Dead Organisms Shape Ecosystem Recovery

New research shows that dead foundation species can continue shaping ecosystems long after death, often influencing whether surviving plants, corals, or other species recover successfully.

Across 10 ecosystems, dead remains mostly altered growth, survival, or community composition, sometimes helping regeneration and sometimes suppressing it. The findings matter because climate change is increasing disturbances that leave behind more dead biomass, making these legacy effects more important for restoration and resilience planning.