Category

Plant Science

Image: The newly discovered plant Relictithismia kimotsukiensis probably diverged at an early stage in the evolution of the whole family and retains ancestral characteristics. This history is reflected in the plant’s name. Credit: SUETSUGU Kenji (CC BY) 

Researchers discover a new plant species whose name tells a story

By | Botany, News, Plant Science

In a botanical breakthrough, researchers unveil a new plant species, Relictithismia kimotsukiensis, discovered in Kimotsuki, Kagoshima Prefecture. Divergent from Tanuki-no-shokudai, it constitutes a new genus within the Thismiaceae family, signifying a rare find in Japan’s well-explored botanical landscape. With environmental threats looming, further ecological research becomes imperative.

Read More
Image: Syntrichia ruralis moss. Credit: Jenna T. B. Ekwealor

Drying Without Dying: Tracing Water Scarcity Coping Mechanisms from Mosses to Flowering Plants

By | Botany, News, Plant Science

In a groundbreaking study, researchers unravel the evolutionary secrets behind plants’ ability to survive harsh drought conditions. Exploring moss resilience mechanisms, akin to crop seed dormancy, sheds light on a 450-million-year-old adaptation. Insights could revolutionize crop resilience amidst climate change, offering hope for a greener future.

Read More
Image: Leaf with herbivores. Credit: Lisa Hülsmann

Overcrowding increases tree mortality, perhaps explaining higher biodiversity in tropical forests

By | Forestry, News, Plant Science

New research reveals that tree mortality increases with overcrowding, especially in tropical forests. The study, involving 52 scientists worldwide, suggests specialized pathogens or herbivores as culprits. These findings shed light on why tropical forests harbor more species and underscore the importance of long-term forest studies for biodiversity conservation.

Read More
Image: Ladybird on leaf. Credit: Hans / Pixabay

Predatory insects protect apples from pests when flowers are planted on farms, finds study

By | News, Plant Health, Plant Science

A recent study reveals the vital role of predatory insects, such as hoverflies and ladybirds, in safeguarding Britain’s apple orchards from pests. Planting wildflower strips near orchards significantly reduces fruit damage, potentially increasing premium apple yields by 6.9% while promoting sustainable farming practices and reducing reliance on pesticides.

Read More
Orchids are one of the most species-rich families of flowering plants, rivalled only by the daisy family (Asteraceae). Pictured: Lepanthes cassicula. Credit: Oscar Perez, RBG Kew

Study shows orchid family emerged in northern hemisphere and thrived alongside dinosaurs for 20 million years

By | News, Plant Science

New research unveils orchid family’s 85-million-year-old origin on Laurasia, thriving with dinosaurs. Recent diversity explosion suggests speciation secrets crucial for conservation. Insights from scientists urge protection of these biodiversity gems amidst alarming extinction rates. Orchids, vital evolutionary enigmas, hold keys to Earth’s ecological tapestry.

Read More
Image: Doñana Park. Credit: Anne and Saturnino Miranda en Pixabay

Climate change has brought forward the flowering period in Doñana National Park by 22 days, finds study

By | Climate change, News, Plant Science

Climate change has advanced flowering in Doñana National Park by 22 days, as researchers discovered. Over 35 years, rising temperatures shifted peak flowering from May 9th to April 17th. This alters plant interactions, impacting pollinators and ecosystem dynamics, highlighting climate’s profound effects on biodiversity and the environment.

Read More