Are the big trees in world-famous Yosemite disappearing? One study suggests they are.Scientists from the US Geological Survey studied large tree density data from the 1930s and 1990s. The result? The density of big trees has fallen by 24%. In the 1930s, there were 45 big trees per hectare. By the 1990s there were only 34.
This is surprising, since these larger trees have survived hundreds of years through wet and dry periods, fires, climate changes, and insect infestations. Smaller trees can succumb to these perils, but once they grow big their ability to survive increases. So why should the big trees be dying out now?
Scientists aren’t sure what the exact reasons are, but if the big trees are thinning out in a protected park like Yosemite they surely are thinning out in other areas as well.
Big trees play an important role in forest ecosystems, moderating the forest environment with their huge canopies and providing unique habitats for a number of other plants and animals.
A significant change in big tree density could mean further drastic changes in the entire forest ecosystem.
