Amazon rainforest vegetation emits new defense molecules during El Niño drought

Amazon rainforest vegetation emitted new stress-defense molecules during a severe El Niño drought. Researchers found a significant increase in sesquiterpenes, which act as stress signals and protective compounds, and detected unexpected sesquiterpene alcohols after the drought. These findings suggest metabolic adjustments to environmental stress and could alter atmospheric chemistry if El Niño events become more frequent.