Why Do Conifers Rule the North?

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ธ.ค. 2021
  • This time of year, many people are bringing conifers into their homes to decorate. For many of us, they symbolize the winter season. But it’s easy to take these trees for granted-where do these pine, spruce, fir, and their relatives come from? Why do they dominate the frozen fringes of the far north in Siberia and Canada, as well as high mountains? How do they endure a winter colder than any other tree can?
    Video sources:
    Daniel Davis (self)
    Image sources:
    Wikipedia commons
    Information Sources:
    Fog Collection on Plant Surfaces and Biomimetic Applications. Mathematics and Natural Sciences Department, University of Bonn. MD Abul Kalam Azad, January 2016.
    T. E. Dawson (September 1998). "Fog in the California redwood forest: ecosystem inputs and use by plants". Oecologia. 117 (4): 476-485.
    Stewart T. Schultz (1990). The Northwest Coast: A Natural History. Portland, Oregon, Timber Press.
    Waring, RH, and JF Franklin. (1979). Evergreen coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest. Science 204: 1380-1386.
    Waring, RH, (1982) Land of the giant conifers. Natural History 91(10):54-63.
    Analysis of Freeze-Thaw Embolism in Conifers. The Interaction between Cavitation Pressure and Tracheid Size
    Jarmila Pittermann and John S. Sperry
    Elegance versus Speed: Examining the Competition between Conifer and Angiosperm Trees
    Timothy J. Brodribb, Jarmila Pittermann, and David A. Coomes
    “Although unambiguous Pinaceae are not known before the Late Jurassic, fossils of putative stem members of the family appear during the Triassic and possibly as early as the Late Permian”
    Ovulate Cones of Schizolepidopsis ediae sp. nov. Provide Insights into the Evolution of Pinaceae
    Kelly K. S. Matsunaga, Patrick S. Herendeen, Fabiany Herrera, Niiden Ichinnorov, Peter R. Crane, and Gongle Shi
    Fertile Coniferophyte Remains from the Late Triassic Deep River Basin, North Carolina. T. Delevoryas and R. C. Hope. American Journal of Botany
    Early evolution in the Pinaceae. Charles N. Miller Jr. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology.
    Pollination Biology, Leslie Real, December 2012.
    Simonin KA, Roddy AB (January 2018). "Genome downsizing, physiological novelty, and the global dominance of flowering plants". PLOS Biology
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ความคิดเห็น • 365

  • @freetibet1000
    @freetibet1000 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1321

    It is interesting to notice that here in Scandinavia the last tree to give up on high altitude and harsh conditions is not the pine or the spruce but the silver birch. The higher you climb a mountain here the shorter and more twisted the birch become until it is literally crawling on the ground like a carpet. These trees are known to be several thousand years old at the root system. Every now and then you will also find a twisted old pine among the many dwarf birch trees on these high altitudes. Because of the generally harsh climate here in Scandinavia trees do not grow above the 900 meter elevation line here. But you will only find a thick carpet of silver birch hugging the ground no higher than 20-30 cm above ground. The leaves are tiny compare to the siblings on lower elevations but I believe they are considered to be the same species all the same. In the extreme northern regions a short and twisted version of the silver birch dominate completely, even on lower elevations close to the sea.

    • @A-yl3pd
      @A-yl3pd 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +117

      I recall that silver birch was one of the first trees that colonised the world (excluding Antarctica) after the ice age
      I find it a really cool and interesting tree

    • @Gandalf-The-Green
      @Gandalf-The-Green 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +42

      Now that you mention it, I remember learning that once you go above the treeline you can actually still find several species of willow (like alpine willow) on mountains all over the northern hemisphere and far into the arctic circle. They are low growing shrubs, but you could still technically say that willows are the trees that both grow closest to the water's edge, and furthest up the mountain.

    • @neillcoetzer9133
      @neillcoetzer9133 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +11

      Do you know where I can find photos of these? I'm quite interested

    • @freetibet1000
      @freetibet1000 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +21

      @@Gandalf-The-Green Yes, we do have large areas of a type of willow that grow like that right on the tree-line here in Scandinavia. They sometimes make an almost impenetrable barrier in the alpine landscape. The leaves are silvery-green with furry texture and willow-like in shape. The seem to prefer a wetter type of ground and is often seen along rivers and creeks on the mountains. They rarely grow taller than 2,5 meters but can be a formidable barrier to go through. They very often grow alongside the alpine silver birch around here.

    • @davidrh74
      @davidrh74 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +16

      ​@@freetibet1000We have the same willows that like the same conditions in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
      The mooses love them. They eat them and hide in them. Sometimes they'll pop out of the brush close to you and give you quite a scare.

