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

Tiankengs (giant sinkholes) in China protect the endangered Magnolia aromatica tree from climate change by providing stable microclimates.

A study by South China Botanical Garden and Guangxi Institute of Botany found that sinkhole populations have lower genetic diversity and more harmful mutations than surface populations.

Isolation within sinkholes limits gene flow, reducing the tree's ability to adapt to future environmental changes.

The study analyzed DNA from 112 trees across 26 populations in Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces, including trees inside and outside tiankengs.

Conservation efforts must balance protecting sinkhole habitats with facilitating gene flow between populations to ensure long-term survival.