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Thoreau And Climate Change
Henry David Thoreau was a 19th-century American naturalist, philosopher, poet, essayist, and social reformer. He is best known for “Civil Disobedience,” an essay advocating for the rebellion against an unjust government, and for “Walden,” a book about his experiences living simply in nature. Now, Thoreau’s observations from “Walden” are the foundation of a new study exploring the effects of climate change on tree leaf-out and the emergence of spring wildflowers.
This research, which was recently published in the journal Ecology
Letters, relies on Thoreau’s scientific observations gathered during the 1850s
when he spent 26 months living in isolation at Walden Pond in Concord,
Massachusetts. These observations from
Thoreau were combined with current research to measure tree and wildflower
leaf-out dates for 37 different years between 1852 and 2018. “Leaf out” refers to the time in spring when
plants and trees begin producing leaves.
An alteration in this timing can have a domino effect throughout an
ecosystem.
Over the past century, temperatures in Concord, Massachusetts have
warmed five degrees Fahrenheit. As a
result, leaf-out dates have changed significantly. According to researchers, wildflowers are
leafing out about one week earlier, while trees are leafing out about two weeks
earlier than they did 160 years ago.
Ground-dwelling plants like wildflowers have a narrow window to
accomplish growth, photosynthesis, and reproduction, before the canopy trees
leaf out and block the sunlight.
Temperature-driven shifts in the timing of tree leaf-out between
Thoreau’s time and now are likely already hindering wildflower abundance and
flowering.
As the climate continues to warm, the already small window of time between wildflower emergence and tree leaf-out will likely shorten further.
**********
Web Links
Using Thoreau, scientists measure the impact of climate change on wildflowers
Photo, posted August 13, 2008, courtesy of Adam Pieniazek via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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By Randy Simon
4.7
1515 ratings
Henry David Thoreau was a 19th-century American naturalist, philosopher, poet, essayist, and social reformer. He is best known for “Civil Disobedience,” an essay advocating for the rebellion against an unjust government, and for “Walden,” a book about his experiences living simply in nature. Now, Thoreau’s observations from “Walden” are the foundation of a new study exploring the effects of climate change on tree leaf-out and the emergence of spring wildflowers.
This research, which was recently published in the journal Ecology
Letters, relies on Thoreau’s scientific observations gathered during the 1850s
when he spent 26 months living in isolation at Walden Pond in Concord,
Massachusetts. These observations from
Thoreau were combined with current research to measure tree and wildflower
leaf-out dates for 37 different years between 1852 and 2018. “Leaf out” refers to the time in spring when
plants and trees begin producing leaves.
An alteration in this timing can have a domino effect throughout an
ecosystem.
Over the past century, temperatures in Concord, Massachusetts have
warmed five degrees Fahrenheit. As a
result, leaf-out dates have changed significantly. According to researchers, wildflowers are
leafing out about one week earlier, while trees are leafing out about two weeks
earlier than they did 160 years ago.
Ground-dwelling plants like wildflowers have a narrow window to
accomplish growth, photosynthesis, and reproduction, before the canopy trees
leaf out and block the sunlight.
Temperature-driven shifts in the timing of tree leaf-out between
Thoreau’s time and now are likely already hindering wildflower abundance and
flowering.
As the climate continues to warm, the already small window of time between wildflower emergence and tree leaf-out will likely shorten further.
**********
Web Links
Using Thoreau, scientists measure the impact of climate change on wildflowers
Photo, posted August 13, 2008, courtesy of Adam Pieniazek via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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