  • @casualearth9076
    @casualearth9076  2 ปีที่แล้ว +222

    1. To keep the scope narrow, I did not discuss fire ecology, extremely cold-tolerant angiosperms, gymnosperms that aren’t conifers and their cold tolerance, and the more complicated history of angiosperm-conifer competition through the Mesozoic and Cenozoic.
    2. To clarify the hypothesis about the origin of the Pinaceae: the hypothesis is essentially that pinaceae have a high altitude origin-that they may have gained some traits to adapt to cold, and that these traits were maintained but provided negligible benefit at low altitudes until a cooling trend during the Miocene, culminating in severe cooling during the Quaternary. Mapping mountain ranges in the Mesozoic is difficult, but we know that rift mountains and volcanism were present where the Atlantic was forming (via rifting of the continents). Some of the highest peaks on our planet today are isolated volcanic mountains, but identifying these in a geologic record is difficult. By the Late Jurassic, Scotland actually wasn’t very mountainous-but this still fits into the argument. If they originated in this general region earlier, they would have more easily dispersed into adjacent lowlands by the Late Jurassic-the adjacency is the argument. An even more complicated factor in arguments about Mesozoic paleogeography is climate. It’s often repeated “we know the Triassic was hot because there were no ice sheets and limited glaciers”. While we have plenty of reason to believe the Triassic was warmer overall than today, severe seasonal temperature fluctuations were likely. The lack of glaciation likely has more to do with continental orientation (see my “Why is the Arctic Asymmetric”? video) and the prevailing monsoon climate (wet summer, dry winter). Even if the Triassic had a much lower CO2 concentration and very severe winters, it would be difficult for glaciers to form on Pangaea. Extent of glaciation, on its own, is a very incomplete way to determine temperature. Winters would have been exceptionally dry on the supercontinent, and combined with high altitude this is a recipe for severe diurnal temperature fluctuation-nights much colder than the day. Winter monsoon winds in East Asia today bring much cooler temperatures well into the tropics. Altogether, I think we have reason to believe high altitudes in the Mesozoic weren’t necessarily balmy, and the pinaceae may have originated in these harsh environments, before spreading to nearby regions and eventually taking over the boreal northern hemisphere in the Quaternary.

    • @benmiller3358
      @benmiller3358 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I would love to show you some areas of fire recovery in Northern California

    • @briseboy
      @briseboy 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@benmiller3358 INtrroducing succession ignores teh evolutionary advent of angiosperms, which is relevant to the topic of plant adaptations.
      Some tomorrow, one must infer from yor reply, a different adaptation might occur; but the implicit presumption that forest or habitat succession will be frozen in habitats recovering from fire IS ridiculous.

    • @aaronmarks9366
      @aaronmarks9366 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Super impressive detail given here

    • @ulrikschackmeyer848
      @ulrikschackmeyer848 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Fabulous. Pray continue.

    • @benmiller3358
      @benmiller3358 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@briseboy All I said is "I would like to show [video creator] some areas of fire recovery and you... decided to have an argument with yourself? I dunno what you're even trying to say here.

  • @anderjohmetallica
    @anderjohmetallica 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +54

    Wow, lots of advantages I never considered. The tracheid size advantage and the fog advantage were completely new to me. And the idea that poor soil favors conifers because they don't need as much nutrients for all the leaf turnover is amazing. Thanks for the video!

  • @Mars-ev7qg
    @Mars-ev7qg ปีที่แล้ว +261

    Small groves of pine trees can be found growing in areas with exceptionally poor soil as far south as Florida. These areas are sometimes called pine barrens because hardly any other plants grow in the pine barrens. One of the largest and most well-known pine barrens is found in the state of New Jersey. Although the winter in New Jersey is far colder then it is in Florida most forests in New Jersey are dominated by flowering trees such as oak and maple. The soil under the New Jersey pine barrens is sandy and low on nutrients.
    On the other hand maple trees are surprisingly hardy. Along river and lake shores maple trees can be found growing as far north as Alaska.

    • @Wyi-the-rogue
      @Wyi-the-rogue 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      As a Florida dude they show up literally everywhere

    • @jonne7725
      @jonne7725 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +11

      Something to consider is that pines has a tendency to poison the earth under them by reducing the ph of the soil if i remember right

    • @thefrogstronaut
      @thefrogstronaut 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +5

      Lots of small pine barrens in western NY as well, usually find them isolated on the tops of hills, I know of a few that are former tree farms.

    • @Mars-ev7qg
      @Mars-ev7qg 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @Wyi-the-rogue well that explains the huge fire in Florida back in 1998. That was the fire that jumped over I 95. Of course, this fire is best remembered for the banana incident. Firefighters tried to put out a call for donations of bandanas. Some fool instead reported that the firefighters desperately needed bananas. Hundreds of trucks of donations flooded the firefighting camps with thousands of bananas.

