Environment Response Due to Climate Change
Climate change is a very serious and prevalent problem that is known to cause several negative consequences. Not just in one particular area but all around the world’s environments. Subsequently it is also inflicting those impacts in human beings. It is an unfortunate reality that has been progressively getting worse all around the world. Especially, because of all the fossil oils, deforestation and overall contamination that are constantly being produced by the human species.
This being said, a large part of the environment and animal species are all trying to adapt to the high temperatures and poor air quality. Due to this, a lot of these living nature factors have had to migrate from their point of origin. This is their way of expressing their response to the changing climate. Additionally, this problem of climate change is now even driving different trees species towards colder and wetter regions, according to a study.
Heat-Sensitive Trees Are Now Moving and Relocating
Furthermore, there has been several studies done that have shown that this is truly in fact happening. One of them took place in Brazil. This particular study was published in the “Journal of Vegetation Science” and it has shown that the trees in the Brazil’s Atlantic Forest are undergoing a complex migration. And this is happening as planet Earth continues to face the consequences of rising temperatures in response to climate change.
Therefore, like it was mentioned previously, the study found that trees are moving and relocating to more favorable temperatures. Which in many cases they are colder and wetter environment conditions. For a very long time now over 3,000 kilometers along Brazil’s coast all the way to Argentina and Paraguay, the forest has been a home to a vast majority of plants and animal species.
Deforestation Has Impacted Natural Environments and Habitats
Nonetheless, for many centuries, deforestation and habitat destruction has also taken place in many forests around the world. To which has also been a huge factor of concern, due to how it is contributing to climate change. Not to mention how this action has been impacting them in a negative way. Not just the environment but also all different species that live there. However, particularly in the Brazil’s Atlantic Forest deforestation has significantly reduced the forest by around 85%.
Due to this, some trees have slowly migrated uphill in order to escape the heat. On the other hand, there are also trees that are located in the lowland region of the forest that are migrating downhill. This phenomenon is extremely interesting because it is understandable the trees are seeking for locations where there are more suitable climate temperatures for their species due to climate change, however, what remains a mystery is the speed at which these heat-sensitive trees are moving and relocating, especially because they are very well-rooted plants.
Possible Species Extinctions Due to Trees Migration
Now, this phenomenon of trees relocating is also very concerning. Although they are seeking better climate areas where they can better adapt to, this movement is putting at risk other surrounding species. That is why the consequences of their relocation due to climate change are extremely worrisome. Furthermore, as the trees migrate to other locations, they are essentially leaving behind important and delicate ecosystems that they once supported.
Consequently, leading to the extinction of those particular species that might not be able to adapt to their changing conditions. That is why the relocation of heat-sensitive trees due to climate change is very concerning. Because, this can also lead to even more serious problems in the future of all environments around the world.
Heat-Sensitive and Climate Patters Research Study Finds
Moreover, in terms of how the study was conducted was that researchers calculated the “community temperature scores” in a total of 627 tree species. Species that live in 96 distinct locations in the Brazilian Forest. They conducted the research this way to understand the different climatic pattern of the forest. Essentially to see how the temperatures fluctuate through the environment in the forest and how this is impacting heat-sensitive trees to relocate.
What was found in the study was that different tree species are moving at all different directions. In fact, in lower forests, trees are moving downhill rather than uphill. This can be for a variety of reasons. Such as the temperature and even competition amongst tree species. Now, forests higher up are moving uphill as temperatures rise. However, this means that if trees that need colder temperatures move up are at risk of dying because the temperature do not suit them, according to lead author, Dr. Rodrigo Bergamin.
Also, Dr. Sandra Muller from Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul explained that species from higher lands are usually more heat-sensitive. Ultimately, there is a risk of tree species dying out if the temperatures do not suit them and if their do not adapt to them. And this is a result of climate change and how it is impacting these forests and environments.
Written by Jeanette Sanchez
Sources:
The Debrief: Trees are now moving due to climate change, but it’s not the first time
Phys.org: Heat-sensitive trees moving uphill due to rising temperatures, study finds
Technology Networks: Trees Migrating Are to Colder, Wetter Regions Due to Climate Change
Earth.com: Trees are ‘relocating’ in a race against global warming
Featured Image Courtesy of gava.gava Flickr Page-Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Alastair Campbell Flickr Page-Creative Commons License
