The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently revealed the results of an 18-year study on 27,000 trees. The study revealed that tree growth, as well as a tree’s ability to produce viable seeds, may be more sensitive to climate change than previously thought. Some of the factors affecting tree growth and reproduction include earlier spring warming and summer drought.
According to Science Daily, scientists are hopeful that the findings of this study will help them, as well as policy makers, predict which species are vulnerable to climate change and why. Currently, they know that pine, elm, beech, and magnolia trees are very vulnerable to climate change.
James Clark of Duke University and lead author of the paper, said “In a sense, what we’ve done is an epidemiological study on trees to better understand how and why certain species, or demographics, are sensitive to variation and in what ways.”
You can read more at Science Daily.
Photo credit: Dublinlibrary.wordpress.com.