Which Tree Species are Most at Risk in a Changing Climate?
A walk in the woods or a stroll on a tree-lined street could be a very different experience just a few decades from now. Higher temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and longer growing seasons predicted for the future could require that some tree species will have to move – or be moved – into new areas where habitat will be more suitable. Some tree species may be able to stay in place by adapting to new conditions, yet others may succumb to the pressures of climate change if they are unable to adapt. Researchers with the Eastern Threat Center are developing measures to predict which tree species are most at risk. Read more in CompassLive...
Pictured: Carolina hemlock (Tsuga caroliniana), which grows on high-elevation slopes and ridges, is expected to lose areas of suitable habitat in a changing climate. Photo by Will Cook, www.carolinanature.com.
