Climate change

An international study shows that biodiversity changes more quickly where there have been faster changes in temperature. The researchers also found that species in ecosystems with less-varied habitats were more sensitive…

Livestock

Grazing by large mammalian herbivores influences ecosystem structure and functions through its impacts on vegetation and soil, as well as by the impact it has on insects and spiders. As livestock progressively replace…

Rice production

Rice is the basis of life for many people. An international team seek to make the plant, which originates from Asia, more resilient towards heat and drought.

Agriculture

What is the future of our soils – and hence also water availability – going to look like given the impacts of forthcoming climate change? An international study shows how drought, warming and raised CO₂ concentration in…

Forestry

The escalating impacts of human activities and climate change, particularly increased nutrient leaching and deposition, could significantly alter the productivity, structure and function of tropical vegetation. To better…

Food security

A balanced diet is important for reducing hunger and malnutrition. Researchers thus advocate that small farmers in low- and middle-income countries should try to produce as many different foods as possible for their own…

Forestry

An international team of researchers have examined the impacts of logging and degradation of tropical forests. They have succeeded in demonstrating that there are “winner” and “loser” species, with the displacement of…

Climate change

Rice quality, which is intricately connected to market value and human nutrition, is sensitive to weather conditions. However, the relative importance of the different climatic factors is poorly understood, and the…

Plant breeding

Scientists have uncovered genetic variation in the unexplored DNA of the photosynthetic and energy factories of Arabidopsis plants, which plays a crucial role in the efficiency of photosynthesis in plants. This new…

Biodiversity

Oil palm plantations are known for environmental harm such as biodiversity loss. A recent study suggests establishing tree islands within large oil palm farms to promote recovery of native trees and biodiversity.