[LTER-sbc_help] Forest Science News - August 2018

[Hubbard Brook Research Foundation]

A monthly roundup of research headlines Forest Science News is brought to you by the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation. August 2018 ECOSYSTEM SERVICES Birds eat 400-500 million tons of insects each year There are more than 6,000 species of insectivorous birds found around the world, and according to a new study based on 103 previously published papers, they collectively eat 400 to 500 million tons of insects and other arthropods each year. That quantity is equivalent to the amount of meat and fish the world’s humans eat in one year or, put in different terms, as much energy as New York City uses annually. Forest birds account for more than 70 percent of this insect consumption. The paper highlights the economic and ecological importance of insectivorous birds—and especially forest-dwelling insectivorous birds—in providing natural pest control. Press Release: University of Basel Abstract: The Science of Nature The link between forests and water deserves more attention An estimated 4 billion people do not have access to safe and reliable water sources. A new report entitled “Forest and Water on a Changing Planet: Vulnerability, Adaptation and Governance Opportunities,” compiled by 50 scientists from 20 countries, assesses the links among forests, water, and people. The authors argue that while decision-makers frequently acknowledge the connection between forests and climate, considering the relationship between forests and water is essential to achieving global water security.   Article: Mongabay Abstract: International Union of Forest Research Organizations CLIMATE ADAPTATION An improved prognosis for salamanders The southern Appalachian Mountains are home to 10 percent of the world’s salamander diversity, making them a global hotspot for these amphibians. Unfortunately, this figurative hotspot is becoming a literal one—climate predictions suggest that rising temperatures could make up to 85 percent of the Appalachian habitat unsuitable for salamanders by 2080. But a new study argues that previous publications may have overestimated the risk climate change poses to salamanders in this region. According to researchers from Clemson University, taking into account salamanders’ ability to adapt to their environments could reduce their extinction risk by up to 72 percent.   Press Release: ScienceDaily Abstract: Science Advances For wildlife to adapt to climate change, "climate corridors" need protection Many wildlife populations are expected to shift as climate change renders their current habitats inhospitable. A team of conservation biologists and forest landscape ecologists sought to identify North American “climate corridors”—the best routes connecting current and future climate types. The results show that paths funnel along north-south trending passes and valley systems and are often not adequately protected by existing conservation strategies. Eastern temperate forests are one region the authors identify as an important climate connectivity area that needs increased conservation.   Press Release: The University of Montana Abstract: Global Change Biology LONG-TERM RESEARCH The forest food web drives Lyme-disease risk After analyzing 19 years of data on the ecology of tick-borne disease, researchers from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies say that fragmented forests with high rodent populations and low predator diversity are breeding grounds for infected ticks. Fragmented forests tend to lack midsize predators like foxes and bobcats, which keep small mammals like white-footed mice and chipmunks—reservoirs for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease—in check. At the bottom of the food chain, acorn production also plays a role. High acorn abundance gives a boost to rodent populations, increasing the number of infected ticks. The goal of the study was to identify ecological indicators that can be used to protect public health, allowing experts to more accurately predict times and locations of higher risk.  Press Release: Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Abstract: Ecology Typical study periods aren't long enough to capture stream recovery A meta-analysis of 50 incidents that have affected water quality—ranging from oil spills to fires—finds that while streams improve after disturbance, they do not fully recover to pre-disturbance conditions within the timeframe of a study period. The researchers report that compared to waterways in urban and agriculture environments, waterways in more natural settings have a harder time bouncing back from disturbance. The authors suggest that these may be the most important areas to protect and call for long-term research to answer further questions about land cover’s influence on stream recovery. Press Release: UC Santa Cruz Abstract: Conservation Biology CARBON North American forests are approaching the limit of their ability to sequester carbon Researchers from the University of California, Santa Cruz analyzed data from 140,000 forests plots across the contiguous U.S. and Canada and paired them with growth projections and climate change scenarios for the next 60 years. The results show that North American