[frankthetank]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'U')F RESEARCHER: GLOBAL WARMING DRAMATICALLY CHANGED ANCIENT FORESTS

Palmettos in Pennsylvania? Magnolias in Minnesota? The migration of subtropical plants to northern climates may not be too far-fetched if future global warming patterns mirror a monumental shift that took place in the past, new research by an international team of scientists suggests.

The findings, which appear in this week’s issue of the journal Science, provide the first evidence that land plants changed drastically during a period of sudden global warming 55 million years ago, said Jonathan Bloch, a University of Florida vertebrate paleontologist and member of the research team

[PenultimateManStanding]

Avocados and guacamole for Canadians! Interesting that they're writing about severe global warming 55 million years ago. Of course I want to always have the right attitude about things like this, and I don't dispute that things are warming up, but. . . (well, we had this discussion a month ago, and I'd be suprised if anyone actually changed their mind about it)

[KiddieKorral]

I swear to God I saw palmettos in Ireland. I took pictures of some. Can any of our Irish posters tell me if they've always been there? 'Cause I'm pretty sure nobody would intentionally plant a palmetto in the middle of an empty field in Co. Kerry or a vacant lot in Co. Wexford.

[CarlinsDarlin]

Interesting - though I haven't necessarily noticed a lot of subtropical plants around here (with the exception of a few people's banana trees that almost always get taken indoors in winter), I have noticed what I think is a related change. When I was a child, one almost never saw an armadillo in this part of the state. Seeing one was a rarity. This summer, we've been over run with them. My akita has killed 3 in the back yard, and we have killed or trapped and moved 4 others - also in the fenced back yard, or near the chicken coop, just off the end of the house. No telling how many are running through the pastures.

Kathy

[Ebyss]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('KiddieKorral', 'I') swear to God I saw palmettos in Ireland. I took pictures of some. Can any of our Irish posters tell me if they've always been there? 'Cause I'm pretty sure nobody would intentionally plant a palmetto in the middle of an empty field in Co. Kerry or a vacant lot in Co. Wexford.

[KiddieKorral]

It's a type of palm tree. The ones I saw looked like this, but with a thinner trunk in proportion to crown size.

[Sparaxis]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('KiddieKorral', 'I')t's a type of palm tree. The ones I saw looked like this, but with a thinner trunk in proportion to crown size.

[ohanian]

Subtropical plants moving northward???

You are kidding right? I wish if only!

In my country, Subtropical plants only moves southwards.

[KiddieKorral]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Sparaxis', 'Y')ou virtually answered your own question here through that link. Several species of palmetto are hardy as far north as North Carolina, which is in the USDA plant hardiness zone 7-8 (the hardiness zones indicate the average lowest temperature). And as you see here, Ireland is nearly all zone 8 and 9. So despite being at the latitude of Labrador, the Gulf Stream gives Ireland a subtropical climate, particularly along the coast. If the Gulf Stream falters, Western Europe will be one place where subtropicals plants will be moving south.

[lotrfan55345]

We have tropical plants moving northwards... here in Minneapolis, many many malls and restaurants have palm trees (outside!) that clash considerably with the christmas decor, snow, and bitterly cold temperatures.

[Claire]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('KiddieKorral', 'I') swear to God I saw palmettos in Ireland. I took pictures of some. Can any of our Irish posters tell me if they've always been there? 'Cause I'm pretty sure nobody would intentionally plant a palmetto in the middle of an empty field in Co. Kerry or a vacant lot in Co. Wexford.

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PenultimateManStanding', 'A')vocados and guacamole for Canadians! Interesting that they're writing about severe global warming 55 million years ago. Of course I want to always have the right attitude about things like this, and I don't dispute that things are warming up, but. . . (well, we had this discussion a month ago, and I'd be suprised if anyone actually changed their mind about it)