Why do these tropical trees love the lightning strike
A tropical tree species not only seems to live the strikes of lightning, but also to grow
Creature According to lightning Humans are generally trying to avoid. But at least one species of tropical trees, which does not hurt and maybe it may be a good thing.
Scientists have long believed that the lightning had hit the trees that could be negative effects. “It’s the scenario of your best case, and your worst case is about two million,” says Evan up, the forest ecologist of the forest ecosystems of the Basque Institute of Ecosystems. But after many years learning The effects of lightning For the rainforest, he started wondering if the trees usually did not have a deadly event, they really get a kind of advantage.
To find out, he and his colleagues spent a few years following the fate of 93 trees in the midfulgous jungle when lightning struck directly. Nine species known as almendrro (Dipteryx Oleife), The original forest of Central and South America that can take 165 meters high. After trees, the investigators continued to control the shock survivors, whether they check their overall condition and killed trees around lightning, which grow on them.
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The results showed that almond trees were very resistant to lightning and the least affected with almost all tree species, 64% of the last few last trees died in two years. Other large species also survived strikes and could also benefit, but the lightning did not sufficient of these species to make sure the researchers are sure.
Almonds, water and nutrients who competed with species were killed by many trees, spread on the horns after killing lightning D. Oleife Trees. This has left more resources and space for the second. Almendros’s strikes Almendros also reduced the average number of parasites in a tree, killing 78%. These vineyards rise on the trees to the light of “stealing”.
A Dipteryx Oleife Tree after 2019 lightning (above) and two years later (below). The tree survived the strike with minimal damage, and strikes removed parasites and competitors.
Evan Gora / Cary Ecosystem Studies Institute
After obtaining a certain size, the frequency of survival of lifesty survival and trees, the group used computer models for a typical almond five times in its 300-year lifestyle. Then, using simulations using data on details and proliferation of trees, the researchers showed that the lightning shows that the lightning appears to be almost trees. Without advantage, strikes bring, “they weren’t going to live long,” he says deaf.
Researchers have also speculated that Almond evolved influence Lightning or at least to avoid, as most of the other trees have had. D. OleifeThe wreath wide and high height, which improves the opportunity to succeed, so that it is intense lightning. And it can respect damage because of being more electrically conductor than surrounding tree species. The dim believes similar skills to the lightning will benefit from other species and forestry.
Allan Carroll, who did not take part in the study at Columbia British University, “The findings of the study are quite novels and the evolution of workshops makes a significant contribution to our knowledge.”
