Anastassia Makarieva, co-developer of the concept of “Biotic Pump” was recently interviewed in a film produced by the New England Forests Group that you may find at this link (and also at the bottom of this post). The biotic pump is a fundamental idea that illustrates the way ecosystems regulate themselves by networking. In the case of forests, trees are the nodes of a giant network that operates using the typical win-win mechanism of holobionts. Each tree evaporates water to keep its own metabolic system working, but in doing so, it benefits the whole forest by creating a mechanism that pumps water from the ocean.
I´ve read Makarieva´s biotic pump theory and the forest age point got my attention.
In my understanding of agroforestry practices, some techniques can enhance a forest canopy age more than letting the trees left to their own devices.
For example, in syntropic agriculture, it states that frequent canopy and branch prunnings in specific seasons, can have a multiplying effect on growth hormones in conjunction with biodiverse plantings in creating more canopy strata and enhancing photosyntesis with more leaves and flushing more carbon in the soil, elevating its Carbon to Nitrogen ratio.
Older forests tend to have its C:N ratio above 100:1 and its moist soil have huge fungal mycelia networks, sometimes spanning kilometers.
More to the biodiversity point: a tree plantation, like eucaliptus monoculture isn't a forest at all.
I was following all your posts about A. Makarieva et al. investigations and publishing it in Spanish at La Ventana Ciudadana. It's a powerful natural mechanism that "Biotic Pump". I'm really fascinated. Thanks again, Ugo!
I´ve read Makarieva´s biotic pump theory and the forest age point got my attention.
In my understanding of agroforestry practices, some techniques can enhance a forest canopy age more than letting the trees left to their own devices.
For example, in syntropic agriculture, it states that frequent canopy and branch prunnings in specific seasons, can have a multiplying effect on growth hormones in conjunction with biodiverse plantings in creating more canopy strata and enhancing photosyntesis with more leaves and flushing more carbon in the soil, elevating its Carbon to Nitrogen ratio.
Older forests tend to have its C:N ratio above 100:1 and its moist soil have huge fungal mycelia networks, sometimes spanning kilometers.
More to the biodiversity point: a tree plantation, like eucaliptus monoculture isn't a forest at all.
Thank you for the transcript, Ugo.
Thank you for the insights, Anastassia.
:-)
I was following all your posts about A. Makarieva et al. investigations and publishing it in Spanish at La Ventana Ciudadana. It's a powerful natural mechanism that "Biotic Pump". I'm really fascinated. Thanks again, Ugo!