This is kind of cool.
We know that trees breathe..
They have a respiration cycle that is similar but opposite in effect to us.
We inhale a mix of gases.., absorb the oxygen.., and exhale carbon dioxide (produced by the energy production of cells using the oxygen).
Trees and plants absorb (inhale) a mix of gases and use the C (carbon atom) from the CO2 for structural growth, leaving O2 (Oxygen) which gets released (exhaled) into the atmosphere.
We and plants live in a symbiotic (healthy type of co-dependant) relationship.
Trees have a circadian rhythm:
Recent advances in accuracy of measuring equipment have allowed controlled experiments that show that trees actually go to sleep at night.
Whole canopy movements downwards of 8cm or so have been measured that occur after sunset and return to normal after sunrise.
And as if that wasn’t enough.., during the day especially when this sleep effect is out of the equation.., this same precise measuring equipment can measure (by removing the variables of wind etc) a slight rise and fall of branches of around 1cm at a regular timeframe of about 2 hours. Regular like a heartbeat!
Until now science thought that fluid movement in trees was due only to osmosis (a system of transfer of levels of mineral saturation between plant cells to create equilibrium).
It seems though.., that this ‘heartbeat’ may be equally responsible for moving and distributing fluids (sap – water and mineral food) around the tree.
Cool eh.