Posted on 01/22/2009 2:40:13 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Trees in old-growth forests of the western United States are dying at twice the usual rate, and scientists say climate change may be to blame.
In one of the largest-ever surveys of U.S. forests, ecologists analyzed data on nearly 60,000 trees in 76 old-growth forests. Set to be published Friday in the journal Science, the study reported a startling jump over the past few decades: regardless of type, size or elevation, twice as many trees are dying each year.
And while death rates have increased, birth rates for new trees have remained stable — meaning there aren't enough new trees to replace the old ones.
For now, the percentage of trees dying each year is small, so doubling the rate means an increase of only 1 or 2 percent per year. But over time, small increases can add up, said Dr. Phillip van Mantgem, U.S. Geological Survey researcher and co-leader of the research team.
"If current trends continue, forests will become sparser over time," van Mantgem said. "Simple projections of forest stand structure indicate that average tree age will eventually decrease by half, and this will potentially lead to decreasing average tree size."
Sparser forests provide fewer places for animals to live, van Mantgem said, and also put trees at-risk for sudden die-off from catastrophic incidents such as fire, drought and bark beetle attack.
In addition, because large trees absorb significant amounts of carbon dioxide, death of old-growth forests could further exacerbate climate change.
The study analyzed data collected since 1955, from forests across California, the Pacific Northwest and several Rocky Mountain states.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Global warming has been appointed to always be the cause of EVERYTHING bad until proven otherwise....and event then, sometimes, they won’t let go.
Hog wash on multiple levels.
The one that stands out to me is the CO2 claims. Old trees grow slower than younger trees. Basic forestry management calls for cutting out mature trees to maximize wood output. Old trees dying will increase CO2 uptake.
Also seedling sprouting is based on area. Thousands die for every old growth tree seen. Because the old tree dies does not mean an increase in seedlings, that is maxed out already.
Note the trees are dying in the West only. No metion of clear cutting rain forests in brazil or indonesia. The trees are just dying in the west.
Let the NY Times, LA Times, Wa Po, NewsWeak, and Tiume magazine go broke faster and at least 3 million trees a year will be saved.
They’re most likely dieing off because they tend to live immoral lives.
Ok, we don't act on "may" - call back when you know for sure. To act otherwise would be reckless.
For now, the percentage of trees dying each year is small, so doubling the rate means an increase of only 1 or 2 percent per year.
Ok, I see now. It sounds better (ie. more alarming) to say the rate has doubled. Never mind that it is a very small rate, and small fluctuations make for large percentage changes. These guys are useless.
Sounds like lumber prices should be dropping then.
More warmth and CO2 is killing trees??????? Do they even think about this stuff?
Put "climate change" or "global warming" on a grant request, get government funding, blame man-made climate change for [fill in the blank]. We have too many scientists chasing grant money.
“....But, they have carefully examined EVERY other possible variable and global warming is the only possible cause. NOT.
These folks are producing Obama-output....”
Reminds me of the “Acid rain” is killing all the frogs rant....until the virus responsible was identified.
We live in an era where anything bad be it real, imaginary or yet to be known, is because of global warming.
Yes, even global cooling.
The leftists are so ‘worried’ about ‘birth and death’ rates for trees..yet don’t care about the ‘death’ of babies being killed before they are even ‘birthed’
These people are insane and dangerous!
So much is wrong with this...where do I start?
How about this line:
“And while death rates have increased,
birth rates for new trees have remained stable
— meaning there aren’t enough new trees to replace the old ones.”
First, trying to get beyond using the phrase “birth rate” for trees...
Well, thousands of seeds die or are eaten for every one that finds a suitable growth environment and sprouts. And of the ones that sprout, hundreds are trampled or eaten or otherwise killed for every one that survives. And for those that manage to survive, the biggest killer of a young struggling sapling is the shade produced by the older mature trees. So actually, if the older trees go bye-bye, the younger trees have a better chance to survive.
Ya want to know what damages a tree? It is from the salt that has to be put on the roads because of the massive SNOW STORMS....
A tree problem??
Must be Bush’s fault.
Scientists? Names please!
1,000,000 tons of barf!
Trees are dying from beetle infestation, and that is caused by not harvesting enough trees to open up the forest to sun light. If the bark is heated by the sun, fewer beetle eggs survive, and less damage is done to trees.
Old growth trees die because they are old. That makes sense, what doesn’t make sense is that he thinks old growth forest have a lot of wild life. They don’t because there is not much for animals to eat. Animals like to live on the edge of forest where they can browse on the brush and grass in the fields and go back into the forest to hide. When an old tree dies and falls over, it becomes a nursery for seedlings so that is a good thing. I am not a game biologist and I didn’t sleep in a Holiday Inn last night but I have followed a hunter around the woods and fields for 51 years and I have learned stuff.
So opening up the forest makes it more fire prone????
These guys are insane.
There are two things that are totally useless to listen to:
a drunk’s story of his divorce and the latest pronouncement of science on the harm caused by global warming, but the first is more interesting than the second.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.