Warming temperatures and a change in rainfall patterns have caused tree populations in the eastern United States to “shift” 20 miles north and 25 miles west over the past 30 years, according to research reported on by USA Today.
The shift occurs when older growth dies and saplings sprout in new locations. The lead researcher, Songlin Fei of Purdue University, told USA Today that trees such as oak and maple are sprouting farther west while evergreens are moving north.
Some tree species have moved more than others. The scarlet oak, for example, has moved more than 120 miles northwest from the Appalachians.
While the migration is “no doubt” a symptom of climate change, Ohio State University researcher Brent Sohngen told USA Today that other disturbances—harvesting, forest fires, etc.—are most likely playing a larger role than climate change.
