China Youth Daily Client (China Youth Daily·China Youth Network reporter Wang Yejie) Recently, the Chinese giant tree scientific expedition team composed of Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, , National Important Wild Plant Germplasm Resource Library Chenshan Center- Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden , etc., released the accurate height of Yunnan Huangguo Fir, the "highest tree in China", 83.4 meters, and also released photos of giant trees.
The picture shows the scientific expedition team members climbing giant trees to collect samples. Photo provided by Chenshan Center, National Important Wild Plant Germplasm Resource Library, the continuous discovery and reporting of giant tree communities is an important manifestation of the continuous deepening of China's biodiversity research in the spatial dimension. This giant tree climbing scientific expedition is the first time in China to conduct scientific research, measurement and germplasm resource collection of giant tree canopy layer above 80 meters high. It is an important part of the second Qinghai-Tibet scientific expedition "Forest and Shrub Ecosystem and Resource Management" special topic, and it is also an important part of the collection of wild germplasm resources for the national important wild plant germplasm resource library.
This is the second record-breaking giant tree collected by the National Important Wild Plant Germplasm Resource Library after the collection of Gaoligong Mountain 72m bald fir in the Southwest China Wild Plant Germplasm Resource Library.
During the scientific research of the giant tree community, the Chinese giant tree scientific research team conducted a further investigation on the original forest vegetation in the Gangrigabuqu Basin, Chayu County, Tibet at the same time, and basically understood the distribution pattern of the giant tree forest, the community structure, and its species composition. During the investigation, it was found that there were 2 new species in China and 2 new species, and more than 200 specimens, No. 50 seeds and living materials were collected. At present, all obtained materials are deposited in the National Specimen Museum of China and the Chenshan Botanical Garden in Shanghai-National Wild Plant Germplasm Resource Library Chenshan Center, and subsequent research is underway.
Chayu County is located in the southeastern Tibetan alpine canyon area in the transition zone of Himalayas and Hengduan Mountains . The terrain is inclined from northwest to southeast, with an average altitude of 2,800 meters. The climate is unique and complex and diverse, with large annual precipitation, mild climate and moderate sunshine. There are river galaxies with the main body of the Yarlung Zangbo River and Nujiang River, forming a complex landform with vertical and cross-cutting. The original forest that gave birth to giant trees is located in the area of Chayu on the flowing through Gangrigabuqu, a tributary of the Chayu River.
The picture shows the growth of giant trees recorded by the scientific expedition team members. Photo provided by Chenshan Center, National Important Wild Plant Germplasm Resource Library
In May this year, a team of researcher Guo Ke from the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted a vegetation survey on the giant tree community in Buzong Village, Shangchayu Town, and found several giant trees above 75 meters in height. In August, the Chinese Giant Tree Science Expedition Team went to Buzong Village, Shangchayu Town to conduct manual tree climbing and regional surveys on the Yunnan Huangguo fir found in May. Combined with drone-assisted measurements, the accurate tree height of the tree was finally frozen at 83.4 meters. This is also the first comprehensive scientific research to climb, photography and collect germplasm resources in my country.
This Yunnan Huangguo fir tree stands in the flood forest of the river valley along the border of Gangrigabuqu, a tributary of the Chayu River. After tree climbing survey, more than 250 species of higher plants were found on the highest tree in my country, including climbing plants, epiphytes , parasitic plants and other types, showing unique biodiversity.
After drone mapping, the growth length of apex buds was more than 10 cm during the two survey intervals in May and August this year. The accurate measurement results were slightly higher than the previously reported drone measurement results of 83.2 meters. At the same time, through the breast diameter ring measurement and the on-site inverted wood tree wheel survey, the breast diameter of the giant tree was measured to be 207 cm and the tree was around 380 years old. The giant tree is currently in the middle of the life cycle, with new buds sprouting on the treetops, which are solid and normal, and are still in a healthy growth stage.
Source: China Youth Daily Client
