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The oldest tree: How was the secret age of the Norway spruce revealed?
Norway spruce (Picea abies), also known as European spruce, is a coniferous tree native to northern, central and eastern Europe. In addition to playing an important role in the ecosystem, the Norway spruce is widely cultivated for its wood, making it one of the most common Christmas trees worldwide. As scientists have studied the tree in depth, its extreme age and spectacular height have surprised many. How, exactly, was its secret age revealed?
The age of a Norway spruce can be revealed through dendrochronology, an ancient and accurate method of determining the age of a tree.
Basic characteristics of Norway spruce
Norway spruce is a large evergreen coniferous tree, usually 35-55 meters tall, with a trunk diameter of 1 to 1.5 meters. The tree grows rapidly when young, growing up to 1 meter per year in the first 25 years, but slows down as the tree exceeds 20 meters in height. The branches of Norway spruce usually hang downward, and the needles are needle-shaped, about 12-14 mm long, dark green and evenly colored on all sides.
The ecological range and ecosystem of Norway spruce
Norway spruce grows throughout Europe, from northwest Norway to eastern Poland, as well as in the mountainous regions of central Europe. Its northern growth line limit is north of 70° north latitude in Norway. With the impact of climate change, the distribution range and population characteristics of these trees will also change. Especially in Russia's Ural Mountains, Norway spruce is closely related to Siberian spruce and often hybridizes.
Many animals depend on the Norway spruce ecosystem, and insects such as omnivorous caterpillars feed on its seed cones, demonstrating its importance in ecological networks.
Research on the genome and lifespan of Norway spruce
In 2013, Norway spruce became the first gymnosperm to have its genome sequenced. Its genome has about 20 billion nucleotides and is about six times the size of the human genome. This research not only provides an in-depth understanding of the biological characteristics of this tree, but also provides valuable data to explore its growth and adaptability. As for longevity, Norway spruce can live up to 300 years in its natural range, however Norway spruce introduced in North America tend to have shorter lifespans.
The latest research shows that some ancient clones of Norway spruce, such as the tree named Old Tjikko, have a carbon dating age of up to 9,550 years, making them the oldest known living trees.
Cultural and Economic Impact
Norway spruce is economically important and is used not only in the lumber and paper industries, but also in the production of musical instruments. Its wood is widely used by stringed instrument manufacturers and is prized for its excellent sound quality. Interestingly, the buds of the Norway spruce tree have also been used to make vanilla paste, replacing natural vanilla and reducing the carbon footprint. Culturally, the Norway spruce's status as a Christmas tree also adds to its value, with Norway giving trees to several cities as a thank you for their support during World War II.
Challenges and protective measures
As global climate change intensifies, Norway spruce is facing survival challenges, especially in some parts of North America where it is considered an invasive alien species. In order to protect this important species, the scientific research team is continuously monitoring its growth and carrying out restoration plans. This is not only due to their economic value, but also because of their critical role in the ecosystem.
Norway spruce is not only a tree, but a part closely related to culture, economy and ecology. Future protection and management will become an important issue.
In short, the secret age of the Norway spruce has been revealed through the efforts of modern science, which not only demonstrates the beauty of nature, but also makes us think about how to better protect these ancient creatures. While we enjoy the beauty these trees bring, should we also pay more attention to their future?
