My Journey to Barro Colorado Island (Part 1 of 3)
Connections in nature: Plants, Animals, Microbes and Environments
Whether it’s a flower, a colony of ants or a coral reef, everything in nature depends on something else. On a single tree, soil fungi act as brokers between roots and nutrients; microscopic organisms and myriad chemical compounds co-exist in a single leaf; and, countless insects and other creatures live out the entirety of their lives. All of these, to one extent or another, influence the tree’s trajectory from seed to the top of the forest canopy. Our scientists look at this magic web of life, and how connections change or respond to a rapidly changing global environment.
Cozying up to the mangrove
Accidental tree wound reveals novel symbiotic behavior
Secondary forests restore fresh water sources in degraded landscapes
Dramatic liana increases in old-growth tropical forests is linked to natural disturbance and climate change