Dead Organisms Shape Ecosystem Recovery After Extreme Events, Study Finds
A new study published in Science Advances examining 10 ecosystems found that dead remains of foundation species—abundant organisms like trees, corals, and oysters—significantly influence whether ecosystems recover after extreme events like hurricanes, wildfires, and heat waves. The research, based on data from a U.S. National Science Foundation network tracking long-term ecological changes, shows that dead organisms can either accelerate recovery or hinder it depending on the ecosystem. Understanding how dead organic matter affects ecosystem resilience is increasingly important as climate change intensifies extreme weather events.
Researchers studying ecological memory—how remnants of the past influence present ecosystems—analyzed data from 10 diverse ecosystems ranging from tropical rainforests to boreal forests to understand the role of dead foundation species in recovery after extreme events. Foundation species are abundant, ecologically important organisms that create natural infrastructure supporting entire communities; when they die in large numbers following disasters, their remains can profoundly shape what happens next. The study found that in 9 of 10 ecosystems examined, dead foundation species either significantly increased or decreased the ability of living foundation species to reestablish and survive. In roughly half the cases, dead remains hindered recovery—for example, in Puerto Rican rainforests, hurricane debris blocks sunlight needed by seedlings—while in other cases, dead organisms like fallen logs provide nutrient-rich nurseries for new growth. The research suggests that managing dead organic matter after extreme events could be crucial for helping ecosystems adapt to climate change.
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- The ConversationCenter
Life after death: From burned trees to bleached corals, how dead organisms live on as the building blocks of new life
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