Ecosystems are more resilient than expected after natural disasters
Most flowering plants rely on animals for pollination, and in tropical regions, over 90% of plant species are pollinated by animals. On the Caribbean island of Dominica, researchers have discovered a specific mutualistic relationship between two species of heliconia plants (Heliconia bihai and H. caribaea) and their primary hummingbird pollinator, the purple-throated carib (Eulampis jugularis). This relationship is so specialized that it has been frequently cited in scientific literature as an example of plant-pollinator co-dependence. Impacts of Hurricane Maria When Hurricane Maria, a Category 5 storm with sustained winds exceeding 250 kilometers per hour, devastated the region in 2017, it wiped out 75%...
Arctic ecosystem stability threatened by declining plant resilience
Rapid warming has so profoundly impacted northern ecosystems that scientists are increasingly concerned about the region's ability to recover from climate shocks, according to a new study focused on Arctic plant resilience. The researchers found that frequent disturbances like wildfires, drought, and deforestation have diminished the resilience of many plant communities in the southern boreal forests. Plant resilience and carbon storage This decline in resilience - meaning the plants’ ability to bounce back after environmental stressors - could have serious implications for the Arctic’s role in absorbing carbon dioxide, potentially transforming the region from a carbon sink into a carbon source in the...