Files and links (1)
Published (Version of record)CC BY-ND V4.0, Open
Magazine article
We discovered microbes in bark ‘eat’ climate gases. This will change the way we think about trees
The Conversation
09/01/2026
Metrics
1 Record Views
Abstract
We all know trees are climate heroes. They pull carbon dioxide out of the air, release the oxygen we breathe, and help combat climate change.
Now, for the first time, our research has uncovered the hidden world of the tiny organisms living in the bark of trees. We discovered they are quietly helping to purify the air we breathe and remove greenhouse gases.
These microbes “eat”, or use, gases like methane and carbon monoxide for energy and survival. Most significantly, they also remove hydrogen, which has a role in super-charging climate change.
What we discovered has changed how we think about trees. Bark was long assumed to be largely biologically inert in relation to climate. But our findings show it hosts active microbial communities that influence key atmospheric gases. This means trees affect the climate in more ways than we previously realised.
Details
- Title
- We discovered microbes in bark ‘eat’ climate gases. This will change the way we think about trees
- Creators
- Luke Jeffrey - Southern Cross UniversityChris Greening - Monash UniversityDamien Maher - Southern Cross UniversityPok Man Leung - Monash University
- Publication Details
- The Conversation
- Publisher
- The Conversation Media Group Ltd
- Identifiers
- 991013342890802368
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Magazine article