Open thread - Happy Birthday Sierra Club -- Eastern Forests Move West
On May 28, 1892, John Muir organized the Sierra Club in San Francisco. Now, 125 years later we find eastern forests moving West & North. There are no reports of Treebeard, however, and their march is exceedingly slow.
From this article in the Christian Science Monitor: https://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2017/0526/New-study-asks-why-some-...
"Different species are responding to climate change differently," Songlin Fei, one of the authors of the study, told The Atlantic. "Most of the broad-leaf species – deciduous trees – are following moisture moving westward. The evergreen trees – the needle species – are primarily moving northward."
There are exceptions, of course: The eastern pine has moved more than 80 miles west, while the eastern cottonwood has shifted 77 miles north, but the overall trends are clear.
"I think it's important not to lose track of the finding that hardly any shifts were reported to the south," says Lookingbill. "These are not random processes going willy-nilly in all directions."
Why? Are you ready?
Climate change is the suspected reason, specifically shifts in moisture patterns. Introduced pests may also play a role.
Where the trees go, others are sure to follow
It's an open thread, carry on.
Comments
Now, Treebeard would beat even Sasquatch for awesomeness.
And in other news, Iran talks turkey.
Iran’s shockingly honest reaction to Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia
Very nice article, thanks.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Interesting post.
I never thought about tree migration much, but it makes sense. Thanks for bailing out the Sunday OT again, and with such an interesting post on such short notice. If you make it to Michigan, I'll buy you lunch.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
My pleasure. The post was pure serendipity.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Personal observation
which may or may not be tied to climate change. After a flurry of activity at my hummingbird feeder early in the season when many migrants pass through, I have had little activity compared to the previous ten years. My walking partner has noted the same thing. Friends in Kentucky observed similar thing too. My first thought was that the hummingbirds may have moved further north than normal.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Those are the kind of data points collected
by perpetrators of phenology. A lot of good science has been built from citizen science reports, such as that.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Some photos from the Sierra Nevada Mountains
Thanks for posting this open thread on the Sierra Club's 125th Birthday.
I'll add some recent photos taken in Yosemite National Park that may help readers visualize why John Muir would want to start a club to preserve these mountains.
Misty mountain view of Half Dome
Yosemite Falls
Lower Yosemite Falls seen from above
note: John Muir lived near the base of this waterfall when he first worked in Yosemite Valley.
Rock Climbing Bear looking for food
Bobcat hunting for food
Great pics, jbob, thanks.
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
More Yosemite
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --