Why did redwoods evolve to be so tall?
Why did redwoods evolve to be so tall? Over the hundreds or thousands of years that a redwood may live, even moderate growth adds up. The evolutionary driver of bigness in redwoods may be the advantage in being good at survival. Or it may be simply be that being taller means better access to sunlight in the dark forest.
Why do redwoods live longer than other trees?
THE QUESTION is often asked, Why do the Sequoias live so long? The answer is probably to be found in the fact that, whether dead or alive, they are remarkably resistant to the natural enemies of the forest. In general, there are three important enemies of dead or living mature trees: namely, insects, fungi, and fire.
Are redwoods older than dinosaurs?
The earliest redwoods showed up on Earth shortly after the dinosaurs – before flowers, birds, spiders… and, of course, humans. Redwoods have been around for about 240 million years 2, and in California for at least 20 million years, compared to about 200,000 years for “modern” humans 3.
Why are redwoods so strong?
These trees have shallow root systems that extend over one hundred feet from the base, intertwining with the roots of other redwoods. This increases their stability during strong winds and floods.