Older Trees Grow Faster

Sophie Antonioli
March 8th, 2014

Author: Bob Grant
Published: January 20, 2014
Link: http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/38914/title/Older-Trees-Grow-Faster/

This article is based on another article, here is this informations for that one-
Author: unknown
Published: January 15th, 2014
Title: Rate of tree carbon accumulation increases continuously with tree size
Link: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature12914.html

Summary:
Based on research and analysis of 403 tropical and temperate tree species, it has been found that as trees increase in age they grow faster. As they get older, trees increase in size. If they are larger, that means their leaves are more developed and bigger and so are their trunks. Because of this, they are able to take in more carbon dioxide and perform more photosynthesis. If a tree is producing more glucose and food for itself, it can put that towards growing and do it at a faster rate. Not only are they giving off more carbon but also have the ability to hold an incredible amount because of their larger size. Apparently, in one year, one big and aged tree will release equal amounts of carbon that a mid-sized tree contains in itself.

Connection:
These two articles related to what we have learned in this chapter. For example, the simple way to find a tree's age just by counting its rings. Since the age of the tree's is an important aspect of this study, this method could have been used. We also learned about where photosynthesis occurs in a plant and that is also important in this research. If certain parts of the tree are developed at an older age, then there will be more photosynthesis in those same parts. Chapter 21.1 taught us the specifics about how carbon dioxide enters the stomata so that connects as well. Photosynthesis as a whole was taught to us in Chapter 7 and that connects to this article because it produces glucose, which allows the trees to grow, and it uses carbon dioxide which is one of the variables measured in this research.