What would happen then if you took a tree which only has leaves at the top and submerged it to just under the leaves? Does the bark need to be exposed to air as well or would it just rot out like timber does?
dank953@lemmy.world 6 months ago
The tree would drown.
Trees require evaporation through the leaves to draw nutrient enriched water from the roots through the trunk to the leaves. Which then evaporates and causes the process to be continued.
They also require Carbon for the photosynthesis process, which trees absorb via the leaves in the form of Carbon Dioxide.
juststoppingby@lemm.ee 6 months ago
breakfastmtn@lemmy.ca 6 months ago
It would die. The roots need to do gas exchange too. Ideal soil composition is generally 45% mineral, ~25% water, ~25% air, and 5% organic matter.
Tree bark also does gas exchange.
otter@lemmy.ca 6 months ago
Depends on the tree and type of water I assume
youtube.com/watch?v=twjPo2Luk5A
Mangrove trees live submerged in saltwater for example. This video also goes over some of the adaptations it has to do that (ex. Special roots to allow it to stand upright in soft unstable ground)
notnotdying@kbin.social 6 months ago
This is a mangrove, right?
Deceptichum@kbin.social 6 months ago
Also aren’t there those alligator forests in America with lots of flooded trees.
WhiteOakBayou@lemmy.world 6 months ago
Bayou is the word but those trees are usually only covered the first few feet by water unless it’s flooding.
otter@lemmy.ca 6 months ago
Some quick diagrams
Image
Source: evolvingsciences.com/Transpiration Stream.html
Image
Source: opentextbc.ca/…/5-1-overview-of-photosynthesis/
Second one is a little simpler, but the source link is to a site with open access educational materials. Pretty cool