How do Ents Breathe?

[Valandil]

So really now...

Do Ents breathe in oxygen, and breathe out carbon dioxide? Like animals, humans, and presumably Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits, etc?

Or do they breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen? Like trees and other kinds of plants?

Which is it?

[The Witch-King of Angmar]

I'd imagine they breathed out Oxygen, seeing as their so closely related to Trees. Even though them breathing wasn't mentioned.

Maybe they don't

[Wayfarer]

Well, what do Ents eat? They eat fertile soil, just like trees.
And what do Ents drink? They drink water, just like trees.
Ents also have leaves, which are used by trees for respiration.

There is probably a good chance, then, that Ents breathe in Carbon and breathe out Oxygen.

Although, given the fact that they have mouths and can speak, it is possible that they also have lungs. That would be pretty interesting.

[The Gaffer]

Presumably, at night, they do the "dark reaction" respiration, which IIRC was o2 -> c02

Though treebeard would spend a whole week just breathing, so we can rest assured that it was a complicated matter.

[Earniel]

Interesting idea. Much would depend on whether they have chlorofyl in their skin or hair, I think.

Perhaps they use both: photosynthesis through their skin and breathing through lungs. A bit like a self-contained system. Both using and producing oxygen.

[Sister Golden Hair]

The Ents were not plants or trees were they? They were created by the Valar or Eru, since the Valar couldn't create, to watch over the forests, right? So we really don't know what they were do we? So since we don't really no what kind of creatures they were, we can't really answer this question can we?

[Earniel]

Originally Posted by Sister Golden Hair

The Ents were not plants or trees were they? They were created by the Valar or Eru, since the Valar couldn't create, to watch over the forests, right? So we really don't know what they were do we?

No, but we know they're close to trees because Ents can turn tree-ish and trees can turn Ent-ish. And Pippin and Merry on their first meeting with Treebeard thought at first he had been an ordinary tree so we can also assume they look tree-ish too. So it isn't illogical to assume they shared some characteristics with trees and perhaps other plants as well. Of course it's all speculation, but it's fun.

[Beregond]

Originally Posted by Sister Golden Hair

The Ents were not plants or trees were they? They were created by the Valar or Eru, since the Valar couldn't create, to watch over the forests, right? So we really don't know what they were do we? So since we don't really no what kind of creatures they were, we can't really answer this question can we?

They were trees which were awoken by the Valar or Eru were't they?

[me9996]

Originally Posted by Wayfarer

Well, what do Ents eat? They eat fertile soil, just like trees.
And what do Ents drink? They drink water, just like trees.
Ents also have leaves, which are used by trees for respiration.

There is probably a good chance, then, that Ents breathe in Carbon and breathe out Oxygen.

Although, given the fact that they have mouths and can speak, it is possible that they also have lungs. That would be pretty interesting.

For once I agree with you, Wayfarer...

P.S.
90 seconds, I still have some problems

[trolls' bane]

Well, I'm a great reader and all, but I often read words yet don't pay attention. Did I ever mention that I thought Bilbo was Biblo, and that Tsavong Lah the Warmaster was Warmster?

[Butterbeer]

well, you can't argue with Inked on that one .....
it'd take too much time

very interesting questions here though ... i, too should go read LOTR's ... oh wait, of course i am ... chapters 'the passing of the grey company' and 'the muster of rohan' for the discussion project ... coming soon! (still no word when it should be expected though .... calling car 51! )

they speak (ents) so should have lungs ... but i guess since they are so obviously tree-like, drinking water etc (well that settles it, heh , that narrows it down a bit ) ... and etc ... i'd guess they photosynthesise oxygen into their lungs and have a storage area for the night time ... or that they breath normally!

hope that's conclusive enough for you all

Inked:

in a machosexist degradation to all males in the nasty swamp thing where (allegedly) Frodo nearly falls in to become "a little candle".

... are you saying it would be o.k. if he had been a BIG candle???

best all BB

[Valandil]

Originally Posted by Butterbeer

... i, too should go read LOTR's ... oh wait, of course i am ... chapters 'the passing of the grey company' and 'the muster of rohan' for the discussion project ... coming soon! (still no word when it should be expected though .... calling car 51! )

(OT Post)

Ooops! Sorry 'bout that!

Got info updated finally. Can you make October 9? If not, I'll extend it a bit.

[Butterbeer]

(ot post) yeah, or the 10th for safety.

[Elanor]

Well, we know that Yavanna created the Ents in response to Aule creating the dwarves, except that she first petitioned Manwe for the privelege, right? Then Manwe created the Eagles.

I always saw the Ents as essentially trees that have "woken up" or become intelligent and capable of moving and speaking and responding to the acts of men, dwarves, wizards, elves, orcs, etc. If this is true there would be no difference between the way Ents and trees function chemically. Any tree could do the same thing if they were just "woken up" and wanted to keep on acting entish.

Then, if trees in Middle Earth function the same way they do in our world in which chemical analysis is possible, I would assume that Ents do the same. Though I can't say for sure that they do! There seems to be something magical in the nature of Middle Earth that might change things.

Another question to consider is, did the Two Trees function the same way?

[Butterbeer]

but how do they breath at night with no light to photosynthesise and when they are active walking, hoo-humming or in battle etc or whatever ... all using up supplies of oxygen?

[Elanor]

Originally Posted by Butterbeer

but how do they breath at night with no light to photosynthesise and when they are active walking, hoo-humming or in battle etc or whatever ... all using up supplies of oxygen?

Maybe the ent-draught helps. We don't know what's in it...

[Valandil]

Originally Posted by Elanor

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Another question to consider is, did the Two Trees function the same way?

That IS an interesting question! Trees use photosynthesis to grow... they take in light! What do we make of light-emiting trees?

Should probably be it's own thread though - as we're already bogging this one down by getting off of the ent respiratory thingee.

Uh... sorry inked... about going all scientifical with the two trees as well...