Giant oaks used to grow in Belarus. To restore them, DNA is being studied
Scientists from the Forest Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus plan to restore the oak groves that once existed on the territory of modern Belarus and were formed by enormous oaks reaching heights of 50-55 meters. To do this, in Gomel, scientists are studying bog oaks, raised from the bottom of the Sozh River, whose age ranges from several hundred to 5-6 thousand years, Sputnik writes .
A cut of 6000-year-old bog oak. Photo: Sputnik
Researchers are analyzing the properties of ancient wood and the DNA of these oaks to understand where large oak groves used to grow, in what climatic conditions they developed, and from which geographical regions they originated. From more than 50 cuts of bog oak, after drying, samples will be selected for genetic studies.
Scientists note that giant oaks indeed grew on the territory of Belarus in the past. This is evidenced by finds of trunks about 33 meters long, which corresponds to trees with a crown height of approximately 55 meters.
Oak adapts well to environmental changes, but climate change — especially the transition from a warm and humid Atlantic period to a harsher Subatlantic period — has led to modern oaks becoming smaller.
The significant reduction in oak groves over the last millennium is also linked to human economic activity. Archaeological excavations show that oak was widely used in construction, but over time it became scarcer, which negatively affected the gene pool.
Although it is impossible to "revive" or grow a thousand-year-old oak using ancient DNA, scientists can decipher its genome and study the growth dynamics of extinct giant oaks. This information will help model the future structure of oak forests, making them more resilient and productive.
Of particular interest in this regard is Belarusian Polesie, where more than half of all the country's oak groves are concentrated. Here, oaks of different origins — eastern, central Belarusian, and western — are found, creating conditions for the emergence of new genetic variants.
As a result of the research, scientists will be able to recommend where and which oaks are best to plant, taking into account their historical growth conditions. This will allow for the restoration of oak groves in places where giant oaks once grew, and the formation of healthier and more viable forests.