Warming Climate May Drastically Change Northern Forests

A warming climate may just change northern forests. Scientists have found that in the coming decades, we'll probably see a very different set of trees due to climbing temperatures.

In order to better understand the effect that warmer temperatures might have on northern forests, the scientists conducted a unique long-term outdoor experiment to examine the effects of climate change on trees in the boreal forest along the U.S.-Canadian border. They used infrared heating lamps and soil heating cables to simulate the effects of just a few degrees of climate warming on 72 plots containing 4,100 young trees.

The researchers examined several different species of trees. Some species, like fir and spruce, thrived in cooler areas and were at the southern edge of their range. Other species, like oaks and maple, preferred a more temperature climate. Aspen, birch and pin, in contrast, had a more neutral response.

The researchers found that while all of these species may continue to co-exist in a warmer climate, the balance of power shifted. While boreal species were at the top, a warmer environment caused oaks and maples to be dominant. In addition, spruce and fir may struggle to compete for sunlight and water with neighboring trees and plants as climate changes.

In a warmer climate, it's likely that there will be a northward invasion of non-native species like buckthorn.

"In the best case scenario, oaks and maples will become more dominant as boreal species decline, and we will have a different, but still functional forest," said Peter Reich, one of the researchers, in a news release. "In the worst-case scenario, oaks and maples will not replace the declining species fast enough, and our forests will be patchy and perhaps filled with invading buckthorn. The change in forest will influence everything from the supply of timber to habitat for wildlife to its allure for recreational use and tourism."

The findings are published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

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