    • @Svensk7119
      @Svensk7119 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      When swamps become bogs become ponds become meadows, even in the middle of an oaken forest say, the first tree to fill in the meadow is a pine of some kind.

  • @moanamason2454
    @moanamason2454 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +76

    Thanks, mate. Great educational video.
    In NZ they aren't just taking over the mountainous high ground but are taking over everywhere, even the warm areas in the north. They grow extremely fast here due to the mild climate.
    Another major issue is the timber industry, which has encouraged the clearing of native bush to replace with monoculture pine plantations which then produce wildling pines that start to take over the surrounding native like a fast moving cancer.

    • @rajahua6268
      @rajahua6268 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      One wonder if it is at all a good idea. Maybe it's too late now?

    • @moanamason2454
      @moanamason2454 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @rajahua6268 I don't think it's a good idea. I don't think any kind of mono culture is a good idea. The government has started to poison the wildling pines to try and stop them taking over what little native we have left, but I don't really think poison is a good idea either. It should be the people who own the plantations paying to have the unwanted wildling pines removed imo. It's never too late. If they can plant hectares of the trees, they can definitely have a team working to remove the wildling pine.

    • @DG-iw3yw
      @DG-iw3yw 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      Thats what happens here in scotland. No natural forests left. Only the surrounding ecology was razed a long time ago, theres nothing left for the pine plantations to compete with...

    • @vermicelledecheval5219
      @vermicelledecheval5219 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It really seems NZ was some kind of ecological experimental disaster equivalent to Australia but with even far worst consequences...

    • @FreeSpeechXtremist
      @FreeSpeechXtremist 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      ​@@DG-iw3ywthe British Ilse have been stripped of their forests multiple times by humans and replanted.
      Even the ancient Epping forest was mostly planted and managed by humans even on the oldest oak trees there is evidence of coppicing.
      There is no such thing as wild ancient forest in the UK one of the things that makes our landscape unique.

  • @Weathernerd27
    @Weathernerd27 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +19

    I always wondered why the West was mostly conifers and the East was mostly decidous trees, the dry summer and pacific coast fog explain the situation. When I was young I thought conifers only grew in really cold places but there parts of California that have conifer forest that are much warmer than the deciduous forests back east. California is interesting you find conifer forests on the foggy coastline but go a little bit inland and you find deciduous forests, then once you gain a few thousand feet of altitude you are back into the conifer forest. I live in Seattle now and the forest is mostly conifers but near the rivers/wetlands you can find large groves of deciduous trees. Same thing in Alaska the forest is mostly conifer but you can find some big groves of decidous trees near rivers and wetlands.

  • @EdwardHamiltonDavis1
    @EdwardHamiltonDavis1 2 ปีที่แล้ว +125

    Thank you so much for making this. This video is impressive. Very much packed with useful knowledge! Lots of teachers should use this as a resource. I definitely recommend it for anyone curious about why certain kinds of trees are found where they are. A true geographer you are, Yoda would say.

  • @andvil01
    @andvil01 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +40

    There are exceptions. In Scandinavia and Kamtjatka birch is the altitude limit tree.

    • @DG-iw3yw
      @DG-iw3yw 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Birch is sexy and i wont lie

    • @matiasluukkanen7718
      @matiasluukkanen7718 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Even Himalayas have high-altitude birch forests.

    • @andvil01
      @andvil01 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@matiasluukkanen7718 Where? I was just i Nepal, Annapurna circuit. The tree limit was corniferus there.

    • @nerminheldic9783
      @nerminheldic9783 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      On the contrary some conifers thrive in hot and dry regions like Mediterranean (the stone pine and the Aleppo pine).

  • @danwylie-sears1134
    @danwylie-sears1134 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +14

    Thank you for not dumbing it down. That applies to language as well as content: I like learning new vocabulary.

    • @harriehausenman8623
      @harriehausenman8623 3 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      So true! I had to stop and go back a few seconds and just "take-in" some of the ideas (like the fog drip - didn't know about that).

  • @karsinds
    @karsinds 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +100

    Pines are native and widespread in mediterranean climates (warm and dry), and some species of pines are well adapted to subtropical environmments like Pinus Caribaea in the Caribbean. So conifers are not exclusive of cold climates.

