Deep underground in the temperate rainforest of Chile’s Alesse Costello National Park, an ancient conifer named Gran Abuelo has guarded a hidden secret for thousands of years. A recent study published in the journal Biodiversity and conservation Revealing that the tree’s greatest value lies in what lies beneath the surface. Researchers investigating soil samples collected from Gran Abuelo discovered an undiscovered world of life within them. By examining soil samples, they discovered a community of more than 300 species of fungi, many of which are unique to this ancient soil and found nowhere else on Earth, forming a mycorrhizal network with Gran Abuelo. This mycorrhizal network not only provides Gran Abuelo with essential nutrients and water; it is also the basis for the entire forest’s microbial ecosystem. All experts stress that if we lose one of these ancient trees, it could have a domino effect throughout the forest’s carbon cycle.
What exactly is “Gran Abuelo”
Gran Abuelo (or “Great Grandfather”) is a giant Alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides) tree located in Alerce Costero National Park in Chile. It is over 60 feet tall and has a trunk diameter over 13 feet. Alerces are native to the temperate rainforests of Patagonia and have been present for thousands of years. While some researchers still debate its age, the environment Scientist Jonathan Baricevich Gran Abuelo was recently estimated to be nearly 5,500 years old through computer modeling and partial core sampling. This would make it older than the bristlecone pine “Methuselah” in California, and possibly the oldest single living tree on Earth.
Incredible discovery under the oldest tree on Earth
The incredible discovery was not how big the tree was, but how old the tree was. Yet, how much life does it support underground! as written physical organizationThe researchers used a genetic technique called DNA sequencing to map the network of “mycorrhizae” (fungi) surrounding the Gran Abuelo tree. They found that the soil beneath this ancient giant was 2.25 times more biodiverse than the soil beneath other recently grown trees in the same forest; in fact, they found more than 300 species of fungi in this “microbial metropolis,” many of which are found nowhere else in the world.
How fungi keep the world’s oldest trees alive
This discovery shows that the Gran Abuelo tree is not just a plant but a hub of biological support systems. experts from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew The fungi are said to form a mutually beneficial relationship with the tree – the tree provides sugar (carbon) to the fungus through photosynthesis, and the fungus acts as an extension of the tree’s root system, reaching deep into the ground to provide phosphorus, nitrogen and water to the tree during severe droughts. Therefore, this ancient network likely allows the tree to withstand fire, climate change, and centuries of environmental stress.
30,000-year timeline
Although the tree is thought to be around 5,000 years old, WWF It was also noted that the area acted as an “ice age refuge”, allowing soil biomes to evolve undisturbed for more than 30,000 years – long before Gran Abuelo itself took root; thus creating a large underground network to store carbon dioxide deep within the earth. Scientists warn that if these ancient trees fall victim to climate change or human interference, this 30,000-year-old carbon storage system will be lost, causing large amounts of greenhouse gases to be released back into our atmosphere.
