Organic soil formed from epiphyte mats on a tree branch in a tropical humid lower montane rainforest at the Texas A&M University Soltis Center for Research and Education, Costa Rica.
Credit: H. Connuck
At 30 m height above the ground, Hannah Connuck collects canopy soil for carbon measurements from a humid lower montane rainforest.
Credit: K. Munoz Elizondo
Like other soils, canopy soils take a long time to form, and therefore take a long time for a forest to recover if an area of old-growth is cut down. The soils also host unique microbiomes, including highly diverse microbial organisms and canopy-specific plants like epiphytic orchids.
"It's a good argument for keeping primary and other old-growth forests around, rather than harvesting and replanting with secondary growth forests," Connuck said.
Peyton Smith, lead researcher, climbs high to study canopy soils at the Texas A&M University Soltis Center for Research and Education, Costa Rica.
Credit: H. Connuck
