Cambridge dictionary (2019) defines growth as a person, animal, or plant’s ability to increase in size. Hilton (2023) says that the main stages of tree growth are:
- Seed germination
- Seedling
- Sapling
- Maturity
Open Access Pub (2020) says that the main stages of animal growth are:
- Embryonic
- Juvenile
- Adult
Araucaria araucana (Monkey puzzle tree):
The monkey puzzle tree starts off the growth process as a large, nut-like seed which requires well drained, moist soil and temperatures of around 20 degrees Celsius in order to germinate correctly (BBC Gardeners World Magazine, n.d.). They also say that germination can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months.
Figure 1. Monkey puzzle tree seeds.
Monkey puzzle trees undergo a process called photosynthesis which occurs in the chloroplast in the leaves. Lambers (2019) describes photosynthesis as when light energy is used to convert water, carbon dioxide, and minerals into oxygen and energy rich organic compounds such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). There are two types of photosynthesis, light dependent and light independent, but both types lead to the production of the same compounds. The compounds that are produced are then used to fuel cellular activity such as growth.
Figure 2. Diagram of photosynthesis in plants.
The monkey puzzle tree obtains nutrients and minerals from the soil such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NSW Government, 2017). It is said that these nutrients have a significant role in a plant’s growth and without them the growth can be slowed down and dramatically reduced. Mosaic (2024) identifies nitrogen as a ‘major component’ of chlorophyll, amino acids, ATP and nucleic acids such as DNA, which all have a vital impact on the growth of a plant. Griffith (2024) states that phosphorus is a ‘vital’ component of DNA and ATP linked to the growth and development of the roots, and increasing the stalk and stem strength, etc. Mosaic Crop Nutrition (n.d.) states how potassium is needed in all cellular processes involved with the growth of a plant and helps increase the growth of the roots.
Figure 3. A mature monkey puzzle tree.
It takes the monkey puzzle tree around 10 years to reach full maturity. This is when branch patterning and leaf development occurs. Their branches are puzzle-like with sharp, spirally arranged leaves (Shaw Green Trees, 2023). This is also when the tree produces seeds, which are then used in reproduction or as a food source for humans (Ncsu.edu, 2025). During the mature growth stage, they can reach heights of around 50 metres with a diameter of over three metres and can live for around 1000 years (The Eden Project, n.d.).
Gorilla beringei beringei (Mountain Gorilla):
Infant gorillas develop and grow much quicker than humans. They begin to crawl at around nine weeks old, stand at 20 weeks, and walk at 34 weeks (seaworld, n.d.). Males reach maturity at around 15-20 years, where females reach maturity at around 10 years (study.com, 2023).
Figure 4. An infant mountain gorilla.
Mountain gorillas undergo a process called respiration which occurs in the mitochondria of the cell. This can be either aerobic (requires oxygen) or anaerobic (does not require oxygen). It is a process of which glucose and oxygen, if aerobic, is converted into carbon dioxide, water, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (BBC Bitesize, 2024). ATP is then used as an energy source in cells, allowing growth to occur within them.
Mountain gorillas also consume food to gain energy required for growth. They mainly eat plants such as bamboo (World Wildlife Fund, 2019), which they then extract nutrients needed to provide cells with energy. Bamboo is rich in fibre, carbohydrates and other essential nutrients which then allows for better digestive movement and energy.
Figure 5. Mountain gorilla eating.
Mountain gorillas also consume insects, which provides them with protein to allow for the growth and repair of cells (Nutriphy, 2024). Makanga (2020) states that an adult male mountain gorilla can consume around 34 kilograms of vegetation a day, where females consume around 18 kilograms.
Male mountain gorillas can grow between 135 to 195 kilograms and 1.5 to 1.8 metres tall (Gorilla Trekking Uganda, n.d.). However, females grow to a much smaller size of around 90 kilograms and 1.5 metres tall (WWF, 2023). They can live for 50 to 60 years.
Figure 6. Fully grown male mountain gorilla.
