An extensive, detailed study of 130 North American tree species has revealed that the climate changes expected to happen within this century could drive trees to the north. According to Science Daily, the study predicts that these tree species could shift their ranges to the north by several hundred kilometers, and shrink them by more than half.
The study, which was conducted by the Canadian Forest Service and lead by Daniel W. McKenney, was based on data gathered from Canada and the United States. The team found that if the trees respond to the predicted climate changes by dispersing their offspring to locations that are more favorable, their ranges “would move northward by some 700 kilometers and decrease in size by an average of 12 percent…” They also expect that those species that are not able to disperse to more favorable locations could face a major reduction in range by almost 60 percent.
We think it will be interesting to see if the team’s predictions show any signs of truth in the coming years. If you would like to learn more about this study, visit Sciencedaily.com.
Photo credit: Michele Hogan via Sciencedaily.com.