New Zealand scientists have discovered a stump is a vampire, sucking the juices from the neighboring trees
Source:
Walking through the forest, the new Zealand environmentalists Sebastian Lasinger and Martin Bader from the Auckland University of technology have discovered an unusual old stump of a dead tree, which, to their surprise, was very much alive. The researchers found that he lived the strange symbiotic relationship with nearby living trees, as by sucking out their water and nutrients through the root system. Scientists believe that their discovery points to the fact that are not only separate living organisms and coexist in the form of a giant living superorganism, which can include several tens or even hundreds of trees.
Discovered the stump once belonged to the tree agathis South, also known as the new Zealand agathis, or Kauri tree.
a Kauri Tree
These trees are of a coniferous species, able to grow up to 50 meters in height and, according to scientists, are among the oldest representatives of woody species, surviving even the dinosaurs.
What is symbiosis?
The fact that plants can communicate with each other, passing between the nutrients scientists have known for a long time. This is called symbiosis and is found, for example, between trees and mushrooms. The last criss-crossing tree roots, receiving nutrients (carbohydrates, amino acids and other), and themselves in turn, make available for uptake and absorption by plant from the soil a larger amount of water and minerals.
See also:
In addition, scientists know that live trees can also intertwine their root system, which ultimately allows them to better absorb and distribute soil water and nutrients. However, a similar interaction between the living and dead trees, scientists have known little.
Unusual stump-the vampire
New Zealand researchers have discovered a strange tree stump by accident. They drew attention to the fact that it has new growths of woody tissue and juice stands out as the in all living and healthy trees. Scientists were very surprised by his findings. The fact that photosynthesis is a healthy tree needed leaves. Through photosynthesis, trees produce carbohydrates. the trees and all the plants will not have enough energy to produce new tissue needed for growth. But the researchers brought the stump showed all the signs of a living tree.
How the stump is still alive?
a Scientists have studied the stump with the help of scientific instruments and sensors
Deciding to understand the question, scientists first found that the stump of its root system is associated with neighbouring trees through which it receives nutrients and water. Then with the help of special sensors, scientists have found that stump really "breathes", releasing oxygen, though slightly smaller than its neighbors extent. Making sure that the stump is really healthy, researchers have begun to explore the specificity of the transfer of water and nutrients between the stump and its neighbours.
Studies have shown that the stump and the neighbouring trees at different times of the day. During the day, when live trees are busy with the transport of moisture from the soil to their roots, trunks, branches and leaves, the stump is idle. It does not retain water, which through its roots goes to the roots of other trees. Night live trees cease their activity. Night stump "wakes up". And begins to "pump" my roots from living trees the water and nutrients that it can not produce due to lack of their own photosynthetic tissue.
See also:
The researchers conclude that healthy trees old tree stump serves as a source of a great root system. Through her roots of neighboring trees can get more moisture. Instead of healthy trees to share with the stump of a necessary mineral and organic substances which it cannot itself produce. For trees this exchange, apparently, is very profitable, considering the size of the stump, well how old is he there need nutrients?
At the same time, such cooperation between the trees, the researchers say, can have disadvantages. Because in addition to the transfer of nutrients through the roots can be transmitted and various pathogens.
If you are interested in news of science and technologies, subscribe to our channel . There you will find materials that were not published on our website.
Recommended
Can genes create the perfect diet for you?
Diet on genotype can be a way out for many, but it still has a lot of questions Don't know what to do to lose weight? DNA tests promise to help you with this. They will be able to develop the most individual diet, because for this they will use the m...
How many extraterrestrial civilizations can exist nearby?
If aliens exist, why don't we "hear" them? In the 12th episode of Cosmos, which aired on December 14, 1980, co-author and host Carl Sagan introduced viewers to the same equation of astronomer Frank Drake. Using it, he calculated the potential number ...
Why does the most poisonous plant in the world cause severe pain?
The pain caused to humans by the Gimpi-gympie plant can drive him crazy Many people consider Australia a very dangerous place full of poisonous creatures. And this is a perfectly correct idea, because this continent literally wants to kill everyone w...
Related News
This spider weaves the strongest web. What's his secret?
the Web is probably one of the most amazing materials on the planet. Just think — some species of spiders it is stronger than steel, able to greatly expand and has antibacterial properties. Not surprisingly, scientists from all ov...
