DEVASTATING tropical storms can add to the richness of rainforests, say John
Vandermeer of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and his colleagues in the
US and Nicaragua. They looked at a rainforest in Nicaragua ravaged by Hurricane
Joan in October 1988. Over 10 years, they found that the number of tree species
doubled or tripled in eight storm-affected plots, compared with nearby ones in
an intact forest (Science, vol 290, p 788). By destroying the dominant
trees over a wide area, says Vandermeer, a hurricane gives other species a
chance to flourish.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Test moderators use AI-generated writing to judge literacy standards
News
Mind
THC in cannabis may reduce nightmares in people with PTSD
News
Environment
Fishers detonate a bomb every hour on one Indonesian coral reef
News
Environment
How bad is the UK drought and how long will it continue?
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles