A re-evaluation of carbon storage in trees lends greater support for carbon limitation to growth
TL;DR
Root carbohydrate reserves fund initial regeneration
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Research on root carbohydrate dynamics and energy flow during regeneration. Documents how trees store energy in roots, deplete it during regrowth, and restore reserves over 4-7 years - establishing the biological basis for regeneration capacity limits.
Demonstrates that regeneration has finite capacity: each coppice cycle depletes reserves slightly. Repeated cutting without recovery period leads to coppice exhaustion - the tree finally dies. Same constraint applies to organizations.
Key Findings from Wiley & Helliker (2012)
- Root carbohydrate reserves fund initial regeneration
- 4-7 years required to restore reserves after cutting
- Net energy flow reverses: roots to shoots initially, then shoots to roots
- Repeated stress without recovery depletes capacity permanently