Transpiration rates of red maple (Acer rubrum L.) differ between management contexts in urban forests of Maryland, USA.

The hydrological functioning of urban trees can reduce stormwater runoff, mitigate the risk of flood, and improve water quality in developed areas. Tree canopies intercept rainfall and return water to the atmosphere through transpiration, while roots increase infiltration and storage in the soil. Despite this, the amount of stormwater that trees remove through these functions in urban settings is not well characterized, limiting the use of urban forests as practical stormwater management strategies.

Fullerene toxicity in the benthos with implications for freshwater ecosystem services.

Production of engineered carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs) is rising, with increased risk of release to the environment during production, use, and disposal. This trend highlights a need to understand potential impacts of CNMs on the natural environment. Fullerenes are an emerging class of CNMs that are insoluble in water, and form aggregates that settle quickly, suggesting higher relative vulnerability of aquatic benthic ecosystems.