Scientists dump 1,500 Christmas trees into lake and what they discover leaves biologists speechless

In early 2021, a team of Finnish scientists embarked on an ambitious project to explore the impact of fir trees submerged at the bottom of a lake on the local ecosystem. They submerged 1,500 fir trees in the depths of Lake Saimaa, a large and frozen lake in Finland, aiming to create an underwater wood habitat.

The researchers sought to determine whether establishing a submerged wood park could benefit both fish populations and the lake’s water mass. Three years later, the scientists have retrieved the trees to analyze their effects on the lake’s ecosystem.

Algae and fish populations multiply

Kari-Matti Vuori, the lead scientist of the study, confirmed that areas where the trees were placed saw a significant increase in benthic production. Benthic production refers to the amount of organisms living on the lakebed. According to Vuori, the number of benthic animal individuals increased tenfold, and species diversity in the submerged zone quintupled. These changes were evident when comparing benthic samples taken before and after the trees were submerged.

As a result, fish populations in the areas where the trees were placed have also flourished. Local fishermen have shared with Vuori their observations of a considerable rise in fish numbers in the lake, attributing this growth to the submerged trees. (Note that the main image above is simply illustrative, not an actual photo of the project)

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