Science: Driven by Warming, Plants in Western Europe are Climbing to Higher Altitudes

To escape warming temperatures, some plants are taking up residence in higher, cooler locales, but the upward climb of these forest plants could disrupt mountain ecosystems, says new research in the 27 June issue of Science.

Jonathan Lenoir and his research team surveyed 171 plant species in Western Europe and found an average upward shift of 29 meters per decade, give or take about 11 meters. The shift happened over the course of the 20th century, with the steepest climb occurring between 1971 and 1993, when the average shift was nearly 65 meters per decade.

For more information on the changing distribution of plants, read the full story.