How the mighty are fallen

Abstract

[Extract] Big trees have ruled the Earth for at least 100 million years, but their time at the top might be coming to an end as they succumb to climate change, pestilence and other modern maladies.

Big trees are among the largest organisms on earth and are incredibly important ecologically. They help define the architecture of forests and store much of the world's biomass, locking up billions of tonnes of carbon that might otherwise escape into the atmosphere. Their roots can penetrate deep underground to tap hidden water sources and they produce much of the life-giving water vapour that emanates from forests.