Australian scientists have discovered a surprising new way that trees help combat climate change. We already know trees are nature’s superheroes, soaking up carbon dioxide, giving us oxygen, shade, and a home for countless creatures, but it turns out their role in protecting the planet might be even bigger than we thought.
But a groundbreaking new study reveals that trees may be even more powerful than we thought thanks to the trillions of microbes living on their bark. These tiny organisms are quietly cleaning the air of greenhouse and toxic gases, offering a previously hidden layer of climate protection.
The research, led by Dr. Bob Leung at Monash University’s Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) and Dr. Luke Jeffrey at Southern Cross University, sheds light on a long-overlooked relationship between trees and the microbes that inhabit them. Published in the journal Science, the study indicates that these microbial communities actively consume methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other climate-active gases, some even produced by the trees themselves.
“Each tree hosts trillions of microbial cells on its bark,” Dr. Leung said. “Yet their existence and roles have been overlooked for many decades until now.”
Over five years, the researchers sampled trees across eastern Australia, including freshwater wetlands, coastal heathlands, mangrove forests, and upland forests. Using advanced genomic and biogeochemical techniques, they identified which microbes live on the bark, what they consume, and how they contribute to the planet’s climate system.
The scale of the process is astonishing. According to Dr. Jeffrey, “Counting all trees on Earth, the total global surface area of bark covers an area roughly the same as all seven continents combined. The microbial activity across this massive ‘bark continent’ is potentially removing millions of tons of climate-active gases every year.” These gases, which can come from the atmosphere or from within tree stems, are essentially filtered by these microscopic helpers, making trees an even more crucial part of the fight against climate change.
The study also highlights the potential for practical applications. Professor Chris Greening of BDI, who co-led the research alongside Professor Damien Maher from Southern Cross University, emphasized the long-term benefits. “We now know different trees host different microbes,” Professor Greening said. “If we can identify the trees with the most active gas-consuming microbes, they could become priority targets for reforestation and urban greening projects.”
This discovery isn’t just about reducing greenhouse gases. Carbon monoxide, for example, is both climate-active and toxic to humans. “Tree microbes are helping scrub it from the air and so improve air quality,” Professor Greening added.
Professor Maher believes this research is just the beginning. “The diversity of microbes we found living in the bark suggests that we may need to rethink how trees and forests control Earth’s climate now and into the future,” he said.
The study examined a wide range of Australian tree species, each hosting its own unique microbial community. In freshwater wetlands, the team studied paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia), swamp box (Lophostemon suaveolens), and swamp oak (Casuarina glauca). Coastal heathlands featured Banksia (Banksia integrifolia) and golden wattle (Acacia longifolia), while mangrove forests revealed the microbes of the mangrove (Avicennia marina). Upland forests contributed grey ironbark (Eucalyptus siderophloia) and grey gum (Eucalyptus propinqua).
The findings highlight a fascinating new dimension of trees’ role in climate regulation. It’s not just about absorbing carbon dioxide; their bark-dwelling microbes actively clean the air of other harmful gases as well. By combining efforts to plant and protect trees with an understanding of their microbial communities, scientists say we may be able to maximize the climate benefits of forests in ways previously unimagined.
Ultimately, this research reminds us that nature often works in intricate, interconnected ways. Even the smallest, invisible organisms can significantly influence the planet’s health. Trees and their microbial allies may just be one of the Earth’s most effective climate warriors, quietly working to scrub the air and protect the environment for generations to come.
