Does a warm winter affect the timing of sap flow?
My Minnesota Woods
As our forests start changing in response to the shifting climate, newcomer trees are poised to expand their range toward us as conditions here become more hospitable.
Forest ecosystems include trees, plants, and wildlife, and the diverse belowground world of soil. Being a forest caretaker also means being a caretaker of the soil.
Diverse woodlands provide wonderful habitats for native pollinators. We’re shedding some light on how woodlands can be managed with pollinators in mind.
Tree species at the southern edge of their current range will face increasing climate stress, and hardwoods not currently seen in Minnesota may slowly take their place.
When spruce budworm eats the buds of a tree, the tree becomes stressed. While trees often can withstand this stress, the risk of tree death increases when a drought occurs in addition to spruce budworm feeding.
Imagine a future in which introducing fungi to a site helps control buckthorn and keeps these aggressive and ecosystem-altering plants in check. Researchers and funders are hoping to make this dream a reality.
A resistance-focused climate adaptation approach to retain the current state of woodlands involves creating areas called refugia to protect species that may not perform well with climate change.
Extension's tree selection lists include new-to-region species as options for adding diversity to existing forests to help achieve climate adaptation goals.
It’s easy to admire the beauty of the winter landscape. But what about everything that we can’t see? What happens to the forest during the winter?