Many relictual rainforest species, such as those in the Araucariaceae, are at risk from anthropogenic climate change. Offord explores the potential effect of climate change on Australian Araucariceae by investigating the upper and lower threshold temperatures at which foliage damage occurs, and finds that high temperatures pose the greatest threat as upward temperature shifts combined with localized radiant heating may increase canopy temperatures by at least 10 °C. Wollemia nobilis is the most sensitive of the species tested, which may explain why many landscape plantings of this species have failed in hotter areas of Australia.
You may also like
What makes New Caledonian rainforests so different?
Rainforests in the Southwest Pacific can be highly diverse, even on a global scale, displaying higher species richness than African rainforests.
Growing up or growing out? How soil pH and light affect seedling growth of a relictual rainforest tree
Seedling growth rates can have important long-term effects on forest dynamics. Environmental variables such as light availability and edaphic factors can exert a strong influence on seedling growth. The aim of a new...
Axillary meristems in Wollemi nobilis (Viewpoints)
In a recent paper (Annals of Botany 107: 909–916; 2011) Tomlinson and Huggett indicated that reiterative branches in the pine Wollemi nobilis develop from groups of seemingly differentiated cells in axillary positions...
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
Read this in your language
The Week in Botany
On Monday mornings we send out a newsletter of the links that have been catching the attention of our readers on Twitter and beyond. You can sign up to receive it below.