The worlds oldest trees are dying. Trees that are around 300 years old are dying off rapidly. This could be come a serious issue for the ecosystems in the world. These trees have been dying off at a rate that is around 5 times faster than ever before.
It is interesting that so many of these trees are dying so quickly all of a sudden. It is not like it is in just one area either. It is spread out around the world. The raising deaths of trees in many areas can be found anywhere from national parks in Montana to the African Savahana. The trees are even dying in the more human inhabited areas where people take efforts to preserve them. There are some obvious possibilities for deaths of trees, logging, diseases, etc, but not that would have this big of an effect. What is causing the trees to die so quickly? The scientists who are trying to make sense of it even seem to be having some trouble with the issue.
"It is a very, very disturbing trend. We are talking about the loss of the biggest living organisms on the planet, of the largest flowering plants on the planet, of organisms that play a key role in regulating and enriching our world" This quote from one of the scientists questioned in the article opens up even more questions. What will happen to all those who are dependent upon the trees? The animals who live in them and seek protection in them. The animals that rely on them for a food source... If all these trees are dying are species going to be hugely impacted? I wonder if there will be a loss of species slowly, obviously because a huge change like that wouldn't happen immediately. However if trees that are so carefully preserved are dying, what can we do to stop it?
When an animal is sick or dying you can nurse it back to life. If there is a threat of extinction you can help them to reproduce, and honestly the majority of people care a lot more about animals than trees. In this situation it isn't the threat of extinction though, its death. What can we do to save the trees, is there really anything we can do?
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121206162519.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily%2Ftop_news%2Ftop_science+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Top+News+--+Top+Science%29
