#climatechangeindicator

[climateresilienceplantguide]

Ginkgo biloba (Maiden-hair Tree)

Plant community:  

Native status: Native to southern China. Naturalized to the US.

Mature size (height & width):

Height: 50 -80 ft

Width: 30 - 40 ft

Habitat/ Tolerances:

Tolerant to urban settings

Salt tolerant

Pest resistant

Drought tolerant

Heat tolerant

Intolerant of poor drainage

Eco-indicator:

Hardiness zone: 3-8

Leaf color: Green leaves in the summer which turn yellow in the fall

Flower color / bloom time: Green blooms which come out in April

Response to Climate Change:

A highly resilient species which has survived 3 mass extinctions, the Gingko dates back over 200 million years ago and have retained the same appearance since then. Unlike many Deciduous trees the Ginkgo tends to lose all its trees at once the Gingko Leaf dump. Research has shown that due to changes in average temperature, the tree is budding earlier and losing its leaves over a week later than it used to.

Potential Climate applications:

Researchers are currently studying stomatal numbers on Ginkgos all over the nation and their correlation with change in CO2 concentrations in the area. They are looking at the number of stomata on fossil leaves to reconstruct past climate trends as far back as 200 million years ago. They hope to utilize this data to predict future changes in atmospheric carbon, related to climate change.

Climate adaption rank: 5

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/smithsonian-scientists-use-ginkgo-leaves-study-climate-change-they-need-your-help-180972806/

https://garden.smith.edu/node/2340

https://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descriptions/ginkgo

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=z990

[climateresilienceplantguide]

Quercus rubra (Northern Red Oak)

Plant community: Old Field 

Native status: Native to Eastern North America

Mature size (height & width):

Height: 50-75 ft

Width: 50-75 ft

Habitat/ Tolerances

Intolerant of salt

Tolerant of drought

Tolerant of poor drainage

Eco-indicator:

Hardiness zone: Zones 3-7

Leaf color: Dull dark green leaves in the summer which turn a bright red in the fall

Flower color / bloom time: Yellowish-green blooms which come out in May

Response to Climate Change:

Northward migration

 Potential Climate applications:

Top tree to use for carbon sequestration

Harvard researchers are monitoring the physiology of a red oak with a variety of cameras and sensors. Monitored factors include trunk radius, carbon storage and sequestration, sap and water flow through xylem, surrounding temperature etc. The researchers are trying to figure out how heatwaves drought and other climate change induced events effect the trees systems. The tree has already been monitored for over 50 years prior and is connected with a Twitter account to update followers on how the tree is “feeling” saying statements like, “Today is the 24th hottest day since 50 years”.

Climate adaption rank: 3

Sources

https://htirc.org/wp-content/themes/child_theme/assets/pdf/David%20Platteter.pdf

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/08/tree-in-harvard-forest-live-tweets-climate-change/

 https://ksj.mit.edu/dispatches/2015/05/19/video-what-red-oak-can-tell-us-about-climate-chang-3