Hoolee Doolee ! We always knew fungi were critical components of a forest – but this talk shows fungi having talents way beyond soil/nutrient makers and holders. ted.com/talks/paul_stamets_on_6_ways_mushrooms_can_save_the_worldThis fast talking guy’s info is mind-boggling. Well worth the 17 minutes of watching.
This research counters the logging industry argument that a young post-logging regrowth forest (and plantations) accumulate more carbon than a natural mature forest. It highlights the importance of old large trees in the carbon cycle. Read the research PDF at 2014_March-tree-growth_Nature.pdf
Environmental scientist Grant Harris has written up a paper on our sightings of Spencer’s Skink in very large, old Eucalyptus regnans trees in the Central Highlands. During March 2012, whilst undertaking an aerial survey of an overmature Mountain Ash Eucalyptus regnans in Toolangi State Forest, a Spencer’s Skink Pseudemoia spenceri was observed in the canopy …
Large old trees are critical organisms and ecological structures in forests, woodlands, savannas, and agricultural and urban environments. They play many essential ecological roles ranging from the storage of large amounts of carbon to the provision of key habitats for wildlife. Some of these roles cannot be replaced by other structures. Large old trees are …
Forests are major components of the global carbon cycle, providing substantial feedback to atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations1. Our ability to understand and predict changes in the forest carbon cycle—particularly net primary productivity and carbon storage—increasingly relies on models that represent biological processes across several scales of biological organization, from tree leaves to forest stands2, 3. …
In a finding that overturns the conventional view that large old trees are unproductive, scientists have determined that for most species, the biggest trees increase their growth rates and sequester more carbon as they age. In a letter published today in the journal Nature, an international research group reports that 97 percent of 403 tropical …
Environmental initiatives that target zero net deforestation may miss their mark when it comes to slowing climate change and protecting biodiversity, warns a commentary published in this week’s issue of the journal Science. While zero net deforestation may seem like a worthy target in efforts to curb forest loss, Sandra Brown and Daniel Zarin argue …
In March 2011, VicForests was crowing about its new giant tree protection policy (read our 2011 article here). VicForests said their new policy on giant trees will also “see every effort made to protect trees which are greater than 3m in diameter”. That’s 9.4 mts circumference. Protesters at Mt Jersey’s old growth forests currently being …
For the past 3 weeks the giant trees of Mount Jersey have been falling at a rate so fast locals are saying it “sounds like a factory out in the forests, from early in the morning to late into the night, the machines don’t stop. Two to three trees on the back of one truck …
Ground logs are incredibly important in a forests’ ecosystem. They add to the complex habitat for flora and fauna. They are used for nesting and shelter, are fantastic places for invertebrates and therefore feeding stations for reptiles and ground birds, are cosy hibernation hide-outs, are used as above ground ‘highways’ across thick understorey, provide moss …
