August 6th, 2024
Trees as Storytellers
Author: Hilary Mulford
Happy National Tree Day!
As experts in ecology and landscape architecture, we have a special relationship with trees. Trees serve many social and environmental purposes and are crucial tools for:
Ecosystem restoration;
Combatting storm surge damage;
Preventing erosion;
Increasing biodiversity;
Providing habitat for sensitive species;
Creating balanced ecological systems;
Providing a sense of place for a community;
Mitigating against urban heat island effects;
Sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere;
Increasing water quality through filtration; and
Increasing air quality
As such a vital part of our ecosystems, it is crucial that we ensure the health and survival of urban and wilderness trees alike. Fortunately for us, each tree has a story to tell that science helps us translate. From the types of leaves they bear, the color and texture of their bark, their branching structure, the height to which they grow, the number of years they live, the types of environments in which they thrive, to the wildlife they support, trees are environmental storytellers.
Trees also aid us in understanding our ecological systems and the factors that drive change within them. One of the most telling phenomena used to understand a tree and its surrounding landscape is by studying the tree’s cross section and rings. This study is known as dendrochronology. The rings of a tree communicate the number of growing seasons, the harshness or mildness of winters, the abundance or lack of nutrients and water, as well as show signs of past disturbances such as fire, drought, or high winds. The associated graphic displays some of the elements a tree ring can share with us. Tree rings communicate a dynamic and complex history which helps scientists understand environmental patterns.
References
https://www.britannica.com/plant/tree/The-anatomy-and-organization-of-wood
https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/how-climate-works/tree-rings-and-climate