China’s giant sinkholes protect rare magnolia trees but may trap their future
Researchers have discovered that giant sinkholes in China, known as tiankengs, provide a climate-controlled refuge for the endangered Magnolia aromatica tree. However, this isolation prevents gene flow between populations, leading to harmful mutations and reduced evolutionary potential.
Why it matters
Understanding the genetic impact of habitat fragmentation is crucial for conservation efforts aimed at preventing the extinction of rare species in changing climates.
China’s huge sinkholes, known as tiankengs ("heavenly pits" in Chinese), are both helping and harming one of the region’s most endangered plants at the same time. They protect the rare Magnolia aromatica tree from climate change, but they also keep its populations isolated, reducing its ability to adapt in the future.A new study by researchers from the South China Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Guangxi Institute of Botany found that these deep, forest-covered sinkholes protect the tree from rising temperatures and drought.
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