Graphic Designer Bryant Paul Johnson Illustrations and Comics Easthampton, Massachusetts
The world is faced with the largest climate and nature emergency of our time. Global change factors, such as introduced pests and plants, changes in precipitation, and drought can dramatically alter ecosystem health. Soil microorganisms play a vital role in the below ground processes, such as decomposition, nutrient cycling, and carbon storage. Taken together, these serve as key indicators of ecosystem health. Eastern US forests are losing a foundation tree species, the eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadenis), due to the insect pests hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) and elongate hemlock scale (Fiorinia externa). The widespread destruction of this important evergreen conifer has large ramifications for ecosystem processes and other species that depend on it for survival. Using an "accidental experiment" initiated by patch-level timber harvesting ~30 years ago in western Massachusetts, results show the impacts on source/sink carbon dynamics, which may be exacerbated by a warming climate. We visually transform these below ground impacts through art illustrations and demonstrate what happens when we lose biodiversity and ecosystems are altered in a way that further contributes to climate change. We are at a unique moment where we can reimagine how science and scientists connect with society and the environment while re-centering the voices of knowledge holders from marginalized communities. Going beyond the peer-review publications and moving to include many forms of writings, knowledge sharing, artwork, and communication will be needed to find community-driven solutions to environmental problems.