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Arboreal trees and aging
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by YankeeJim | June 26, 2011 at 02:13 pm
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We have a lot of different trees in Northern Virginia. Click below on the tree name to see more about each type. I am amazed at the size of some arboreal trees in the park along the river.
The story post here is not about trees as much as it is about aging. Hiking through trees for about 1.5 miles down ten stories and back up again has something with staying in shape.
“Aging Observations from Nature
Two of the observations from nature that have been made are that larger animals tend to live longer (some whales, for example, can live hundreds of years) and that animals who have little external danger (e.g. they have little risk of being eaten) tend to live longer.
The theory about larger animals living longer has led to theories of aging involving metabolic rate. Smaller animals tend to have higher metabolic rates (think hyper shrews compared to sleeping lions). So, this theory of age states that aging is basically a by-product of the speed at which an organism processes food and burns energy.
The second theory attempts to explain why creatures that live in trees seem to live longer than creatures on the ground. The idea here is that animals with fewer external dangers live longer, and that over time, evolution will set in to change their basic genetics.
Birds and bats, for example, are relatively small creatures, but their life expectancy is longer than land-dwelling animals of the same size. The theory is that, by flying, these animals are generally safer than their land-dwelling counterparts. Now, researchers are looking into the same type of argument to explain why tree dwelling animals have a longer life expectancy. A study examined the life expectancy and living environments of animals (while controlling for size) and discovered that, indeed, tree-dwelling animals have greater longevity (for their size) than land-dwelling mammals.
Learning from Tree Dwelling Creatures
What can we learn from these tree dwelling creatures? It's not clear yet. Not only is not being eaten young good for the average life expectancy of a species (obviously), but something changed over time as these creatures in trees lived longer and longer. Just not being eaten doesn't explain away metabolic aging. Something evolutionary changed in these small but long-lived creatures to give them extra years. If researchers can figure that out, then perhaps developments can be made in understanding our own aging and longevity.”
Trees of Virginia
Tree Identification Resource"
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (2)
at 03:15 on June 27th, 2011
When a bear comes along, it can climb higher and faster than me. They don't get real hungry until August so I can enjoy my walks until then.
at 15:19 on July 2nd, 2011
I have an unpopular (at least in commenting at youtube) attitude about bears in general:
Bears are ass holes!
Really, we've only forgotten this because most of us never bump into one.
The Brown bear does not normally eat humans as a food source, tho they will in times of depletion of their regular food source. Brown bears will however kill you for no particular reason than they saw you and that angered them. And of course the cubs thing. Think about humans, do we kill bears just because we see them? Not normally. Bears are ass holes!
The Black bear, well you're on his food chain. Particularly if you are a small or elderly female he can sneak up on.
Nuff said, Bears are ass holes!
The Polar Bear, he's 100% ass hole. He'll kill you for the hell of it AND you're as good as dinner, he'd choose you first rather than take an adult bull sea lion.
Still not convinced? Here you are:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGDcFzWAkrc
Whether the point is bears are ass holes or musk ox calves are the bravest critters around... I rest my case. He takes down the baby, and his brother comes to the rescue. Almost.
Seriously I wouldn't go near woods in bear territory without a stout can of bear spray. Unless I'm in Alaska, where they bagged that 1600lb brown that stood 11 feet on his hind legs. A bazooka will do.