The conversion of rainforest into plantations erodes and restructures food webs and fundamentally changes the way these ecosystems function, according to a new study published in Nature. The findings ...

Though spatially distinct, the Santa Barbara Channel’s subtidal kelp forests and its sandy beaches are intimately connected. Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), the foundation species of rocky reefs, ...

Mixing tree species can lead to better growth in the forest—at least above ground. A new study published in Nature shows that ...

Unexpected soil results: Mixed forests with species like pine, spruce, and birch showed slightly poorer soil activity than some single-species forests. Tree species matter: Fast-growing trees boost ...

An international study published in Nature found that while mixed European forests often promote aboveground growth, they can reduce soil food web activity compared to certain single-species stands.

UC Santa Barbara marine scientists are uncovering just how tightly the beach and the nearshore are connected along the ...

Wildlife biologists used a novel technique to trace the movement of carbon through Arctic and boreal forest food webs and found that climate warming resulted in a shift from plant-based food webs to ...

Forest ecosystems are among the most structurally complex and biodiverse habitats on Earth, spanning tropical rainforests to boreal taiga. They perform critical ecosystem functions—photosynthetic ...

A UC Santa Barbara researcher published a paper detailing the intricate impact that kelp forests along local beaches have ...

The kelp forest is ephemeral, yet foundational. Fronds of this fast-growing giant seaweed come and go with the seasons, storms and waves, supporting communities of fish, invertebrates and even mammals ...

Dive into South Africa’s kelp forests and uncover their role in conservation, climate resilience and marine ecosystems.