|

Global Shift: Rise of Annual Plants Impacting Ecosystems

ByThe Short Paper

Revising the global biogeography of annual and perennial plants

This study on plant life cycles reveals surprising data: annual plants, thought to be common, make up only 6% of plant species. These plants thrive in hot, dry regions, and their prevalence is influenced by specific climate factors. Alarmingly, climate change and human disruption are favoring annuals, potentially impacting ecosystem services. The research predicts a significant increase in annual plants by 2060, raising concerns about the future of perennial plants and their contributions to ecosystems.

Poppenwimer, T., Mayrose, I. & DeMalach, N. Revising the global biogeography of annual and perennial plants. Nature (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06644-x

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06644-x

Similar Posts

|

Safeguarding Biodiversity: The Role and Challenges of Protected Areas

ByThe Short Paper

Protected areas slow declines unevenly across the tetrapod tree of life Protected areas (PAs) play a crucial role in slowing down the loss of terrestrial biodiversity. A study analyzing data from around the world found that vertebrate populations decline much slower within protected areas compared to similar sites without protection. The effectiveness of PAs varied…

|

Intense Tropical Cyclones and Climate Shifts

ByThe Short Paper

Seasonal advance of intense tropical cyclones in a warming climate Intense tropical cyclones (TCs) occurring in autumn are shifting earlier in the season, with rates of 3.7 and 3.2 days per decade in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This shift is linked to favorable oceanic conditions starting earlier, driven primarily by greenhouse gas forcing. As…

|

Advancing Porcine Organs for Human Transplants: Successful Kidney Grafts in Monkeys

ByThe Short Paper

Design and testing of a humanized porcine donor for xenotransplantation Recent studies have explored the potential of using pig organs for human transplantation. Before moving to human trials, genetically engineered pig donors need to be created, and their organ transplants must be tested in nonhuman primates. In this study, researchers describe the development of kidney…

|

Surprising Discoveries About Responsiveness During Sleep

ByThe Short Paper

Behavioral and brain responses to verbal stimuli reveal transient periods of cognitive integration of the external world during sleep For a long time, it was believed that sleep was a state of complete disconnection from the outside world, where individuals were unresponsive to external stimuli. However, a study challenged this idea by examining how people…

|

Understanding the Link Between Brain Activity and Cancer Growth

ByThe Short Paper

Glioma synapses recruit mechanisms of adaptive plasticity Research reveals that the nervous system plays a significant role in cancer regulation, particularly in gliomas, a type of brain cancer. Neuronal activity influences tumor progression through specific signaling factors. In gliomas, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes synaptic plasticity, similar to healthy brain functions. Malignant synapses in…

|

Revolutionary Injectable Prosthesis Speeds Up Tissue Repair

ByThe Short Paper

Injectable tissue prosthesis for instantaneous closed-loop rehabilitation Researchers have developed an innovative injectable tissue prosthesis made of a soft hydrogel combined with gold nanoparticles, allowing instantaneous bidirectional electrical conduction within the neuromuscular system. Unlike previous patch-type devices, this injectable prosthesis conforms to rough, narrow, or deep tissue surfaces. Tested in rats with severe muscle injury,…