NSF Study - 59% Of E. US Tree Species' Ranges Shrinking; 21% Moving North; 16% Spreading South

[hatrack]

More than half of Eastern U.S. tree species are not adapting to climate change as quickly or consistently as predicted, posing risks for their survival, says a new Duke University-led study.

Previous climate models had predicted that trees would migrate to higher latitudes and elevations as temperatures warm but such a northward migration is not happening, according to the study that analyzed decades of data from the U.S. Forest Service. The scientists examined 92 tree species at 43,334 forest plots in 31 states.

Nearly 59% percent of the species showed signs that their geographic ranges were contracting from both north and south, and only 21% appeared to be shifting northward as predicted, the study finds. About 16% seemed to be advancing southward, and 4% appeared to be expanding in both directions.

EDIT

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/11/us-forests-climate-change-not-adapting/1?csp=34news

[NickB79]

1. Kind of hard for a species to migrate north when so much land is covered in farms and cities

I'm trying to do my part as best I can by planting more southernly species on my property and giving away seedlings I grow to friends and neighbors.

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. See also…

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=315527&mesg_id=315527