Celebrating Plants and People
-
New Threat: Invasive Coconut Beetle Attacks Guam’s Endangered Cycads
The unexpected addition of the coconut rhinoceros beetle to the list of cycad herbivores reveals the need for continued observation of the cycad population by species experts so conservationists can best understand which of the threats are most in need of mitigation. (Click on title for full story.)
-
Plants’ Chemical Defenses Turned Against Them By Egg-Laying Moths
The plant defense substances serve as odor signals for females of the diamondback moth to lay their eggs on these plants. The scientists identified two olfactory receptors whose sole function is to detect these defense substances and to guide the moths to the ideal oviposition sites. They uncovered the molecular mechanism that explains why some insects that specialize in feeding on certain host plants are attracted by substances that are supposed to keep pests away (Click on title for full story.)
-
Air Pollution Disrupts Pollinator Activity
“We were surprised, even shocked, that the innate attraction to the odor of tobacco flowers was completely lost in the presence of increased ozone levels,” (Click on title for full story.)
-
Foliage Can Reveal Hidden Graves And Cadavers
In the United States, 100,000 people go missing every year, the authors of the new study say. And when search teams hunt for human remains, logistical issues can slow the process. Searching on foot can be arduous, and tree cover can block the view for aerial searches. (Click on title for full story.)
-
The Unusual Way One Of The Oddest Plants – and The Tiniest Seeds – Spreads
As Balanophora fruits are some of the smallest among angiosperms, the fundamental question arises as to what mode of seed dispersal occurs in these plants. (Click on title for full story.)
-
Invasive Shrubs Have Leaves For Longer Period Giving Them Competitive Edge
With the help of citizen scientists spread over more than 150 sites in more than 20 states, researchers collected thousands of observations over four years of exactly when both invasive and native shrubs leaf out in the spring and lose their leaves in the fall. The study area was expansive, stretching from southern Maine to central Minnesota south to southern Missouri, to North Carolina. (Click on title for full story.)
-
Unsung Ant Gardeners Of Temperate Forests
Far from just transporting the seeds, the ants are active gardeners, preferring some seeds over others and possibly keeping their charges safe from disease. “It’s becoming clear that it’s not a simple two-way interaction,” (Click on title for full story.)
-
Oleander As COVID19 Cure? You’d Die Trying
There are many other examples of natural plant extracts that are harmful. But oleander is particularly dangerous, because ingesting any part of the plant can lead to serious illness and possibly death. What’s more, there is no published scientific evidence on the safety of consuming oleandrin or its plant source, Nerium oleander. (Click on title for full story.)
-
Climate Change Has Already Altered Plant Communities. Soon They May Be Unrecognizable
When people think of climate change, they need to realize that it’s not just about losing ice in Antarctica or rising sea levels—climate change affects almost every natural system in every part of the planet. (Click on title for full story.)
-
The Crickets That Spread Seeds Of Ancient Orchids
Although neither the cricket nor camel cricket can fly, they potentially transport the seeds long distances owing to their remarkable jumping abilities. (Click on title for full story.)