While there are countless studies related to the exposed surfaces of trees, such as leaves, roots, and bark, little is known about what happens inside them. For this reason, scientists from Yale decided to go further, discovering that there is a prosperous microbial community inside their wood.
The article published in the scientific journal Nature revealed that a single tree harbors about a trillion bacteria in its woody tissue. This discovery sets a new frontier in tree physiology and forest ecology, which could help in predicting how forests will respond to future changes, not to mention their ability to adapt to climate change.
To reach these conclusions, the team of experts examined about 150 living trees of around 16 species from the northwest of the United States. They also revealed that microbes are distributed throughout the internal and external wood, each with its unique microbiome and minimal similarities with other plant tissues.
Furthermore, the research explained that the microbes found within the internal wood do not require oxygen, unlike those that remain in the external wood, which do. It also adds that these organisms are capable of producing gases and recycling nutrients actively.
A tree can harbor about a trillion bacteria in its wood.
Different Trees, Different Microbiomes
In addition to the differences between the microbiomes of the internal and external wood, they also vary in each tree species, as they come from different regions and climates around the world, which can help achieve a better understanding of the factors driving microbial diversity and function.
According to the authors, who spent over a year freezing and analyzing wood samples in order to find a method that allows obtaining high-quality DNA to discover the microbiomes in tree trunks, there is still a vast biodiversity to explore and countless microbiomes to be known and documented.
Trees, as Life Nuclei
Trees are true life nuclei, capable of generating complete ecosystems around them. Their canopy provides shelter for birds, insects, and small mammals, while their trunk and branches serve as support for lichens, mosses, and fungi. Under their shade, temperature and humidity are regulated, favoring the development of more delicate plants.
In the soil, roots not only anchor the tree but also create underground networks that exchange nutrients with other specimens through mycorrhizal fungi. This underground network sustains the fertility of the soil and allows other plant species to thrive, strengthening the area’s biodiversity.
Additionally, trees act as regulators of the local climate. By absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, they improve air quality and help mitigate global warming. Together, they form essential habitats that maintain the natural balance and promote the coexistence of multiple forms of life.
