Jackson Hole News & Guide highlight tree study co-authored by McGill
Jackson Hole News & Guide reported on a study co-authored by Brian McGill, a professor of ecological modeling at the University of Maine, that reveals how trees that adapted to cold climates, like the western limber pine, may have greater heat resilience than previously thought. They compared trees’ “realized niches” in the wild with their “potential niches” in controlled environments, like arboretums. This approach suggests that while cold-adapted trees could tolerate higher temperatures, their survival will still be threatened by factors such as pests and changing fire regimes exacerbated by climate change.