The aging trees are less and less fertile over time, – concluded an international team of scientists including researchers from the Institute of Botany of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) and the Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals of the Polish Academy of Sciences. The conclusion from the research will help to effectively manage wood resources.
However, an international study shows that most trees (about 80% of studied 600 species) reached their peak fertility at a moderate size. Later, over time, the trees became less fertile as they grew older and larger.
The research takes place within the MASTIF (Masting Inference and Forecasting) network. The database has created contains detailed data, often dating back several decades, on the annual seed production of trees growing in more than 500 different places in North America, South America, Asia, Europe and Africa. Anyone can add their tree observation data (considering fruit, seeds, cones) to the database using the iNaturalist app.
The research results were published by “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences”.
