Tropical Trees Use Unique Method to Resist Drought

A study found that tropical trees in Paracou, French Guiana developed a new way of becoming more drought resistant.   The trees use living cells around their wood to store and redistribute water during a period of drought.  These living cells, called parenchyma cells, store water, aid in the process of osmosis and redistribute water to the part of the tree that most needs it.  Tropical trees have three time more of these living cells around their wood to help facilitate this process than temperate trees. Before this year, scientists realized there was not as much research or data on the drought resistance of tropical plants as there was on temperate plants.  The scientists main research goal is to be able to predict the amount of little rainfall that would cause tropical trees to die.    

This research is important because tropical plants stores about 20% of all carbon in the Earth's biomass.  If these plants deteriorate as a result of a drought, their carbon will be released into the atmosphere and increase levels of global warming.  For that reason, this research may also help generate support towards conserving and protecting rain forests.

Click here to learn more about this new tropical tree drought resistance technique.   

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 1, 2018 at 9:11 AM

    This is really interesting to see how trees are starting to adapt or even evolve to put up with the changes that are taking place within the environment.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMarch 12, 2018 at 7:08 AM

    This is so amazing! Like Trevor said, its interesting to see trees start adapting. Our environment and Earth are changing so much and sometime not always for the good, so seeing trees change along with the environment to help adapt ecosystems are amazing. Along with saving rain forests, I know that they are not doing so well and many people cut them down, so saving them will save many animals and trees and much more.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMarch 12, 2018 at 9:42 AM

    I think it is very interesting to see these trees have the special drought resistant cells that transport the water around the plant. If we could transport these trees to other drought prone areas around the world and not have them become invasive, there could be many benefits!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMarch 14, 2018 at 4:51 AM

    This will interesting to see how scientists may incorporate this adaptation into other parts of the world to try and stop a drought or perhaps they could use this technology to help prevent something else as well.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMarch 22, 2018 at 6:59 AM

    It is amazing to see what nature can do! The fact that these trees have adapted and developed ways to become more drought resistant is awesome. I agree with Evan about moving these trees to other drought prone areas. The amount of benefits that would come from this would be great.

    ReplyDelete

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