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Non-radioactive in situ Hybridization Protocol Applicable for Norway Spruce and a Range of Plant Species

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Contrasting pathways to tree longevity in gymnosperms and angiosperms.

Roel J W Brienen¹, Giuliano Maselli Locosselli², Stefan Krottenthaler³

¹School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. r.brienen@leeds.ac.uk.

Nature Communications

|December 18, 2025

Summary

Tree longevity increases through slow growth in harsh conditions or thriving in productive environments. Different pathways exist for gymnosperms and angiosperms, influencing global tree lifespan variations.

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Botany
Global Change Biology

Background:

Tree longevity is hypothesized to increase in adverse, growth-limiting environments.
Quantitative data on global tree longevity drivers is currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantitatively assess the drivers of global variation in tree longevity.
To identify distinct pathways influencing tree lifespan across different environments and species.

Main Methods:

Assembled a global database of maximum longevity for 739 tree species.
Analyzed associations between longevity and climate, soil, and species' functional traits.

Main Results:

Identified two primary pathways to long tree lifespans: slow growth in resource-limited environments and thriving in productive environments.
Observed that long-lived gymnosperms typically follow the slow-growth pathway in cold climates, while long-lived angiosperms utilize the productivity pathway in humid conditions.
For angiosperms, increased water availability enhances tree height and stand density, both linked to greater longevity, potentially through increased competition limiting growth.

Conclusions:

Tree longevity is influenced by a combination of environmental limitations and productivity, with distinct strategies observed between gymnosperms and angiosperms.
Intrinsic hydraulic architecture differences likely explain fitness advantages for gymnosperms under stress and angiosperms under productivity or competition.
Understanding these pathways is crucial for predicting tree responses to changing global environments.