    • @Smeiksmeiksmeik
      @Smeiksmeiksmeik 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +10

      there is a theory of evolution regarding extreme cold adaptations wich also help in extreme dry areas in mammals not plants (camels, horses/donkeys and goats) - kinda interesting how these patterns appear completely unrelated

    • @bugrakaanaknc5218
      @bugrakaanaknc5218 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +15

      the dry summer situation mentioned in the video is probably why mediterranean conifers do well here

    • @dannyboy-vtc5741
      @dannyboy-vtc5741 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Aleppo or silver pine is also warm climate pine widely spread in the med.
      But you also have the black oak, or mediterranean oak with small leaves and generally much smaller than other oak species, that's the thing tho, species, be it flora or fauna adapt to the climate and geography in general.

    • @Swarm509
      @Swarm509 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@Smeiksmeiksmeik As things get very cold they tend to get quite dry (if i recall the Antarctic is technically a desert) so they probably do have some overlap with maintaining moisture and obtaining it in novel ways.

    • @TheBarlettano
      @TheBarlettano 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Funnily enough they are indeed also very well adapted to Mediterranean climate, they don't care about the dry summers and since they're evergreen they can photosynthesise in autumn and late winter as well since the sun is strong enough at these latitudes

  • @johnperic6860
    @johnperic6860 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    Something worth noting is that conifers are substantially more fire-resistant and dependent and therefore do well in sub-tropical and tropical environments (like Indonesia or Florida), where fires are frequent.

  • @jamescurley1576
    @jamescurley1576 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +14

    More plant deep dives please! i admire the dedication, lots of in-depth information about botany all cramed into 9 mins i think im in heaven

  • @pukulu
    @pukulu 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +22

    Insects tend to like warm weather. There are insects in northern latitudes but their variety is much reduced compared to the tropics. Pollinators mostly exist only in warm climates. This helps to explain why angiosperms become much less common in northern latitudes. The pollinating insects are simply not available in locations such as Siberia, northern Canada, Alaska, and also on the slopes of mountains where the cold weather deters pollinators from remaining there.

    • @gutemorcheln6134
      @gutemorcheln6134 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      Hardly. The angiosperms gymnosperms compete with, birch, aspen, oak, beech etc., are all wind-pollinated.

    • @alexandredevert4935
      @alexandredevert4935 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      In France, we have the Landes Forest, a human-made forest in a temperate climate, close to sea-level, in a sandy, poor soil. They were planted to drain the swamps, thus making the land more suitable (ie. no more malaria) while having a source of construction lumber. It's been about 200 years, the forest is doing fine, despite insects like the pine processionary.

    • @terrybarnes5266
      @terrybarnes5266 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Most of the deciduous trees in temperate and boreal forest zones are also wind pollinated like the conifers.

  • @CMZneu
    @CMZneu 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    Good video man, and an awesome topic! I wish it was longer and with more info, the whole conifers vs flowering plants is fascinating, i have always wondered how pines didn't simply get outcompeted by angiosperms that seem to have much more going for them... also i would love to see some video about the other forgotten gymnosperms like cycads, Ginkgo, and gnetophytes.

  • @TheTimeMachine67
    @TheTimeMachine67 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +20

    As a Florida native I’m not too worried about the fate of pines in a warming world. Poor soil, fog, and the wide adaptability of pine trees have them set up well for what’s to come. In fact as the jet stream has been disintegrating and our summers become more irregular, I’ve noticed young pines are relatively unbothered while the oaks suffer in our dry weeks. Not to mention fire ecology, human interference and the lumber industry, etc

    • @billyd7628
      @billyd7628 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      plenty of pines here in dry california. and their cousins junipers grow all over the desert and are planted as shade trees and wing breakers on the highways to stop the sand.

    • @duxdawg
      @duxdawg 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      The Earth is heading into the next Ice Age. The natural, entirely sun caused, warming in recent decades is the normal small rise before the deep plunge.

  • @kaushikmalepati2495
    @kaushikmalepati2495 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    Thanks for making this informative video. I have always wondered how the pine trees tolerate extreme climate and poor soil. It's amazing how they spread quickly in new Zealand replacing native species.

  • @joshkatsikis9138
    @joshkatsikis9138 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    It was so cool to learn how there use to be a large mountain range in a region I call home, It helps me see my surroundings from a different point of view! Thanks

  • @MrWill830
    @MrWill830 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    SUCH mundane knowledge for me to aquire, yet SO enthralling. So glad I've found your channel man

  • @qelmnl
    @qelmnl 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Such a Great educational Video, calm, informative and not at all sensationalistic like most videos on TH-cam. Thanks!

  • @chivaking
    @chivaking 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I'm shook, this is a great video. The presentation of quality is like a blast from the past when I used to watch PBS as a kid or nat geo.

