The survivors of the White Mountains
The science of tree rings
Methuselah and the secret ancients
YOUR GOAL
Master of The oldest trees on Earth
artiteacher Ancient Bristlecone Pines
Older than the pyramids (so true!) Still breathing on the mountain peaks (how about you?)
artiteacher These ancient trees thrive on a stark white, nutrient-poor rock called dolomite that other plants avoid.
artiteacher Bristlecone pines grow so slowly that their wood becomes extremely dense, making them nearly immune to rot and insects.
artiteacher Decode ancient tree rings to discover how bristlecone pines survive for thousands of years.
Bristlecone pine needles: Some individual green needles on Great Basin bristlecone pines have been actively photosynthesizing since the late 1980s.
A long-lived pine tree of western North America having cones with prickly-tipped scales. Edmund Schulman discovered these ancient trees thriving above ten thousand feet in California's Inyo National Forest.
What unique type of alkaline, light-colored rock do bristlecone pines prefer to grow in?
In which mountain range of California are the oldest Great Basin bristlecone pines found?
At what approximate elevation range do Great Basin bristlecone pines typically grow?
Why does the extremely slow growth rate of bristlecone pines actually help them live longer?
How long can a single green needle remain alive and active on a Great Basin bristlecone pine?
Which environmental threat is naturally minimized for bristlecones due to their sparse, isolated growing patterns?
How long can a dead bristlecone pine tree remain standing on its roots before falling?