Our research team has published a new article in Communications Earth & Environment. The study, led by Ot Pasques and Sergi Munné-Bosch, reveals how complex habitat structures formed over millennia enable some trees to reach exceptional ages, over 1,000 years in mountain pine and 600 years in silver fir.

By monitoring 13 Pyrenean forests between 2022 and 2024, the study shows that complex habitat structures formed over millennia are essential for trees to reach extreme ages in species such as mountain pine and silver fir. These environments create longevity hotspots where unique microhabitats and selective pressures shape functional traits that allow trees to survive for several additional centuries.

In contrast, forests with common or more homogeneous structures limit tree lifespan, preventing individuals from reaching their maximum potential age. The study also demonstrates that modern habitat alteration has significantly reduced the maximum attainable lifespan in most forests, highlighting the vulnerability of ancient trees in a rapidly changing world.

This work underscores the crucial role of habitat complexity in sustaining ancient trees and revitalises the idea of extreme longevity as a fundamental spatiotemporal process shaped by habitat structure.

Read the full article here.