Re-establishing plantings of trees, grasses and other vegetation is essential for restoring degraded ecosystems, but a new survey of almost 2,600 restoration projects from nearly every type of ecosystem on Earth finds that most projects fail to recognize and control one of the new plants’ chief threats: hungry critters that eat plants. “In the early stages, these plants are like lollipops irresistible little treats for grazers,” said a Duke researcher who co-led the project.
Saliva is more than just a way to keep your mouth comfortably lubricated. Its cocktail of substances, scientists are discovering, are the x factor behind the flavours we taste.