forests are capable of sequestering just 22 percent more carbon than they currently do. And that’s the best-case scenario—the models assume that the forests will continue to grow without future disturbance like disease outbreaks, wildfires, and development, which is highly unlikely. The finding that this important carbon sink is fast approaching its limit underscores the need for stronger policy to lower carbon dioxide emissions. Press Release: UC Santa Cruz Abstract: Nature Communications Tree mortality from insect outbreaks changes how forests store carbon Temperate forests serve as a large storage pool for carbon, and much of that carbon is stored in the soil. Large-scale tree mortality caused by invasive insects and diseases can result in the release of large quantities of carbon from forests, including loss from soils, especially surface soil layers. However, a long-term experiment simulating the effects of eastern hemlock mortality caused by the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid indicates that although carbon may be lost from surface soil, comparable amounts may actually accumulate in deeper soil layers. The study at Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory in North Carolina does not identify the mechanisms contributing to this unexpected result, and further research is needed. Article: EOS Abstract: Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences POLLUTION Pollution may make trees more vulnerable to drought Air pollution in the form of particulate matter is known to cause serious health problems for people. But until now, there has been little research into particulate matter’s effect on plants. In a two-year greenhouse study, researchers found that Scots pine, silver fir, and common oak trees lost more water when they were grown in the ambient (and moderately polluted) air of Bonn, Germany, versus when they were grown in filtered air that lacked particulate matter. Pollution, the authors conclude, could be playing an overlooked role in declining forest health and drought damage globally. Press Release: University of Bonn Abstract: Environmental Research Letters Nitrogen pollution may be altering forests' capacity to sequester carbon Trees depend on tiny fungi called mycorrhizae that live in association with their roots and help them absorb the water and minerals they need to survive. There are two types of mycorrhizal fungi: arbuscular mycorrhizae and ectomycorrhizae. A team of researchers from Boston University paired data on nitrogen deposition across the US with forest data and show that nitrogen pollution favors trees with arbuscular mycorrhizae and is associated with a decline in trees with ectomycorrhizal fungi. This finding is significant because ectomycorrhizae can boost the amount of carbon stored in trees and soil. The authors say that increased nitrogen pollution could make forests less adept at carbon sequestration, exacerbating climate change. Article: Mongabay Abstract: Global Change Biology HUBBARD BROOK HIGHLIGHT How much do individual salamanders vary across a headwater stream network? Researching how individuals vary across ecosystems is crucial to understanding the ecological and evolutionary forces that act upon a species. But the continuity and complexity of streams make that a challenging task for salamander researchers. A team of biologists led by Hubbard Brook Investigator Winsor Lowe set out to resolve this question for the spring salamander, Gyrinophilus porphyriticus. They used three years of capture-mark-recapture data from four streams at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest to look at individual salamander variation at three different scales: among the watersheds, in 500-meter downstream and upstream reaches within the watersheds, and in riffles and pools within these 500-meter reaches. Their findings showed that although larval salamander survival was consistent among watersheds, it was higher in both upstream reaches and pools than in downstream reaches and riffles. Surprisingly, though, the opposite pattern was true for larval body condition—it was higher in downstream reaches than in upstream reaches. The researchers also found that both larvae and adults in pools had longer limbs than individuals in riffles. The authors write that their work shows it's possible to tease out spatial influences on individual variation in streams, an important finding for freshwater biologists. Abstract: Freshwater Biology The above links were curated from news articles and press releases published during July 2018. The Hubbard Brook Research Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study Forest Science News is a science communication tool designed to improve communication between ecosystem scientists and public audiences in the northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada. Please email ideas and questions to: sciencelinks at hubbardbrookfoundation.org Sign up to get Forest Science News in your inbox! Hubbard Brook Research Foundation | 30 Pleasant St., Woodstock, VT 05091 Unsubscribe sbc_help at lternet.edu Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by sciencelinks at hubbardbrookfoundation.org in collaboration with Try it free today
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