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Mountain mystery: How’d that record tree get up here?
- Hugh Safford, a forest ecologist at UC Davis, discovered a record-setting Jeffrey pine tree at an unexpectedly high elevation in California’s High Sierra.
- The Jeffrey pine was found at an elevation of 12,657 feet, surpassing the previous highest-known elevation for this species.
- The shift in tree ranges to higher elevations is attributed to global warming, with the changing climate making previously inhospitable areas suitable for plant growth.
- The spread of trees to higher altitudes may be facilitated by birds like Clark’s nutcrackers, which help transport seeds uphill.
- Similar high-elevation Jeffrey pines have been observed in the Sierras, indicating a broader trend of trees expanding their ranges upwards.
- While trees are adapting to higher elevations, they are also facing challenges in their traditional habitats as they struggle to keep pace with changing environmental conditions.
- Hugh Safford's on-ground research underscores the importance of direct observation in understanding the impact of climate change on ecosystems.
- The discovery of the record Jeffrey pine highlights the effects of climate change on plant species distribution, with trees moving uphill to survive.
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