China’s giant sinkholes are protecting an endangered magnolia tree, but they may also be trapping its future

Asia-Pacific Science Fri, 17 Jul 2026 14:29:12 GMT Moderate confidence — 73/100

Study finds sinkholes protect endangered tree at evolutionary costChina’s huge sinkholes, known as tiankengs ("heavenly pits" in Chinese), are both helping and harming one of the region’s most endangered plants at the same time.
They protect the rare Magnolia aromatica tree from climate change, but they also keep its populations isolated, reducing its ability to adapt in the future.
A new study by researchers from the South China Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Guangxi Institute of Botany found that these deep, forest-covered sinkholes protect the tree

Study finds sinkholes protect endangered tree at evolutionary costChina’s huge sinkholes, known as tiankengs ("heavenly pits" in Chinese), are both helping and harming one of the region’s most endangered plants at the same time.
They protect the rare Magnolia aromatica tree from climate change, but they also keep its populations isolated, reducing its ability to adapt in the future.
A new study by researchers from the South China Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Guangxi Institute of Botany found that these deep, forest-covered sinkholes protect the tree

Sources: Times of India