When night falls

What happens in the forest when the sun goes down?

As night falls, the forest cools: humidity increases and the conditions that regulate the activity of organisms change.

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. Without photons, this process stops almost immediately, but it would be wrong to think that plants would fall asleep.

Plants continue to breathe without using their leaves, drawing part of their energy from the sugars produced during the day.

Some species change the position of their leaves during the night: this phenomenon is called nyctinasty.

Why do they do it?

There are several hypotheses that probably coexist: reducing water loss, limiting radiative cooling, protecting pollen and delicate tissues from nighttime humidity, or even discouraging some herbivores.

Want to discover the adventures of nocturnal wildlife? Follow @alpeiraamm on Instagram and you'll discover them, along with lots of interesting facts and information about the mountains 💚