Citation
A re-evaluation of carbon storage in trees lends greater support for carbon limitation to growth
TL;DR
Root carbohydrate reserves fund initial regeneration
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