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from the heard-good-things-about-oxygen dept.
To find out what works best for reestablishing tropical dry forests, the researchers planted seedlings of 32 native tree species in degraded soil or degraded soil amended with sand, rice hulls, rice hull ash or hydrogel (an artificial water-holding material). After two years, they found that tree species known for traits that make them drought tolerant, such as enhanced ability to use water and capture sunlight, survived better than other species. Some of the soil amendments helped get seedlings off to a good start, but by the end of the experiment there was no difference in survival with respect to soil condition.
"This study is important for a number of reasons," Powers said. "First, it demonstrates that it is possible to grow trees on extremely degraded soils, which provides hope that we can indeed restore tropical dry forests. Second, it provides a general approach to screen native tree species for restoration trails based on their functional traits, which can be applied widely across the tropics.
Is 'ecosystem restoration' the job growth area of the future?
(Score: 2) by datapharmer on Friday September 22 2017, @02:23PM (3 children)
And the tree species that did well were?
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Friday September 22 2017, @04:07PM (2 children)
I don't know what they planted, but if they tried gumtrees (eucalyptus species), they are truly and properly fucked.
The gum trees are doing well in pretty tough conditions and nothing else will grow beside them. Eg blue gum (originated from Tasmania) is considered invasive species [kcet.org] in California.
Ah, yes, something more: eucalyptus love forests fire - they survive pretty well to fire and a clean ground to expand after the fire is just perfect to them. The eucalyptus oils they emanate in warm weather help spread that fire faster.
Here's [soundofcritters.com] how the gum trees look like a year after a forest fire equiv to 1500 Hiroshima bombs [smh.com.au]
Even more: once an eucalyptus forest establishes, expect an explosion in the Thylarctos plummetus population. If that's the case, the only hope for human survival in the area is Vegemite - apply generously behind the ears.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday September 22 2017, @08:39PM (1 child)
It's like Australia was where they put all the shit animals and plants that don't get along well with others. And the people too, for that matter.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Saturday September 23 2017, @12:05AM
Yea... naaaah mate. Those people seem to have found America more to their taste.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford