, Nov. 3 -- A team of Chinese researchers has discovered a cooperative dynamic among soil microorganisms that could help improve vegetation restoration on tropical coral islands - offering a promising new strategy to strengthen these fragile ecosystems.

The study, conducted by scientists from the South China Botanical Garden under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was published in the journal Soil Ecology Letters.

Tropical coral islands are known for their isolated ecosystems and harsh environments marked by high temperatures, intense sunlight, high salinity, and seasonal droughts. With low biodiversity and weak self-regulation capacity, their ecological balance is easily disrupted.

Efforts to restore vegetation have long faced setbacks...