Rainforest Plants are Climbing to Survive Climate Change
Sep 27
The Andes Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research Grouphas discovered that plant life in the Amazon isn’t going down without a fight. Since many of these species are unable to survive in these rising temperatures, they are migrating higher and higher to get to cooler temperatures.
“Tropical Andean tree species are shifting roughly 8 to 12 vertical feet (2.5 to 3.5 meters) a year on average—the arboreal equivalent of a dash. Yet for those trees to remain in equilibrium with their preferred temperatures, they need to migrate more than 20 vertical feet a year,” the National Geographic article states.
Scientists are concerned that these plants won’t make it high enough fast enough. If this is the case, the ramifications could affect all of us. Not only do the tropics affect temperature around the world, but also rainfall and weather patterns. If these plants go extinct, we could be looking at accelerated global warming and less rainfall – inevitably affecting our food supply.
Source: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/09/130915-climate-change-amazon-rain-forest-science/