Climate change is making autumn leaves change colour earlier – here's why

Warmer temperatures cannot increase the amount of carbon deciduous trees absorb in each growing season, a new study suggests.

Philip James, Professor of Ecology, University of Salford • conversation
Nov. 26, 2020 • ~6 min
climate-change seasons trees photosynthesis carbon-dioxide-co2 carbon-cycle autumn autumn-leaves

Evolution on the smallest of scales smooths out the patchwork patterns of where plants and animals live

Local adaptation allows plants and animals to thrive in a diversity of places. Sometimes adaptation sharpens patterns of where organisms live, but 85% of the time, it creates a more homogeneous world.

Mark C. Urban, Director, Center of Biological Risk; Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut • conversation
Oct. 2, 2020 • ~10 min
evolution environment ecology trees forests charles-darwin adaptation

The world's southernmost tree hangs on in one of the windiest places on Earth – but climate change is shifting those winds

A team of researchers found the southernmost tree and forest on Earth at the extreme tip of South America. Wind limits where trees grow on Isla Hornos and those wind patterns are shifting.

Brian Buma, Assistant Professor of Integrative Biology, University of Colorado Denver • conversation
Sept. 30, 2020 • ~6 min
climate-change south-america trees wind discovery exploration

Across the world, trees are growing faster, dying younger – and will soon store less carbon

We analysed 210,000 tree ring records from 80 different species, and found the trade off between growth and lifespan may neutralise the forest carbon sink.

Emanuel Gloor, Professor in Biogeochemical Cycles, University of Leeds • conversation
Sept. 8, 2020 • ~7 min

 climate-change  trees  forests  carbon-sinks

Making the most of a tree epidemic

With trees infested by the emerald ash borer deemed essentially worthless, a team of designers wanted to see if the decaying wood could be repurposed as a building material.

Leslie Lok, Assistant Professor of Architecture, Cornell University • conversation
Aug. 4, 2020 • ~7 min

 architecture  carbon  construction  trees  design  ash

Are young trees or old forests more important for slowing climate change?

The age of a forest can influence how effectively it offsets our emissions.

Tom Pugh, Reader in Biosphere-Atmosphere Exchange, University of Birmingham • conversation
July 30, 2020 • ~7 min
climate-change trees forests deforestation reforestation tree-planting carbon-cycle natural-climate-solutions

Five must-read novels on the environment and climate crisis

Eco-fiction to help you rethink your role in the climate crisis.

Ti-han Chang, Lecturer in Asia-Pacific Studies, University of Central Lancashire • conversation
July 9, 2020 • ~7 min
climate-change environment feminism trees literature climate-crisis colonialism books novels tsunami meat-industry

How forest loss has changed biodiversity across the globe over the last 150 years

New findings show how changes in land use have complex effects on animal and plant species.

Isla Myers-Smith, Chancellor's Fellow in Global Change Ecology, University of Edinburgh • conversation
June 18, 2020 • ~7 min
biodiversity trees forests wildlife deforestation forest-cover woodland forest-loss

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