From the Byron Echo Volume 40#32 January 14
Australian researchers have discovered a hidden climate superpower of trees. Their bark harbours trillions of microbes that help scrub the air of greenhouse and toxic gases. It’s long been known that trees fight global warming by consuming carbon dioxide (CO2) through photosynthesis. But a new study published in Science shows their microbial partners take up vast amounts of other climate-active gases too. The study, conducted primarily by Dr Bob Leung at Monash University’s Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI), and Dr Luke Jeffrey at Southern Cross University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, rewrites our understanding of how trees and their resident microbes shape the atmosphere. For more information, contact the Media Office at Southern Cross University at scumedia@scu.edu.au
