Some tropical trees not only survive lightning strikes but benefit from them, according to a new study published in New Phytologist. Led by Evan Gora, a forest ecologist at Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, the research shows that Dipteryx oleifera trees thrive after being struck, gaining advantages over their competitors. This discovery sheds light on how lightning shapes forest ecosystems.
The study focused on 93 trees struck by lightning in Panama’s Barro Colorado Nature Monument. Among them, nine Dipteryx oleifera trees survived direct strikes with minimal damage, while 64% of other struck species died within two years. Lightning also killed an average of 9.2 neighboring trees per strike, reducing competition for light and space. Additionally, parasitic vine infestations on Dipteryx trees dropped by 78%, further enhancing their growth.
Using drones, the team created 3D models revealing that Dipteryx trees are typically four meters taller than nearby trees, likely because lightning eliminated taller competitors. Their height and wide crowns make them 68% more likely to be struck, suggesting an evolutionary adaptation.
“It’s better off for a Dipteryx oleifera tree to be struck than not,” said Gora. The study estimates that these trees are struck every 56 years on average, yet their longevity—up to a thousand years—allows them to endure multiple strikes. Lightning tolerance boosts their reproductive success by 14 times, giving them a significant edge in the forest.
“Seeing trees thrive after lightning strikes was mind-blowing,” Gora recalled. “These data provide the first evidence that some trees benefit from being struck by lightning,” the authors noted in the paper.
The findings highlight lightning’s overlooked role in forest dynamics, with climate change potentially increasing its impact. Future research will explore the traits that enable Dipteryx trees to survive strikes and whether other species share this tolerance. Understanding these interactions could aid biodiversity conservation and reforestation efforts in tropical regions.
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