  • @blakespower
    @blakespower ปีที่แล้ว +8

    4:33 there is a species of Conifer that the freeze thaw embolism affects and that is the Coast Redwood, if it stays in extended below freezing weather it will kill most of the new growth but its roots will still sprout new trees if the entire tree is killed

    • @CFEF44AB1399978B0011
      @CFEF44AB1399978B0011 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Interesting I didn't know there were pine species that could sprout from the roots of old dead trees. I usually associate that with poplars around here at least.

  • @Tarquin2718
    @Tarquin2718 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Wauw your channel is Amazing, just found it via the YT algorithm. Already opened 10 or so of your videos to watch! ❤ Because of the detail and brevity of this video. Impressive.
    Dude and the whole paleontology of the conifers as well! nice real nice. I am big fan of PBS eons. This video is as good as PBS Eons.

  • @HighWealder
    @HighWealder 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +10

    In Europe the dry hot areas of the Mediterranean the native tree population is dominated by conifers. Their narrow waxy leaves reduce water loss. You may have noticed in the news that many Greek islands have had major forest fires following exceptional heatwaves, possibly due to global warming.

    • @briseboy
      @briseboy 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I notice that humans have transported many Phytophthera species across longitudes that other migratory species tend not to travel.
      Those deadly root fungi , quite specific parasites, kill certain conifers. P cinnamomi, for example laying waste to the Port Orford Cedar population , differ from the novel Phytophthera this past two sears killing some Junipers.
      Expect more of this species-jumping lethal parasitic fungi. It only required motorized human toys to do this, within the past 1/2 century.
      Global warming is global AGGREGATE rise in temperature. I live in a small narrow region that has actually cooled, though the overall Earth has heated. This is best described as increased chaotic perturbations in a complex dynamical system.
      Thus your attachment to "possible" is inaccurate in insufficiently descriptive.
      The precipitation patterns and their disruption ARE not merely "possible" result, but INEVITABLE.
      THus adding the equivocational adjective is dissimulative. (and equivocation itself includes "intentionally deceptive." So, drop the equivocation from your assertions)

    • @annasolovyeva1013
      @annasolovyeva1013 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      Not only. They just used to hire a specific unique kind of Russian firefighting plane to keep those kind of fires at bay. Not now though because the EU sanctioned Russia. Turkey did hire Russians and the consequences there are way milder.

  • @LukeFromLasVegas
    @LukeFromLasVegas 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I enjoyed this video. Very soothing with lots of scenic wilderness footage. +1 💖🌲

  • @WangleLine
    @WangleLine 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I'm very happy this waas recommended to me. I'm gonna binge the heck out of your videos :)

  • @jonathandixon2360
    @jonathandixon2360 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    This presentation has left out one very important adaptation of conifers, they are very tolerant of drought. In winter when there is snow on the ground and soil is frozen there is very little free water. This is also why conifers can do well in warmer but very dry conditions at other times of the year.

  • @wojecire
    @wojecire 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    Omg, i need a full video about that New Zealand tree thing. So fascinating!

  • @capivara6094
    @capivara6094 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Your channel is great! I hope you will get more attention soon.

  • @harriehausenman8623
    @harriehausenman8623 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Beautifully explained! I like how you make clear which parts are simplified. 👍
    And astonishing footage. 🤗

  • @baronvonbeandip
    @baronvonbeandip 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Man, these videos are so good. Why can't TH-cam recommend more like this?

  • @Z3N1TY0
    @Z3N1TY0 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Hi again
    I was the one asking about the nature in another video
    I’ve been looking up these plants and insects and they’re so cool!!! I live around Phoenix AZ so we have like the opposite climate and WILDLY different natural vegetation and sometimes I’m jealous of the vibrant plant life you guys have
    like I want more monarch butterflies, green surroundings, sunflowers, bumblebees, etc. ESPECIALLY during springtime

    • @briseboy
      @briseboy 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Monarchs suffer from Vast distribution of pesticides and monocropping in Mississippi basin, AND the urbanization of former winter habitat in Monterey and Torrey Pine winter refugia, AS WELL AS intentional deforestation in Michoacan and Mexico State region where Oyamel Fir trees seem to be their aggregation preference.
      Jealous of vibrant plant life? wear a condom and distribute THOSE copiously to human populations everywhere.

  • @kiruthikantrinco7689
    @kiruthikantrinco7689 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This video is so good

  • @viktoreisfeld9470
    @viktoreisfeld9470 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great job on this video. I learned a lot!

  • @fuzzylilpeach6591
    @fuzzylilpeach6591 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    This was such a well-done video. Very interesting stuff too.

  • @whistlepig
    @whistlepig 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great info. Thanks for helping to answer this question.

  • @JDM_Electric-SanDiego
    @JDM_Electric-SanDiego 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Excellent teacher and speaker, you are doing a fantastic job. This is gold.

