Scientists Looked Beneath One of Oldest Trees on Earth. What They Found Is Astounding
The towering conifers of Chile’s southern rainforests do far more than shape the skyline. Research in Biodiversity and Conservation reveals that these ancient trees are hubs of hidden biodiversity, highlighting their crucial role in the forest ecosystem.
The temperate rainforests of the Chilean Coastal Range are home to many unique and important species, including an endangered conifer known as alerce. These slow-growing trees can grow as tall as the Arc de Triomphe, and as wide as a shipping container. Renowned for their longevity, some individuals have lived for over 3,600 years, making alerce the second-longest-lived tree species on Earth (after the bristlecone pine).
Alerce forests are found along the coasts of Chile and in the foothills of the Andes, but their range has halved, as trees were felled for wood or cleared for pasture. Now, with added pressure from climate change and other threats, researchers worry about the repercussions.