Imagine strolling through a forest on a scorching summer day: while you seek shade, trees have their own way of coping with heat. A new study led by scientists from the Chinese mainland has unveiled how tree trunks adjust their 'breathing'
– the process of respiration – to changing temperatures.
In groundbreaking work published in Science, the international research team built the first global database of plant trunk respiration. By analyzing data from forests around the world, they confirmed that many tree species adapt their respiration rates when temperatures shift. This thermal adaptation means trunks emit less carbon dioxide at higher temperatures than previously assumed.
The researchers also developed a theoretical model to predict how trunk respiration adjusts under different climate scenarios. Their model suggests that accounting for this heat-driven flexibility could lower projections of atmospheric carbon dioxide, potentially cooling future climate predictions. In other words, trees may help buffer global warming more than current models show.
For young global citizens and eco-enthusiasts, this discovery highlights the resilience of forests in a warming world and underscores the importance of refining climate models with real-world data. As entrepreneurs, activists, and travelers, we can draw inspiration from nature’s own adaptation strategies to drive innovation in sustainability and tech.
Next steps? The team plans to expand the database to tropical and boreal forests and collaborate with climate modelers to integrate their findings into global forecasts. With each new dataset, we get one step closer to understanding – and protecting – our planet’s green lungs.
Reference(s):
Study finds tree trunk breathing adaptation cools climate predictions
cgtn.com