  • @robbabcock_
    @robbabcock_ 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    This is actually quite fascinating!

  • @slicky_27
    @slicky_27 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    An excellent video. Thank you for uploading.

  • @TheMrPits
    @TheMrPits 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    In 4th grade I knew something was up with my science textbook. A map claimed my home state was "mix conifer and deciduous" but.... Looking out the window did not line up.... As far as I could see conifer. I edited the textbook with markers and attempted to edit the other books. Been hooked on forestry ever since. Good video

  • @Miamcoline
    @Miamcoline 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Super interesting and really well explained!

  • @sportsfamily77
    @sportsfamily77 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Really glad TH-cam recommended this video to me! I am obsessed with conifers and thoroughly enjoyed this content.

    • @rageagainstmyhatchet
      @rageagainstmyhatchet 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      I know, right. I love tress, but have never searched a TH-cam video for them! 😅

  • @diegopescia9602
    @diegopescia9602 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Thank you! I always wondered why there were so many of these conifers in places over Patagonia that previously were just grasslands. Couldn't get my head around how did these trees manage to thrive in such hard, rocky soils

  • @davecgriffith
    @davecgriffith 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Wow, this is fascinating!
    Great video. Thanks for creating this.

  • @watney2894
    @watney2894 2 ปีที่แล้ว +17

    What a cool video! Very educational

  • @DanDavisHistory
    @DanDavisHistory 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Wonderful, thank you.

  • @gat0tsu
    @gat0tsu 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    great video!

  • @marcusrowan7212
    @marcusrowan7212 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Lovely video!

  • @artofescapism
    @artofescapism 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Very cool to learn- thank you for the information! I learned a lot!

  • @IsabelRodriguez-nv2ue
    @IsabelRodriguez-nv2ue 16 วันที่ผ่านมา

    Fantastic Video Lesson! Truly helpful! Very well presented and amazing information! Thanks!

  • @jackfrankmurphy
    @jackfrankmurphy 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Amazing video

  • @ryanmartinez7577
    @ryanmartinez7577 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    great video, loved it

  • @LegendLength
    @LegendLength 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great topic and well presented thanks

  • @shmookins
    @shmookins 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thank you for a very well presented video. I learned a lot.
    Cheers.

  • @marienorton8824
    @marienorton8824 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

    great stuff

  • @skyybluu3118
    @skyybluu3118 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great video thank you

  • @tgardenchicken1780
    @tgardenchicken1780 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Very well done, thanks, I learned so much.

  • @mrbusdriversir
    @mrbusdriversir 3 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Very good!

  • @NuisanceMan
    @NuisanceMan 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Very informative.

  • @abcd-jq1sy
    @abcd-jq1sy 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Great video

  • @yummychip3480
    @yummychip3480 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    sweet video. i learnt so much about trees :)

  • @jonathanalbershardt3200
    @jonathanalbershardt3200 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Fascinating

  • @pan_salceson
    @pan_salceson 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Wow, man, you're doing it right! Add some music into the background and it'll be a perfect short documentary.

  • @_Carlos
    @_Carlos 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    That was fascinating

  • @crazyjimheath
    @crazyjimheath 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    cool stuff

  • @aaron-bt8fw
    @aaron-bt8fw 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Nice video

  • @mikemccright7418
    @mikemccright7418 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Excellect article!

  • @lachyj8344
    @lachyj8344 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Very interesting

  • @carlbrenninkmeijer8925
    @carlbrenninkmeijer8925 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    great many thanks !!!!!

  • @bearcubdaycare
    @bearcubdaycare 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Fascinating. I long wondered this.

  • @kimberlyperrotis8962
    @kimberlyperrotis8962 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    The coevolution of angiosperms and pollinating insects would make an interesting topic.

  • @JasonCummer
    @JasonCummer 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I have a new respect for the humble pine tree now. Thanks

  • @totaratree99
    @totaratree99 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Great vid thanks. From NZ and appreciate the info on the wildling pines too.

  • @OrdenJust
    @OrdenJust 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    I don't know whether this is a factor, but it seems that broadleaf trees, if they are caught in a snowstorm or ice storm before shedding leaves in the fall, seem to me more prone to have their branches break from the weight of snow or ice that accumulates on the leaves.

    • @robertgarrett3002
      @robertgarrett3002 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +4

      Good point. Broadleaf trees tend to be more umbrella shaped, vs., the cone shape of conifers. The pointed canopy sheds snow easily, down around the trunk. This eventually melts, and absorbed by the root system over time. Please see evapotranspiration.

    • @Swarm509
      @Swarm509 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Accurate, if we get an early snow fall here (Saskatchewan, Canada) the local Elm trees with leaves still on them will bring down a lot of branches.