Scientists: by 2030 humanity will face little ice age
On the Ground, there may come a miniature ice age, scientists warn. A new study has shown that in the period between 2020 and 2030 the solar cycle can neutralize each other, leading to the phenomenon known as the Maunder Minimum. ...
What is the "dark photon" and why physicists began to look for them
recently the amount of information that comprise our whole , has increased significantly. This allowed the scientists to learn more about our world. However, one thing still does not give them rest: dark matter. Its presence is co...
Doctors understand how the brain learns decisions and accumulate experience
the Brain of mammals (including our) stores and stores huge amount of information, based on our decisions and interactions with the surrounding world. As a result, we adapt and gain experience in a particular area of our lives. Bu...
The scientists were able to produce hallucinations without the use of drugs and narcotics
Despite the fact that modern medicine has a pretty detailed presentation on the functioning of the human body, certain aspects of our physiology are still not solved until the end. And sometimes the research aimed at the study of ...
The most popular sweetener turned deadly
Scientists from the British University of Sussex has made a report, which said that previous studies the most popular artificial sweetener – aspartame – can be considered invalid. After reviewing the results of examinations of res...
Scientists: Millions of people need to stop taking aspirin
Millions of people middle-aged and older worldwide are consumed daily aspirin not only as the most simple and affordable analgesic, but also in order to reduce the probability of formation in the blood vessels, lowering blood visc...
Found a cure for the disease which has plagued Stephen Hawking
it is difficult to underestimate, and his zeal for life. As you know, the famous scientist suffered from a difficult treatment of the disease called «amyotrophic lateral sclerosis», which eventually was the cause of the...
Scientists say that 25 cups of coffee a day will not harm your heart
today, coffee is for many people almost the main beverage in their life. A, that is, start the morning with coffee, and the number of offers will enjoy a delicious drink even in the smallest town is incalculable. Some people drink...
#live | At the bottom of the Baltic sea found the ship times of Christopher Columbus
Spanish Explorer Christopher Columbus and his aides discovered America in 1492, sailed to its shores on several ships led by the flagship "Santa Maria". Subsequently this ship like many other vessels of that time, sank and was alm...
13 billion years ago was not the same as seen by scientists today. The latter believe that while in the vast expanses of space active process of star formation. New lights were born, and were drawn closer to each other under the ...
Giving up meat was more harmful to the environment than its use
I am Going to give up meat? Not in a hurry. A new study conducted by researchers from the University Carnegie Mellon has shown that eating fruit and vegetables can cause much more harm to the environment than a meat diet. This ind...
As thrown to the ground cigarette affect the environment?
According to the world health organization, the number of smokers in the world has already reached the billion mark and many of them throw cigarette butts by the trash bins. However, many do not even realize that the mountain of c...
Global warming will leave without water for more than a billion people. How to save the stocks?
Future wars may be caused by spores, not with gold or oil, and is available now for most people a resource — water. more than half is water; from water came the first mammals in the water was born the first life; without wat...
You need to eat and drink to survive on Mars?
most Often we don't even realize it, but our body is constantly training while walking, and even inaction. The average person usually weighs in at 70-85 pounds, and to keep this mass, different muscle groups are always in tension ...
Scientists understand how the mechanism of rejuvenation. Eternal youth is not far off?
Many people today in varying degrees, use the services of cosmetic medicine in the hope for as long as possible to preserve youthfulness. If not to take into account plastic surgery, even without them, thanks to the services of co...
The most radioactive place on Earth. And it's not Chernobyl
the City of Pripyat, where on 26 April 1986 explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, has long been considered the most dangerous place on Earth. After the disaster the city the air was filled with radioactive particles that...
Artificial intelligence for the first time in history created a flu vaccine
The better developed systems based on artificial intelligence, the fewer the doubts that sooner or later the AI will do most of the work instead of people. He's already quite successfully diagnose the disease, and doctors seriousl...
Scientists want to change the genes of plants to save the planet
Humanity is already long enough can change the genetic set of primitive microorganisms and plants. While scientists in the process, can obtain from them the necessary properties. For example, the increase in productivity or the pr...
Why edible insects are healthier than a glass of orange juice?
Insects are extremely unpleasant creatures. However, repulsive appearance does not prevent millions of people around the world eating them. Dishes popular in Thailand, Mexico and Japan, and all because they are excellent sources o...
Comments (0)
This article has no comment, be the first!