Some Trees May Play an Outsized Role in the Fight on Global Warming

February 24, 2022 • by Sophia Kurz

A new study shows that nitrogen-fixing trees could help forests remove more heat-trapping COS from the atmosphere than previously thought.

Sunlight peeks through the trees

Black locust trees have a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria that allow them to access nitrogen, which is critical for growth. Credit: iStock.


Thomas Bytnerowicz injects acetylene gas into a custom plant measurement chamber to quantify nitrogen fixation activity in a black locust seedling.

Thomas Bytnerowicz injects acetylene gas into a custom plant measurement chamber to quantify nitrogen fixation activity in a black locust seedling.

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