Hechtel-Eksel – Scholars listen to a Scots pine

Trees are important to humans: They help purify the air, purify the water and provide a place to live for animals. Water availability has a direct impact on the health of our forests.

became recently Scots pine near the Bosmuseum in Pijnven Equipped with lots of scientific equipment, including sap flow sensor and point beam meter. This equipment makes it possible to measure water consumption and tree growth in real time and on a continuous basis. The data is automatically forwarded to a database, so the tree can be monitored remotely.

This Scots pine is now part of one global network To monitor trees as a function of tree species, local climate, and soil type: Treewatch.net. The research was led by Professor Kathy Steppe and Catherine Schepdriver doing PhD work on this topic (Plant Ecology Laboratory, School of Bioengineering, UGent). They were assisted by Chief Technician Philippe DeMann during the installation.

The information generated offers many possibilities, not only for scientific research and monitoring, but also for educational purposes and broader awareness of climate change. This is why the Scots Pine will also communicate about his condition in the future, for example by sending Twitter messages (Tweet trees).
What happens in the tree?
An adult tree transfers about 200 liters of water per day from the roots to the leaves, through which it is transported leaf transpiration When water vapor enters the atmosphere. During a drought, trees close their stomata to reduce the amount of water. But then they can’t absorb carbon dioxide either. Trees absorb carbon dioxide through their leaves and convert it into sugars that are essential for growth. Prolonged drought leads to stunted growth and – in the worst case scenario – dehydration and death of the tree.
Water transport and growth cannot be seen with the naked eye, but thanks to the plant sensors this tree is equipped with, they can. With these plant sensors, the health of the tree can be continuously monitored. Think of it as a tree heart rate monitor. A well-chosen tree can be representative of the forest in which it is located. In this way, the impact of climate on the forest can be monitored. Naturally, the type of tree and soil composition also play an important role. (text and photos boslab.be)