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~0% of sampled trees does not necessarily mean ~0% certainty that we have found the oldest tree, since tree ages are correlated strongly with each other in loca
by uoaei 7y ago
~0% of sampled trees does not necessarily mean ~0% certainty that we have found the oldest tree, since tree ages are correlated strongly with each other in local neighborhoods. We know where to look to find "oldish" trees and then narrow our search there. No need to sample trees from a new growth forest to be reasonably certain how old they are.
- ALittleLight 7y agoSuppose there's a thousand square kilometers of new growth forest. Is every tree in that area new? What if there's a tree that substantially predates the others and is now surrounded by new growth? I'd agree that percentage tested isn't directly the same as likelihood we've found the oldest, but I do think there's a strong correlation.