Renaissance
Typhoon Maysak struck Vladivostok last year. Among other damages, it affected the pines planted on the territory of the Primorsky Aquarium. They were buffeted by wind and burnt by salt. Many branches seemed to die off.
In 10 months, however, the branches that looked dead suddenly started to come back to life. Since early July new buds have quickly developed on them. Life is tough!
“Typhoon Maysak that hit Primorsky Krai made a devastating impact on our plants, especially located at windward sites: salt and wind damaged up to 90% of tree crowns,” explains Head of the Grounds Management Department of the Primorsky Aquarium. “Nevertheless, now we can see new buds forming on pine twigs that seemed to be gone forever. Luckily, only younger shoots dried out, while trunks and boughs remained alive. Water and nutrients moving upward from roots initiated new growing points.”
Furthermore, the adverse effect of the typhoon is evident if we compare the sizes of annual increments. They are three times shorter on windward branches, which received the full force of the storm.
“We can watch live how nature prunes the trees: Maysak and other typhoons sort of create natural bonsais,” adds Arkadiy Bezdelev. “Here at this place, we can clearly see the adaptations that allow plants to survive in the harsh conditions of sea coast.”