Plant migration

Clark argued that palynologists view plant communities as always impermanent, but rapid climate change leaves migrating trees less time to form new connections.

“they're going to have far less time to develop new connections and networks with the new plants that they set up communities with”

Stuff You Should Know: Selects: Plant Migration (Jul 25, 2026) · Listen from 24:00

Clark cited University of Vermont research showing New England red oaks moving a tenth to three-tenths of a mile per year while climate moves four to six miles per year.

“The climate is moving something like four to six miles a year. So the climate is really kind of showing up as kind of the Usain Bolt of this race”

Stuff You Should Know: Selects: Plant Migration (Jul 25, 2026) · Listen from 20:56

Clark stated that the Tasmanian tree fern can send spores 500 to 800 kilometers from the mother plant.

“the Tasmanian tree fern in particular, can send its spores 500 to 800 kilometers. That's 300 to 500 miles from the mother plant”

Stuff You Should Know: Selects: Plant Migration (Jul 25, 2026) · Listen from 1:55

Bryant described Songlin Fei's finding that eastern U.S. hardwoods are moving west and softwoods moving north at different rates.

“Different plants and trees are moving in different directions at different rates”

Stuff You Should Know: Selects: Plant Migration (Jul 25, 2026) · Listen from 22:14

Bryant noted that moving 500 meters upslope can give a plant a more hospitable climate faster than moving 90 to 100 miles north.

“a plant can find more hospitable climbs going up 500 meters than they might by going, let's just say, north like 90 to 100 miles”

Stuff You Should Know: Selects: Plant Migration (Jul 25, 2026) · Listen from 13:15