Overall, the monkey puzzle tree and the mountain gorilla have both similarities and differences when it comes to growth. Both species take around 10 years to reach maturity but start off differently, the monkey puzzle tree as a seed that needs germinating, and the mountain gorilla as an infant that needs nurturing. As well as this, both species undergo processes that exchange reactants for products that then help the growth of each species, however the processes differ due to the reactants, and the products produced. Another way they are similar is they both require nutrients and minerals to provide energy for their development and growth, even if they are from dissimilar sources. Their final growth differs significantly due to their final sizes. The monkey puzzle tree grows to a much larger size than the mountain gorilla. Maturity also has different meanings for both species. For the monkey puzzle tree, maturity is when it is fully grown, the branch pattern and leaves are fully developed, and when they are sexually mature and produce seeds ready for reproduction. For the mountain gorilla, maturity is also when they are fully grown, but also when all their organs are fully developed and when they are sexually mature, to begin breeding and reproduction. Life expectancy is also different for both species as the monkey puzzle tree lives for much longer than the mountain gorilla, however this is not dependent on growth and is more dependent on other variables such as health and environmental factors.
References:
BBC bitesize (2024). Aerobic and anaerobic respiration – What happens during cellular respiration? – OCR 21C – GCSE Biology (Single Science) Revision – OCR 21st Century. [online] BBC Bitesize. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zwy6gdm/revision/2
BBC Gardeners World Magazine. (n.d.). How to grow a monkey puzzle tree. [online] Available at: https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-a-monkey-puzzle-tree/
Cambridge Dictionary (2019). GROWTH | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary. [online] Cambridge.org. Available at: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/growth
Gorilla Trekking Uganda. (n.d.). Silverback Gorilla – Adult Male Mountain Gorilla – About Silverbacks. [online] Available at: https://www.gorillaugandasafaris.com/silverback-gorilla/
Griffith, B. (2024). Role of Phosphorus in Plants. [online] Mosaic Crop Nutrition. Available at: https://www.cropnutrition.com/nutrient-management/phosphorus/
Hilton, B. (2023). Stages Of Tree Growth | Life Cycle. [online] thegardeningfix.com. Available at: https://thegardeningfix.com/stages-of-tree-growth/.
Lambers, H. (2019). Photosynthesis. In: Encyclopedia Britannica. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/science/photosynthesis
Makanga, S. (2020). How Much Does a Gorilla ? Amount of Food a Gorilla eats in a day. [online] Wild Gorilla Safaris. Available at: https://www.wildgorillasafaris.com/how-much-does-a-gorilla-eat-per-day-amount-of-food-a-gorilla-eats-per-day/
Mosaic (2024). Nitrogen | key nutrients. [online] Mosaic Crop Nutrition. Available at: https://www.cropnutrition.com/nutrient-management/nitrogen/
Ncsu.edu. (2025). Monkey Puzzle Tree – Araucaria araucana | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. [online] Available at: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/araucaria-araucana/common-name/monkey-puzzle-tree/
NSW Government (2017). Plant Nutrients in the Soil. [online] www.dpi.nsw.gov.au. Available at: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/soils/soil-testing-and-analysis/plant-nutrients
Nutriphy. (2024). What Do Mountain Gorillas Eat? A Look at Their Diet – Nutriphy. [online] Available at: https://nutriphy.in/blog/mountain-gorilla-diet-10292/ [Accessed 6 Jan. 2025].
Open Access Pub (2020). Openaccesspub. [online] Open Access Pub. Available at: https://openaccesspub.org/zoological-research/animal-growth-and-development.
seaworld.org. (n.d.). All About the Gorilla – Birth & Care of Young| SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. [online] Available at: https://seaworld.org/animals/all-about/gorilla/care-of-young/
Shaw Green Trees. (2023). Shaw Green Trees. [online] Available at: https://shawgreentrees.co.uk/araucaria-araucana-monkey-puzzle/
study.com. (2023). Mountain Gorilla | Mating & Life Cycle | Study.com. [online] Available at: https://study.com/learn/lesson/gorilla-lifespan-mating.html
The Eden Project. (n.d.). Monkey puzzle. [online] Available at: https://www.edenproject.com/visit/things-to-do/outdoor-gardens/monkey-puzzle
World Wildlife Fund. (2019). What do gorillas eat? And other gorilla facts | WWF. [online] Available at: https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/what-do-gorillas-eat-and-other-gorilla-facts
WWF (2023). Top 10 Facts about Mountain Gorillas. [online] WWF. Available at: https://www.wwf.org.uk/learn/fascinating-facts/gorillas