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Forest Ecosystems
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- 1Needleworm outbreak defoliates nearly 2,900 hectares of Banff National Park▼Needleworm outbreak leaves nearly 2,900 hectares of Banff National Park defoliated
An outbreak of needleworms has stripped leaves from nearly 2,900 hectares of forest in Banff National Park, according to local reporting from Alberta. The insect infestation is affecting large swaths of the park's tree cover, raising questions about forest health and potential impacts on the popular tourist destination and its ecosystems.
- 2Smithsonian scientists flood Anne Arundel forest each summer▼Why Smithsonian scientists flood an Anne Arundel forest every summer
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center scientists deliberately flood a forest in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, every summer as part of a long-running experiment. By pumping water into the wetland forest, researchers simulate sea-level rise to study how coastal ecosystems and carbon storage respond to climate change. The unusual project draws attention for its hands-on approach to understanding what rising seas will do to Maryland's tidal forests.
- 3Scientists' 116-acre New Hampshire forest experiment draws attention▼In 1997, two young scientists bought 116 acres beside New Hampshire’s Bear Brook State Park; 25 years lat
In 1997, two young scientists bought 116 acres of land beside Bear Brook State Park in New Hampshire and, over 25 years, allowed it to return to wild forest, documenting how nature recovers when left alone. The long-term rewilding project is being discussed as a striking example of forest regeneration and what it reveals about letting ecosystems heal on their own.