Posted on 10/06/2023 2:58:04 PM PDT by algore
At the forefront of environmental discussions at Michigan State University, Tom Sharkey, a University Distinguished Professor at the Plant Resilience Institute, posed a provocative question:
"Should we cut down all the oak trees?"
While he wasn't advocating for a literal deforestation of oaks, this theoretical question emerges from his team's recent discoveries about the role of trees, especially oaks and poplars, in air pollution dynamics.
Sharkey's research delves into the intricacies of isoprene -- a compound released by certain plants, particularly oaks and poplars.
This research reveals a paradox. On one hand, with global temperatures rising, these trees emit more isoprene which, when interacting with pollutants like nitrogen oxide, exacerbates poor air quality by contributing to particulate matter and low-atmosphere ozone.
On the other hand, isoprene bolsters the plants' resistance against environmental stressors such as insect attacks and high temperatures.
This double-edged sword leads Sharkey to ask, "Do we want plants to make more isoprene so they're more resilient, or do we want them making less so it's not making air pollution worse? What's the right balance?"
Despite isoprene being the second-largest emitted hydrocarbon on Earth -- trailing only behind methane emissions from human activities -- its significant impact on the environment remains relatively unknown to the general public. Sharkey, who has studied isoprene since his doctoral days at Michigan State in the 1970s, sheds light on its importance and the challenges it presents. Interestingly, this isn't the first time trees have been implicated in air pollution discussions. In the 1980s, then-president Ronald Reagan controversially claimed that trees produced more air pollution than cars. This statement, although exaggerated, contained a nugget of truth regarding the role of isoprene.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Are those supposed to be Ents? (Never saw that representation of them..)
In the time of Admiral Nelson, it took about 2000 oak trees to make a single British warship.
I had to look it up. Beautiful trees. Now I’m seriously considering planting one.
Men of Science: Kill a few squirrels and take the rest of the weekend off
Yep, good guess.
Even one oak cut for the sake of this clown’s beliefs is a crime. So no “literal deforestation,” so what is he advocating? Half, quarter, or just a few trees? He is a poltroon, unworthy of his position.
everyone I have met from there is a commie and knows jack about the real world
Monsters.
Good luck with that. There’s 26 species of oak in New Mexico alone, hardly a powerhouse forestry state.
I do agree with you, FTR. Just want to make sure we are accurate with accusations, and not behave like liberal commies do.
How about we automatically label any cultist publication claiming nature is a pollutant be banned as obvious pseudo science.
Thank you Ladies and Gentlemen, no more submissions please. We have a winner!
Huh. Another abrupt ending of an article.
What mean, “We”, white man?
"So I was stunned to read in the Daily Progress on June 25, 2008 that the tree was going to be taken down."
Sad. Reason to plant more of them.
the Elms were big majestic and old, then we heard about the disease fungus and they all died in like just a year.
Everyone tried to save them, but eventually there was nothing anyone could do.
I have heard similar things about banana fungus, it would really suck if it spreads.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_disease
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