    • @monhi64
      @monhi64 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      That’s definitely true to an extent but I live in one of the snowiest habited regions in the US and that doesn’t happen that often. The trees loose the leaves so god damn quickly it’s hard to catch a snowstorm that early and that strong. You go north of me into Canada you start getting even more pine trees but less snow. But I betcha that’s another good reason for them to lose their leaves, because that’s what’s saving them

  • @drscopeify
    @drscopeify 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    What about microclimates and their impacts? One of the best example is Western Washington which is dominated by Douglas Fir, Western Red Cedar and the like however as you cross over the Cascades in to Eastern Washington you dramatically transform from Conifers in to deserts which is dominated by Sage brush. The cutoff along the Eastern Cascades is very dramatic. This is due to the rain shadow effect as rain will run down the eastern slopes and only go so far. On a rainy day traveling you can witness the incredibly sudden cutoff where rain falls along the edge of the foothills and then nothing. It's a fantastic effect of nature.

    • @danirons1853
      @danirons1853 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      The trees on the eastern slopes of cascade mountains are for the most part large yellow pines as opposed to the cedars and fir trees of the west side.

  • @jensschroder8214
    @jensschroder8214 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

    Conifers are very susceptible to drought. Their shallow roots cannot reach deep water. That damages the tree. Then the bark beetle comes and the dry conifer cannot form resin to repel the beetles.
    Deciduous trees have deeper roots and grow more slowly. But these reach deeper water, hold up better in storms, and produce stronger wood.
    The bark beetle has more trouble infesting these trees and since the deciduous trees still have some water in dry years, they can fend off the beetles.
    The climate tends to turn towards drier summers so that the conifers are in retreat.

    • @jensschroder8214
      @jensschroder8214 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      In Germany, more and more experts are in favor of planting slow-growing deciduous trees instead of conifers.
      More and more tree species are used that can also cope with dry climates in southern countries.
      Conifers have turned out to be a bad investment

  • @rageagainstmyhatchet
    @rageagainstmyhatchet 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    So it wasn't the Ents, herding them into orderly places?

    • @Lucas12v
      @Lucas12v 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      There are too few Ents these days for such things. If only the Entwives could be found.

  • @nustada
    @nustada 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    This has bothered part of my mind for much of my life. Thanks for answering so concisely. One aspect not touched on this video is soil acidity. There is a maybe myth that Conifers turn the oil acidic, but the probability is that they survive acidic soil better than their competition: What is the source and truth of this, I read too much conflicting assertions and don't know who to trust.

  • @richardkut3976
    @richardkut3976 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Thanks again,

  • @MartinMMeiss-mj6li
    @MartinMMeiss-mj6li 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Very interesting presentation, and some interesting ideas. Here are some questions that arose for me:
    1) Are you sure that genome size has any bearing on Cell size? After all, the entire genome is packed into the nucleus, which is typically much smaller than the containing cell.
    2) Also, is it often true that photosynthesis is limited by gas exchange? Or that more, smaller cells packed into the same volume would be more permissive of diffusion? The more numerous cell membranes and cell wall might actually slow down the diffusion of gasses.
    3) With regard to vessel size, do the arctic willows, birches, and aspens have vessels smaller than more southerly angiosperms?
    4) Why are tiny water droplets less likely to coalesce into larger droplets on a broad leaf? I would have expected the behavior of water droplets is more strongly influenced by the chemistry of the leaf cuticle and by the size and geometry of leaf hairs.
    5) With regard to the poor-soils argument, has anyone shown that conifers conserve foliage nutrients more efficiently than deciduous trees? Just because they retain their needles longer, they still have to produce new needles every year. It seems like an important factor would be the efficiency with which the nutrients are pulled out of he foliage for reuse before the leaves or needles are shed. Are conifers better at this? (Also, how does the larch, which is deciduous, figure into this?)
    Thanks for the thought-provoking video.

  • @earthstepper
    @earthstepper 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Super fascinating info! Quick question, do you happen to know of any resources, maybe a book on strategies for growing trees just right outside their official growth zones? For example: the Western Red Cedar, Western Hemlock & Giant Sequoia trees in Zone 5 (to be more specific, central Iowa). Kind of an odd and specific question, but you seem knowledgeable on where & why trees grow in certain places, etc. Either way, thanks again for the video!

