Tree species diversity protects forests from climate extremes, study finds
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that forest biodiversity is essential for protecting ecosystems against compound climate extremes like simultaneous heat and drought. Researchers analyzed over 88,000 forest plots in the U.S. to demonstrate that diverse tree species improve both resistance and recovery from climate-related damage.
Why it matters
Understanding how biodiversity mitigates climate change impacts is critical for developing effective forest management and conservation strategies in a warming world.
by Hannah White, Anglia Ruskin University
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain New research has found that tree species diversity can play a crucial role in protecting forests from the growing threat of extreme climate events. The study analyzed data from 88,116 separate forest plots across the United States to investigate the impact of "compound climate extremes," when events such as drought and extreme heat occur at the same time.
The research, published in the journal Nature Communications , was led by Peking University in Beijing, China, and carried out by an international team of scientists, including Dr. Hannah White from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in