Biodiversity
Global warming kills forests by restricting tree transpiration
Research
EPFL
UN International Day of Forests on 21 March is the perfect opportunity to showcase some of the important forest research being done at EPFL. For instance, one recent study found that the changes in relative humidity caused by higher temperatures are having a significant impact on trees.
New study on invasive palm in Ticino
Research
WSL
The Chinese windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei), a popular postcard subject in the southernmost Swiss canton, originates from Asia and is extremely resistant to cold. The Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL has now investigated the potential impact of its massive spread in the forests of Ticino and proposes targeted control measures.
Unique richness under pressure
Research
Eawag
The federal government has just published the updated Red List of fish and cyclostomes. Eawag was involved. The list documents a further endangerment since the last listing in 2007. Prof. Ole Seehausen explains why.
Energy transition: Bodies of water in conflict between protection and use
Politics
Eawag
The looming energy crisis has increased the pressure to push ahead with the energy transition in Switzerland. The parliamentarians will also debate this issue in the spring session, which is about to begin. The use of water bodies plays an important role here. Two Eawag researchers explain the risks to water systems arising from the use of potential that still exists and how the conflicts are to be assessed.
Newly discovered fungus castrates male spruce flowers
Research
WSL
A rare discovery during a midday walk: on a spruce tree, an employee of the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL discovered not only a new species of fungus, but also a genus previously unknown to science. The parasite feeds on the spruce pollen and destroys the male flowers in the process. It is unclear whether it is an introduced species.
Restoring nature equitably
Research
ETH Zurich
Efforts to restore degraded ecosystems have so far fallen short of meeting global targets. Sound restoration must better incorporate social processes promoting equity in order to effectively benefit people, climate and biodiversity, says Sara Löfqvist.
Page 8 of 17