While some people claim climate change is a myth and others debate the direct influence that humans have on climate change, scientists around the world are actively studying how our climate is changing and how these changes are affecting life as we know it. In Canada, one research project is analyzing various tree species to determine which traits within these species will make them best suited for the future climate of various regions in Canada.
The researchers running the CoAdapTree project have not set out to genetically engineer trees that can withstand new climatic conditions, rather they are examining the genes of different populations of trees to identify localized adaptations to important environmental factors, such as heat and drought. Once these natural adaptations have been identified, the trees can be proactively planted in regions where the adaptations will be most beneficial in the future.
Tree species migrate over time to expand their range into suitable environments. Unfortunately, most species are only able to migrate 100 to 200 m per year. According to researchers in the CoAdapTree project, recent rapid changes in Canada’s climate have already placed some species up to 130 km from their optimal climate, a distance that would be extremely difficult to cover at the normal rate of migration.
As the CoAdapTree project is studying adaptations that are already contained within certain populations of trees, we are reminded of the power of natural selection to shape organisms to survive and thrive in their environment. However, when nature itself is unable to keep pace with environmental change, it is heartening to see that humans are making efforts to help.
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