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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
09:33
A Technical Perspective in Modern Tree-ring Research - How to Overcome Dendroecological and Wood Anatomical Challenges
Published on: March 5, 2015
Integrating Intrinsic Mechanisms, Environmental Drivers and Anthropogenic Influences in Long-Lived Tree Longevity
Zhangxiang Min1, Yifeng Chen2, Zhiwei Chen2
1State Key Laboratory for Development and Utilization of Forest Food Resources, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 12, 2026
Summary
This review explores tree longevity, moving beyond genetics to include environmental and human factors. It proposes a framework where long-lived trees are seen as adaptive systems shaped by dynamic interactions and resilience.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Plant longevity is a key trait, but research often overlooks environmental and anthropogenic influences.
- Existing studies focus on intrinsic physiological and genetic factors of tree aging.
- Understanding tree longevity requires an integrated perspective.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize current knowledge on tree longevity from an integrative viewpoint.
- To highlight the roles of environmental drivers and anthropogenic influences on tree survival.
- To propose a novel framework for understanding tree longevity.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing current research on plant longevity.
- Analysis of intrinsic mechanisms (nutrient allocation, antioxidant defense, etc.).
- Examination of environmental and anthropogenic factors impacting tree survival.
Main Results:
- Plant aging is a regulated, adaptive process, not just decline.
- Intrinsic mechanisms and external factors interact to determine longevity.
- A four-dimensional framework coupling resource allocation, stress resistance, environmental pressure, and anthropogenic regulation is proposed.
Conclusions:
- Tree longevity is an emergent property of dynamic interactions and resilience.
- An integrated approach is crucial for understanding and conserving long-lived trees.
- The proposed framework offers theoretical support for conservation efforts under global change.
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