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Biology · Plant physiology and forest ecology

Tree & Forest Lab

Cut a giant sequoia in two and watch water climb 100 metres, read a tree’s life story in its rings, open the roots to the fungal market, and run a forest after a fire.

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First lesson01 · Inside a tree trunkSee all 24 lessons →

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The course

6 worlds · 24 lessons

World 1 · How Water Climbs a Tree

FREETrunk layers, the cohesion-tension pull, stomata and the height limit
  1. 01Inside a tree trunkBark, phloem, cambium and xylem · 10 min
  2. 02The cohesion-tension pullWater pulled from above · 12 min
  3. 03StomataThe trade-off between carbon and water · 11 min
  4. 04How tall can a tree grow?The hydraulic limit · 10 min

World 2 · Read the Rings

PROAnnual rings, dendrochronology and the oldest living things
  1. 01How a ring formsEarlywood and latewood · 10 minPRO
  2. 02DendrochronologyMatching patterns across logs · 11 minPRO
  3. 03What rings rememberDrought, fire and eruptions · 11 minPRO
  4. 04Oldest living thingsBristlecones and clones · 10 minPRO

World 3 · Roots and the Fungal Network

PRORoot hairs, mycorrhiza, a debated hypothesis and the soil recycling crew
  1. 01What roots doWater, minerals and anchor · 10 minPRO
  2. 02MycorrhizaA trade of sugar for minerals · 12 minPRO
  3. 03The “wood wide web”What science supports and what is debated · 13 minPRO
  4. 04The soil recycling crewDecomposers · 10 minPRO

World 4 · Why Leaves Change Colour

PROPigments, autumn chemistry, leaf fall and two winter strategies
  1. 01PigmentsGreen, yellow, orange and red · 10 minPRO
  2. 02Autumn chemistryWhy green fades first · 10 minPRO
  3. 03Letting goAbscission and recycling · 10 minPRO
  4. 04Evergreen or deciduous?Two winter strategies · 10 minPRO

World 5 · Leaf Shapes and Light

PROLeaf area, sun and shade leaves, shape and climate, forest layers
  1. 01Catching lightLeaf area and layers · 11 minPRO
  2. 02Sun leaves and shade leavesSame tree, different jobs · 10 minPRO
  3. 03Leaf shape and climateBig, small, lobed, needle · 11 minPRO
  4. 04Forest layersFrom floor to emergent · 10 minPRO

World 6 · After the Fire, and the Carbon in a Tree

PROFire ecology, succession, allometry and forest carbon flows
  1. 01Fire and forestsNot always a disaster · 11 minPRO
  2. 02SuccessionA forest rebuilds itself · 12 minPRO
  3. 03How much carbon is in a tree?Allometry · 12 minPRO
  4. 04Forests and the carbon cycleSinks, sources and caution · 12 minPRO
Tree & Forest Lab — interactive 3D lab · Novareka