The Forest Family: Relationships among Tree Species
Like all species, forest trees have their own web of relationships among themselves. Studying these evolutionary ties is the main focus of phylogenetics, and can assist in forest health assessment. “Understanding relationships among tree species can show how they interact with each other and with the environment,” says North Carolina State University scientist Kevin Potter. “Phylogenetics can be used to assess forest health from the perspective of biodiversity and resilience to stress.” Potter, a research cooperator with the Eastern Threat Center, is lead author of a new study that analyzes forest phylogenetics across the entire United States. The study was coauthored by Center research ecologist Frank Koch, and was recently published in Forest Science. Read more in CompassLive...
