Close Encounters
Herbivores munch the most helpful trees in tropical forests
Herbivory is a key factor in controlling nitrogen limitation and carbon sequestration by tropical forests affected by climate change.
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In Madagascar, the lemurs need the trees, and the trees need the lemurs
Hikori Sato explains why a living forest isn’t just a collection of trees.
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Bats protect young trees from insect damage, with three times fewer bugs
Not only did the bats reduce the number of caterpillars, they also reduced defoliation by a factor of five.
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Want to save the bees? Pay attention to pathogens and flowers
Researchers at UMass Amherst deploy fluorescent paint, pipettes, tents, tweezers and scissors to trace three-way connection between plants, pathogens and bees
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Vampire plant reduces fungi’s ability to decompose leaf litter
Parasitic plants draw life from their hosts, but now it seems that even after death, some plants have a baleful influence.
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How can you encourage ladybugs to your garden?
Ladybugs, or Ladybirds, are popular insects with gardeners with a taste for pests like aphids, but it’s not just prey that’s important. Entomologists have examined plants to see what else a ladybug looks for in a home.
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Seed distribution by birds can be too much of a good thing
Ecologists find that while birds can scatter seeds, sometimes they take their treasures too far to aid a plant.
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Warming wasps pollinate poorly
As temperatures rise, the life span of a crucial pollinator diminishes to the extent it may not be able to do its job.
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Native plants in urban settings can improve bird diversity
In urban areas, gardens and parks can provide green oases among the concrete, and birds are adapted to fly in and settle in these areas. But not all green spaces are the same.
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Pollinators and Herbivores Influence the Evolution of Chemicals Emitted by Fig Plants in Different Ways
Fragrances produced by plants are excellent for attracting pollinators, but how do they prevent unwanted guests from arriving?
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Drought damages a plant’s perfume
Bees may be using their sense of smell to detect and avoid stressed plants.
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Fungi prepare the soil for plant invasions
Chinese researchers find that similar plants can gain a big competitive advantage by partnering with the right fungi.