[MCN] What's up with the forests up north of Montana?

[Lance Olsen]

 <https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoa-abf032618.php> <https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoa-abf032618.php> <https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoa-abf032618.php>Alberta's boreal forest could be dramatically altered by 2100 due to climate change, study says
Model by UAlberta biologists predicts big changes due to climate change and wildfire

UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA

 <https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoa-abf032618.php> <https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoa-abf032618.php> <https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoa-abf032618.php> <https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoa-abf032618.php#>  <https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoa-abf032618.php#>  <https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoa-abf032618.php#>  <https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoa-abf032618.php#> SHARE <https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoa-abf032618.php#> PRINT <https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoa-abf032618.php#>  E-MAIL <https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/uoa-abf032618.php#>
EDMONTON (Monday, March 26, 2018)--Half of Alberta's upland boreal forest is likely to disappear over the next century due to climate change, a new study shows.

The upland forest will be replaced after wildfire by open woodland or grassland, according to research from University of Alberta biologists, conducted in collaboration with Natural Resources Canada researchers.

"By 2100, at least 50 percent of the boreal upland mixed wood forest could become young deciduous forest and grassland, based on a combination of changes in climate and wildfire," said Diana Stralberg, a recently graduated PhD student in the Department of Biological Sciences.

JOURNAL
Ecosphere
Excerpt from the release: The results may actually be on the conservative side, as they do not take into account human activity, drought, or insects, explained Stralberg, who began the study as a PhD student under the supervision of Professor Erin Bayne


In worst case scenario, the trees in big parts of Canada's boreal forest 'will probably die,' says ... <https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/04/20/news/worst-case-scenario-trees-big-parts-canadas-boreal-forest-will-probably-die-says&ct=ga&cd=CAEYByoUMTU1MDY3OTY2MjEzMjI2NDYxNzcyGjM2YjY2MmYwZmUxMTMyOTI6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNEvL1M3wncTeBlOcP4LZNziHGzsJw>
National Observer <>
Large portions of Canada's vast boreal forest could be at risk of dying off by the end of the century, as climate change will dramatically aggravate the risk of wildfires, drought and insect infestations, say government scientists in a groundbreaking new study. Even by mid-century, parts of Canada's ...
https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/04/20/news/worst-case-scenario-trees-big-parts-canadas-boreal-forest-will-probably-die-says <https://www.nationalobserver.com/2018/04/20/news/worst-case-scenario-trees-big-parts-canadas-boreal-forest-will-probably-die-says>

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“Forests are shaped by climate. …. climate determines what will grow where and how well. Changes in temperature 
and precipitation regimes therefore have the potential to dramatically affect forests nationwide. “
 
Robert W. Malmsheimer et al. Forest Management Solutions for Mitigating Climate Change in the United States.  
Journal of Forestry April/May 2008

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“Plants that are tall with isohydric stomatal regulation, low hydraulic conductance, and high leaf area are most likely to die from future drought stress. Thus, tall trees of old-growth forests are at the greatest risk of loss, which has ominous implications for terrestrial carbon storage.”

McDowell and Allen. Darcy’s law predicts widespread forest mortality under climate warming. 
Nature Climate Change. 2015

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