ash, the world's tallest flowering plant, which can reach nearly 100 meters in height, grows in the forests of Victoria. Photo: Rexness Attribution-Share alike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 DeedMountain ash, the world's tallest flowering plant, which can reach nearly 100 meters in height, grows in the forests of Victoria. Photo: Rexness Attribution-Share alike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed

In Australia’s logged forests natural regeneration is not enough

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In southwestern forests, 19% of cleared areas have not experienced natural regeneration. Poor management practices and climate change are determinants
Biodiversity alert: surrounding human pressure prevents many potentially present species from settling in suitable environments. Photo: P. L. Tandon Attribution - Noncommercial - Share alike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DeedP. L. Tandon Attribution - Noncommercial - Share alike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Deed

A silent biodiversity loss threatens the Planet

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An international study introduces the concept of dark biodiversity, which helps to understand the completeness of an ecosystem in relation to its natural potential. The greater the human pressure, the lower the ability of the system to proliferate
Turisti in coda per visitare il villaggio di Aceredo, in Spagna, riemerso dalle acque durante la siccità del 2022. Gli eventi estremi, come le ondate di calore, possono trasformare gli ecosistemi in fonti di emissioni nette di carbonio. Foto: o_andras Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 Deedo_andras Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

Drought and extreme heat reduce carbon sequestration capacity in plants

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Plant respiration and decomposition of organic matter increase carbon emissions offsetting additional sequestration associated with extended growing season, a study by the Autonomous University of Barcelona finds
Rocky outcrops are common in mountain ecosystems and exert a significant impact on ecosystem functions. Photo: Copyright Chris Gunns and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed

How rock outcrops impact soil in the mountains

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A Chinese study describes and measures the effect of outcrops on the soil. These create specific localized “hotspots” where soil functions are enhanced. Rock size amplifies effect
Between 2005 and 2021, 6008 trees died in Helsinki Central Park: 1892 of them in the last year alone- Photo: Pekka Nikrus Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 DeedPekka Nikrus Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Deed

More trees in urban boreal forests are getting killed by climate change

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Trees are increasingly falling victim to certain phenomena related to global warming such as drought, heat, fire and increased pests, a Finnish research has found. The figures from Helsinki's “Central Park”
PFAS are found in many products such as firefighting foams, paints, pesticides, coatings, and food packaging. Photo: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal PDM 1.0 DeedDefense Visual Information Distribution Service Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal PDM 1.0 Deed

Cleaning up Europe from PFAS would cost 2 trillion over 20 years

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The estimate is included in an investigation coordinated by the French newspaper Le Monde into the spread of PFAS in the Continent. Producers' lobby under attack
In tropical forests, says a study, the addition of nutrients would increase shoot biomass by 26% and growth rate by 14%. Photo: E.Morgan.Strong CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution requiredE.Morgan.Strong CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution required

Accumulation of nutrients threatens tropical forests

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According to a study, the inflow of nutrients would eventually provide a competitive advantage to some tree species resulting in a loss of biodiversity