Photo: lightpoet/Depositphotos

The harmful particles and gases in wildfire smoke are just as harmful to trees as they are to humans and animals. And while we stay indoors or wear masks to protect ourselves, trees have a sophisticated system to withstand the effects of wildfires. A study conducted by MJ Riches and Delphine Farmer of Colorado State University found that trees essentially “hold their breath” to avoid damage from the smoke.

Riches and Farmer explain that plants Stomatathese are pores on the surface of their leaves. These pores are the equivalent of the human mouth for plants, but instead of breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide like we do, they do the opposite – they breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. But unlike humans, leaves breathe in and out atmospheric gases at the same time.

The scientists originally wanted to study how plants release the chemicals that make forests smell like forests, called volatile organic compounds. But then thick smoke began to waft through the field where they were working in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. After the first morning of heavy smoke, they measured leaf-level photosynthesis in ponderosa pines, but were horrified to find that the tree’s pores were completely closed.

“We also measured the leaves’ emissions of their usual volatile organic compounds and found very low levels,” write the authors of the study for The conversation“This meant that the leaves were not ‘breathing’ – they were not breathing in the carbon dioxide they need to grow and were not breathing out the chemicals they normally release.”

When they noticed this unexpected phenomenon, Riches and Farmer tried to get a leaf back to its normal rhythm. To do this, they changed the leaf’s temperature and humidity and cleared its “airways.” As a result, the leaf suddenly recovered, restarted photosynthesis, and began to emit volatile organic compounds.

“Our months of data have shown that some plants respond to heavy smoke from wildfires by stopping their exchange with the outside air,” say the researchers. “They essentially hold their breath, but not before they have been exposed to the smoke.”

While this discovery was purely accidental, Riches and Farmer’s findings can help scientists and conservationists better understand and help nature as wildfire seasons become more severe.

“It is not yet clear how long the effects of wildfire smoke last and how repeated smoke events affect plants, including trees and crops, in the long term,” they say. “As wildfires become more severe and frequent due to climate change, forest management policies and human behavior, it is important to better understand the impacts.”

A study conducted by MJ Riches and Delphine Farmer found that trees “hold their breath” to avoid damage from dangerous smoke.

Photo: Wirestock/Depositphotos

After heavy smoke fell on the field where they were working, they measured photosynthesis at the leaf level of ponderosa pines. To their horror, however, they found that the tree’s pores were completely closed.

Photo: Tramp-KHV/Depositphotos

Riches and Farmer explain that plants Stomatathese are pores on the surface of their leaves, the equivalent of a human mouth in plants.

Photo: Alexandrumusuc/Depositphotos

h/t: (The Conversation)

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