[FLPERMACULTURE] Interesting tree tidbit

[Micheal Wheeler]

Thanks for the clarification, Jon.  I realized that they weren't being
homeostatic at 70 degrees, the quote said that was just the average
temperature, but I didn't get the insight about that being the point of
greatest activity.  [Kind of like what 'they' say about "dollar cost
averaging" when buying mutual funds.  (Ummm, well, not really.) (in fact,
maybe the opposite?) ]

Rereading my email I see I should have been explicit about why this might be
interesting to a permaculture list and not just some well intentioned but
misguided spam.

For me it is the trees' adaptation responses that pose the most interesting
questions.

>>Tree leaves keep cool through constant evaporation and reducing sun
> exposure through leaf angles [wilting] or reflective qualities. Warmth is
gained
> by decreasing evaporation and increasing the number of leaves per branch.

How will the understory plants be affected?  If a warmer tree is using more
water, does that affect what you might want to plant under it?  Is the
microclimate humidity more or less stable because of the extra evaporation?
 If the number of leaves per branch increases, does the shade also increase?
 If the previous late summer was warm when the new leaves were forming, will
there be fewer leaves per branch this spring?  How does all this affect the
functions of the trees and the forest?  Timber functions?  Fruiting
functions?  Water functions?  Is their hypothesis about mechanisms even
true?  How would I find out, and at what cost?


On Fri, Jun 20, 2008 at 11:28 AM, Jon Bosak <bosak at ibiblio.org> wrote:
>
>
> Not exactly (though it's been widely reported this way).  [snip]
> Not to say that this isn't a mighty interesting finding, but it's
> not quite what's being reported.  There's a somewhat more careful
> summary at
>
>    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080611135100.htm
>
>

p.s. -- if this still is well intentioned but misguided spam, please let me
know off-list.  Mike

-- 
"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't
have any."
--Alice Walker
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