Scientists make game-changing discovery about impact of grazing herbivores on air pollution: 'Requires immediate attention'
Story by Doric Sam • 2w •
Grazing herbivores like deer who feast on trees and shrubs were once thought to have an adverse effect on carbon storage, but new research suggests that's not the case.
A team of scientists at the University of Oxford's long-term ecology lab investigated the influence of herbivores on tree growth and found that "herbivore browsing in rewilded landscapes does not stunt growth and reduce carbon storage, contrary to previous suggestions." The study determined that scrubland trees left behind by these grazing animals can "store far more carbon in their roots than previously thought."
The prevalent belief has been that the loss of trees in grazing areas could lead to increased air pollution. However, the study found that they are much more resilient than once thought, as they "adapt by investing more in root growth, a strategy previously overlooked, which could enhance their carbon storage capacity."
Because of this, the scientists believe "the investigation of carbon storage potential in scrubland species is of great significance and requires immediate attention."
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/scientists-make-game-changing-discovery-about-impact-of-grazing-herbivores-on-air-pollution-requires-immediate-attention/ar-BB1oOWIE?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=1fe89ebe38ce4c6a8bc55041ae4c5cb8&ei=39
