A New Zealand tree trunk, a mystery of nature

Forests have always been places of mystery and wonder., and are often associated with beautiful stories. However, it is in these places that we can observe the true wonders of nature Science is discovering some mystical places beyond our understanding.

According to a published news article BBC And National GeographicTwo botanists, while wandering in a jungle in New Zealand, discovered it Traces of a dying treeIt was survived by the trees that surrounded it.

The same part A stick of this tree still visible, that is, the part of the trunk that remains on the ground after cutting. however, There are more important symptoms.

“Few plants can survive without green leaves for photosynthesis, so this log clearly showed living tissue and captivated us as we walked through the forest.” – said Sebastian Leusinger.

This way, Sebastian Lüssinger And Martin BaderBotanists Auckland University of TechnologyIn New Zealand, it was decided study Stumbled on this and found it It survives through water exchange carried out by other trees of the same species.

It is Mahuda who imposes

Cowrie (Agathis australis) is there New Zealand’s most popular native tree. It belongs to the Araucariaceae family Considered one of the largest trees in the world, Height reaches 40 to 50 meters with vertical growth and a cylindrical stem.

It is a tree Iconic and endemic speciesIt is not found naturally in other parts of New Zealand.

This famous tree is also known as Thane MahudaThe designation is used Lord Forests and birds in Maori mythology.

Underground secret

According to these botanists, Tree roots are hydraulically synchronized. Using special instruments, scientists measured Water flow on the stump and surrounding trees.

These are Fluid movements Affected by many factors Availability of sunlight, temperature and rainfallAnd provide the nutrients trees need to thrive.

After measurements, they concluded that there was a Clear connectivity between trees of place: when Sap moved faster in living trees, and water slowed down in stumps And, on the contrary, while it moved slowly in the trees, it galloped swiftly on the stump. This is how Stump managed to stay alive.

Along with water, researchers also support Hypothesis for presence of mycorrhizae. Mycorrhizae are Fungi that maintain a symbiotic relationship with the roots of trees.

This relationship pays off Roots provide sugar and other nutrients and fungi convert minerals and decay products Soil as nutrients for trees.

(…) This means that forests should not be seen as collections of individual trees…but rather forests as super-organisms.” – Luessinger explains.

Thus, The larger and more diverse the mycorrhizal network that feeds tree roots, the more resistant the ecosystem is to changes. Hence, it is able to withstand climatic conditions and other calamities.

Because the roots of living stumps are attached to the roots of dying stumps, their existence Helps expand the root network, and allows mycorrhizae to attach to treesThis translates into a benefit for the forest as a whole.

Therefore, keeping its fallen members alive is beneficial to the forest.