Tag: tree biology

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Tree Growth

Written by Peter Kolb, University of Montana

Tree growth is determined by a tree species’ ability to obtain sunlight, water, nutrients, and air in a specific climate. Each tree species has evolved over time to have a particular growth and reproductive advantage for a specific range of variability of climatic and soil conditions. Tropical trees, for example, do not expend energy for becoming cold hardy and thus outcompete any tree that puts aside energy for that purpose. Alternatively, a tropical …

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What Makes a Tree Unique?

Written by Peter Kolb, University of Montana

A tree is a plant with a tall structure comprised of a stem and branches to support leaves and a root system than anchors the stem as well as procures and stores essential growth elements, such as water and nutrients. Trees are unique from other plants because they can and usually do live for decades and even up to several millennia (the oldest known single-stem tree is a baobab in South Africa measured …

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Tree Genetics

Written by Peter Kolb, University of Montana

Tree genetics is the study of tree genes – the units of transmission of hereditary characteristics within trees. Each gene is usually a segment of a DNA or RNA molecule within a chromosome that controls the production

Figure 1. Visible genetic variations in planted ponderosa pines from different geographic locations. The dark green tree in the foreground comes from a location with a similar climate, whereas thinner, paler trees come from higher elevations
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Tree Biology

Written by Peter Kolb, University of Montana

Tree physiology functions much as it does in all other plants: Their leaves absorb carbon-dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through little pores in their leaves called stomates and use the energy of the sun in a biochemical process called photosynthesis. This process converts carbon dioxide (CO2) and liquid water (H20) into a variety of complex sugars comprised of the basic molecular blocks of one carbon, two hydrogen, …

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Tree Species

Written by Peter Kolb, Montana State University

Tree species can be identified in many ways, including by visible and genetic attributes. As with all biological organisms, tree taxonomists use the Linnaean system to differentiate between unique tree lineages (kingdom – phylum – class – order – family – genus – species). Most plant taxonomy is based on reproductive structures and trees are no different, scientifically separated in the kingdom of plants into two evolutionary phylum called angiosperms (naked seed) and …

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Tree-Climate Interactions

Written by Peter Kolb, Montana State University

Tree-climate interactions essentially determine where tree species can naturally occur. The genetic processes that direct and create a certain tree species’ morphological and physiological characteristics are closely tied into the local climatic conditions through the process of natural selection. Either a tree has the ability to grow under local temperate and moisture patterns and it survives and reproduces, or it dies off. The ability to reproduce is the key element determining where tree …

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