Crowther Lab

Crowther Lab studies global ecosystems, generating knowledge to protect #biodiversity & address #ClimateChange

[Crowther Lab @CrowtherLab]

Out today in @ScienceMagazine: Over half of the world’s forests have become more fragmented since 2000, threatening biodiversity and climate stability.

https://t.co/XhA2l0ZtOD

#Biodiversity #Conservation #ClimateCrisis
@YibiaoZ @ConstiZo @TWCrowther

[Crowther Lab @CrowtherLab]

🌍 Climate change is reshaping the planet! By 2080, 17% of land could see major biome shifts: tundra shrinks by 47%, boreal forests push north, deserts & savannas expand by 23%. 🌱 How plants will respond depends on their ability to adapt and move.
https://t.co/YFGds9zjgt

[Crowther Lab @CrowtherLab]

Our new papers show that over half of the world’s forests have become more fragmented since 2000. This weakens carbon sinks: forest edges store 16% less biomass, equal to 36 Pg carbon lost globally

@ScienceMagazine: https://t.co/XhA2l101Eb

@NatureEcoEvo: https://t.co/P5GYEecJQx

[Crowther Lab @CrowtherLab]

More than half of the world’s forests have become more fragmented since 2000.

Our new @ScienceMagazine study is featured in @mongabay — showing the risks of fragmentation and the power of protection.

📰Mongabay: https://t.co/68WoVJYNBl

📄Paper: https://t.co/EAFxZvOU81

[Crowther Lab @CrowtherLab]

Huge thanks to all co-authors for making this possible, and a special shout-out to @YibiaoZ, who led this research as part of his PhD thesis. 👏

@ConstiZo @TWCrowther @haozhi_ma @LidongMo @LalasiaM @Pablo_Negret @ThLauber @Zhaofei2022 @domrebindaine

[Crowther Lab @CrowtherLab]

Between 2000 and 2020, 51–67% of global forests became more fragmented. In the tropics, where biodiversity and carbon storage are highest, the rate was even higher at 58–80%. This silent erosion of ecological integrity poses a major risk to ecosystems worldwide.

[Crowther Lab @CrowtherLab]

The loss of forest area is devastating. But the loss of connectivity — the fabric that holds forests together — is just as dangerous. This study highlights both the urgency of halting fragmentation and the promise of effective conservation and restoration.

[Crowther Lab @CrowtherLab]

Earlier assessments suggested fragmentation was declining. But those relied on counting forest patches. When we measure ecological connectivity — how forests function for species movement and survival — a very different picture emerges.

[Crowther Lab @CrowtherLab]

More than half of the world’s forests have become more fragmented since 2000.

Out today in @ScienceMagazine:
https://t.co/XhA2l0ZtOD

#Biodiversity #Conservation #ClimateCrisis

[Crowther Lab @CrowtherLab]

The loss of global forests is a direct threat to our climate, biodiversity and human wellbeing. But there’s another hidden threat: fragmentation — the breaking of forests into smaller, isolated patches.

[Dominic Rebindaine @domrebindaine]

So excited that this amazing study led by the indomitable @YibiaoZ is out in @ScienceMagazine. We must start looking at forest fragmentation from a more ecological perspective to protect biodiversity and conserve ecosystem functionality 🌳🍃

[Crowther Lab @CrowtherLab]

Out today in @ScienceMagazine: Over half of the world’s forests have become more fragmented since 2000, threatening biodiversity and climate stability.

https://t.co/XhA2l0ZtOD

#Biodiversity #Conservation #ClimateCrisis
@YibiaoZ @ConstiZo @TWCrowther

[Nate Hagens @NJHagens]

In this episode, I'm joined by ecologist @TWCrowther to discuss the critical importance of biodiversity as an intricate web of life that supports all other living beings, not just through the sheer number of species, but because of the complexity of interactions within ecosystems.

https://t.co/fmmXvZm51n

[Crowther Lab @CrowtherLab]

👉 Read the full study: https://t.co/EMX93vtj7h
👏 This work is a collaborative effort by Katharina Runge, @LalasiaM , @MiguelBerdugo1, MarleeTucker, @TWCrowther, Camille Fournier de Lauriere, and @Guirado_e
#ecology #resilience #science #sciencelover #naturalscience #environment

[Crowther Lab @CrowtherLab]

🌍 Understanding global ecosystem resilience is vital for effective conservation and climate policy.
Our newly published review in @GlobalChangeBio investigates the most widely used indicators of resilience based on Earth Observation data.

[Crowther Lab @CrowtherLab]

🔥 Ecosystems that recover slowly are often more drought-resistant.
🌡️ Reliable resilience assessments are crucial for informing policy decisions and guide conservation efforts worldwide.