Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Shapeshifting plants

Some researchers have discovered that some plants are able to alter their characteristics due to their environment. In the Rocky Mountains, a mustard plant has been discovered that is able to change its appearance along with its grow cycle to optimize its ability to grow. A big theme surrounding climate change is that many species of plants and animals are not going to be able to adjust to the changing planet. This article suggests that some species might be better than others at adapting to changes in their environment. Because only part of a plants life is dependent on climate, the other being sun exposure, scientists believe that plants may be able to adapt better than we first thought, so long as the rotation of the earth stays the same, which it will. To find out more about the details, check out this article.

Credit: Dartmouth College

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