Forest Composition Shifts

Figure 18.4

U.S. Forest Service
Matthew Peters

This figure appears in chapter 18 of the Climate Change Impacts in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment report.

http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/regions/midwest/graphics/forest-composition-shifts

As climate changes, species can often adapt by changing their ranges. Maps show current and projected future distribution of habitats for forest types in the Midwest under two emissions scenarios, a lower scenario that assumes reductions in heat-trapping gas emissions (B1), and a very high scenario that assumes continued increases in emissions (A1FI). Habitats for white/red/jack pine, maple/beech/birch, spruce/fir, and aspen/birch forests are projected to greatly decline from the northern forests, especially under higher emissions scenarios, while various oak forest types are projected to expand.fb94e3f2-7687-4d1b-9fdb-b7e2dc8bce84 While some forest types may not remain dominant, they will still be present in reduced quantities. Therefore, it is more appropriate to assess changes on an individual species basis, since all species within a forest type will not exhibit equal responses to climate change. (Figure source: Prasad et al. 2007fb94e3f2-7687-4d1b-9fdb-b7e2dc8bce84).

When citing this figure, please reference Prasad et al. 2007fb94e3f2-7687-4d1b-9fdb-b7e2dc8bce84.

Free to use with credit to the original figure source.

This figure was created on November 14, 2013.

References :

• webpage A Climate Change Atlas for 134 Forest Tree Species of the Eastern United States [Database] (fb94e3f2)

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