A recent study has revealed that certain tropical trees can endure lightning strikes and even thrive afterward. Notably, Dipteryx oleifera in Panama showcases resilience, benefiting from the cleansing effects of lightning, such as the elimination of parasitic vines, and reduced competition from other trees. The study's author, Evan Gora, emphasizes the surprising survival of these trees despite exposure to immense electrical currents. The research, which tracked lightning strikes over a decade, revealed that while many trees perish from lightning, some emerge with significant advantages, redefining our understanding of lightning's ecological impact.
"I think to our whole team, it still feels remarkable that this tree can get exposed to 30,000 amps of current and be OK. And not just OK: have almost no damage at all, while having all these additional benefits..."
"Over a period of weeks after [a lightning strike], you can start seeing a phenomenon we've identified sort of a diagnostic called 'flashover damage'...electrocutes normally 23 trees on average, killing about a quarter of them."
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