    • @casualearth9076
      @casualearth9076  5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      If you look at the range maps for Western Hemlock and Western Red Cedar, you'll see that there are disjunct populations in the Eastern Canadian rockies, and the Rockies of Idaho and Montana. If you collect seeds/seedlings from those locations, they would definitely be hardy in Iowa.
      Giant Sequoia is much less hardy--it inhabits places where it snows heavily, but the actual temperature doesn't drop very low (compared to zone 5).
      Techniques have been developed to give fruit trees a warmer microclimate, which you could adapt for your conifers. But these techniques really only work well for increasing the summer daytime high temperatures, which are important for ripening fruit in cool, maritime climates. They plant trees on south-facing walls, and use hoes to maintain bare earth (no grass or mulch) beneath the trees. One technique they do use that would be helpful for you is to avoid frost hollows.

  • @cervmeup
    @cervmeup 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Idk why I watch videos like this but they’re awesome 😎

  • @snackbandit4637
    @snackbandit4637 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    This is such a good video to help you sleep

  • @NYBrandywineTree
    @NYBrandywineTree 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Well done… learned about the history & changes in the earth! Thanks

  • @Aelfraed26
    @Aelfraed26 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    In the southern hemisphere there are many native cypresses as well, but they don't appear to be as drought resistant as pines and firs which can grow in semi-arid locations

  • @michaelwade4922
    @michaelwade4922 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Nice

  • @michaelwade4922
    @michaelwade4922 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow this great

  • @douglasphillips5870
    @douglasphillips5870 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    One year we had an early snow that weighed down, and it broke off the branches of the broad leaf trees, but it was harder for the snow to build up on the needle leaf trees.

  • @kimberlyperrotis8962
    @kimberlyperrotis8962 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    This is very interesting to this geologist, I always wanted to learn more biology. But, with a chemistry minor, I only had time to take the minimal biology coursework to get my Geology degree. Thanks🙂

  • @andrewbrown6522
    @andrewbrown6522 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Conifers also toxify the soil around them. Not much can survive where they have been long established.
    On hot days it can even be hard to breath in those forests.

  • @LifeologyEducationProgram
    @LifeologyEducationProgram 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Cool presentation. I'm not sure if other commenters have made this point yet, if so sorry for the repetition. There is also the observation that certain pine species have come to fare well in arid, hot climates of say the Southwestern US. Examples would be the pinyon pine and the ponderosa pine.
    My understanding is that it's a similar adaptation to cacti, which they actually share biomes with. The narrowed needle leaves of the pine work similarly to the hyper-reduced leaves (spines) of a cactus in that it drastically reduces water loss. Thus I've often taught students that conifers as a whole aren't so much adapted for cold climates per se, but rather ones with limited water availability.
    Curious if this line of thinking holds up, or if it should be amended. The information provided here adds some new layers onto the complexity. Always liked pine trees though, one of my favorite smells

  • @hera7884
    @hera7884 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Earth has so many wonderful forests I honestly couldn’t pick a favorite but I can pick a least favorite.

  • @eliletts8149
    @eliletts8149 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Wow! Awesome video! This video has helped me understand a lot more about the evolutionary history of coniferous trees!
    Question:
    In light of what is covered in the video, how come the forests in the Southeastern United States of America largely covered in coniferous trees? 🤔

    • @hircenedaelen
      @hircenedaelen 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Poor soil quality?

    • @eliletts8149
      @eliletts8149 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@hircenedaelen although it seems like it would be the case, the Southeastern USA is known for having rather rich soils strangly enough.

  • @Snoosmumrik
    @Snoosmumrik 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Finally, a biogeography channel!

  • @asherdie
    @asherdie 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Pine forest were all over Florida but were logged out, turned to farm land and now housing developments.

  • @bensantos3882
    @bensantos3882 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    As a kid I would always climb any tree I could get my hands around. I noticed two things, conefeirs suck because the needles make it impossible to climb around the branches and they always emit a sticky slimy sap.
    I never liked climbing them at all and also oak trees had really unforgivable rough folds that was counter helpful compared to smoother trees.
    Also I remember trying to take a nap under a tree with shade. Again conefeirs sucked because those damn needles were everywhere and made it impossible to lay down on.

  • @AmericanSuit
    @AmericanSuit 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    This is so fascinating. We all know that evolution works through natural selection but its always taught as an abstraction.

  • @ulrikschackmeyer848
    @ulrikschackmeyer848 8 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Very, highly (latitudinal pun intended) interesting. Could you do or say something more about the 'protection of chlorophyl' , how it pack and unpacks and at what temperatures it is functional again?
    I'd love to know more.
    A Scandinanian (fish)biologist.

  • @Neloish
    @Neloish ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Interesting, though I have noticed Cedar trees spreading like crazy in hot Oklahoma.

  • @RoryVanucchi
    @RoryVanucchi ปีที่แล้ว

    Red and white spruce thrive in western Maine along with yellow birch and fir

  • @FundyisleLegacy
    @FundyisleLegacy 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I’m so thankful they do rule the north, keeps some colour in the woods through the dreary winters