Since we are animals ourselves, we understand the seasonal movements of animals, as well as the refugee species that move into new territories for food or safety. Plants do the same, but on a different time scale and by a different method. Trees cannot just walk to a new place (ents notwithstanding), but instead disperse massive numbers of seeds. Those that fall into a better-suited area will take hold and thrive, while their parents may succumb to declining conditions. In this way, forests themselves move. We have records of tree species that have moved thousands of miles, whether they came from the fossil record or eyewitness testimony.
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Trees die out in places where the soil is dry or depleted, the climate changes, or invasive species attack. In the last few decades, climate change has accelerated so much that the natural rhythm of forest movement itself is stressed. Logging has contributed to poor forest conditions, as well as the encroachment of farmland and human settlement. Global trade has fueled invasive species.
Emergence magazine has a multimedia article explaining natural forest movement, and how human activity and climate change have affected various trees’ ability to find new homes. After the intro, scroll down to find text, videos, links, and charts explaining what’s happening to our forests. The example of the black ash tree (also called the basket tree) is explored in depth, and there are links to the migration stories of sugar maple, paper birch, and red spruce trees, too. -via Damn Interesting
Source: neatorama