Pando, a colossal organism located in Utah, USA, is believed to be the oldest living entity on Earth, with an age estimated between 16,000 and 80,000 years. While it may appear to be a typical grove of aspen trees, Pando is, in fact, a remarkable biological rarity.
Composed of genetically identical clonal shoots emerging from a shared root system, Pando is a single organism that has survived since the last Ice Age, adapting to climatic and geological changes over millennia. Weighing approximately 13 million tons, it is not only the largest organism in the world but also one of the heaviest and longest-living.
Determining Pando's exact age has posed challenges for scientists. A research team from the University of Chicago analyzed over 500 DNA samples from various parts of the organism to trace accumulated genetic mutations. These findings, alongside fossil pollen analysis, suggest that Pando existed when humans hunted mammoths, or even before our species left Africa.
Unlike individual trees that reproduce sexually, Pando regenerates asexually. If a shoot dies, the root system produces new stems, allowing this organism to perpetuate indefinitely, provided environmental conditions remain favorable. However, Pando faces significant threats to its survival.
Young shoots are consumed by deer and livestock, hindering regeneration. The absence of natural predators like wolves and cougars has exacerbated this issue. Additionally, Pando contends with diseases and the natural degradation of its root system, with aerial images revealing a progressive decline in certain areas.
Despite these challenges, Pando plays a crucial role in the local ecosystem by conserving soil, retaining water, and storing carbon, thereby contributing to environmental stability. It also serves as a habitat and food source for various animal and plant species.
Conservationists are actively working to save Pando, implementing measures such as fences to protect young shoots from grazing and reintroducing natural control mechanisms, including predators.