The tonka bean tree (Dipteryx oleifera), a giant rainforest species of Panama, exhibits an unusual resilience to lightning strikes, which typically devastate many large trees. A study published in New Phytologist reveal that while lightning kills numerous trees yearly, the tonka bean trees remain unaffected. This phenomenon underscores the complex role of lightning in forest dynamics, marking it as a potential beneficial force for certain tree species, despite its lethal impact on others. Researchers utilized advanced technology to document over 100 lightning strikes and their effects on local tree populations, highlighting the need for further study on lightning's ecological benefits.
"We started doing this work 10 years ago, and it became really apparent that lightning kills a lot of trees, especially a lot of very big trees."
"Compared to other causes of tree mortality, like drought and fire, which are known to have crucial roles in maintaining a healthy ecosystem, lightning's positive influence is largely understudied."
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