A new study from Duke University points to tough times ahead for some tree species. Researchers examined data on climate change and the effect rising temperatures are having on tree populations in the eastern U.S. James Clark is a professor of biology and statistics at Duke. He says models that predicted trees would move with the climate were wrong.
James Clark: "If tree populations are migrating we'd expect the offspring to be out in front of the adults and what we found is that's not the case so even in the places where we've seen the most rapid climate change we're not finding that trees are tracking that change, they're not keeping up with it."
Clark says that means trees will be living in less than ideal climate conditions. He says that will make them more susceptible to things like disease and drought.
