<
https://phys.org/news/2025-05-replanted-rainforests-benefit-termite-transplants.html>
'Termites—infamous for their ability to destroy wood—are rarely welcomed into
rainforests that have been painstakingly replanted. But a new paper suggests
that termite transplants may be necessary to help regenerating forests to
thrive.
Published in the
Journal of Applied Ecology and led by scientists from Cary
Institute of Ecosystem Studies, the study found that termites are not thriving
in replanted rainforests in Australia. Because decomposers like termites are
essential for recycling nutrients and carbon, the researchers worry that the
insect's slow recovery could hinder the growth and health of the young forests.
"People tend to think that by just planting a diversity of trees, these
rainforests will regenerate," said Baptiste Wijas, a postdoctoral fellow at
Cary Institute and visiting academic at the University of Queensland in
Australia.
"But it's worth thinking about. Should we actually be putting in other
organisms as well, to restore other ecosystem processes that help the forest
function? In the context of rainforest regeneration, no one really thinks about
it at all."
These questions are important, as restored forests make up an increasing
proportion of total rainforest area. Reforestation—the process of transforming
agricultural or developed land back into rainforest—is a popular strategy to
preserve biodiversity and pull carbon from the atmosphere.
Wijas and Cary senior scientist Amy Zanne wanted to find out how well
decomposers like termites and fungi function in replanted forests, to help
predict forest health and carbon sequestration rates.'
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
