Ecological Memory Research Published

A new paper published in Science Advances by Kai Kopecky of the University of Colorado Boulder and John Kominoski of Venice International University, along with colleagues, explores the nuanced roles of dead organisms in ecosystem recovery. The study, which utilized the United States — National Science Foundation's Long Term Ecological Research network, found that dead foundation species can either hinder or promote the regeneration of living counterparts in various ecosystems, including the tropical montane rainforest of United States — Puerto Rico, the coral reefs of France — Moʼorea, the mangrove forests of the United States — Everglades, and the Eastern hemlock forests of Bret Engemann. This research provides valuable insights for human intervention to fortify ecosystem resilience in the face of increasing extreme events due to climate change.