Trees ‘remember’ times of water abundance and scarcity

Researchers have uncovered fascinating insights into how Norway spruce trees adapt to varying water availability, shedding light on their remarkable ability to 'remember' periods of drought and abundance. This discovery comes in the wake of significant Norway spruce die-offs during the 2018 drought in Germany, highlighting the species' sensitivity to prolonged dry conditions. Olaf Kolle, a researcher involved in the study, emphasizes the trees' intricate mechanisms for coping with environmental stressors. The study reveals that Norway spruce trees adjust their growth and water usage based on past experiences of water availability. During times of scarcity, these trees reduce their water consumption and growth to conserve resources, while periods of abundance see them optimizing growth and storage. This adaptive strategy enables them to survive fluctuating environmental conditions, albeit with varying success depending on the severity and duration of droughts. Understanding these adaptive mechanisms is crucial as climate change continues to increase the frequency and intensity of droughts. This knowledge could inform forest management practices aimed at preserving Norway spruce populations and maintaining forest health. As researchers delve deeper into these trees' responses, they hope to develop strategies to enhance resilience in forest ecosystems facing a changing climate.

— Authored by Next24 Live