Water Education Foundation
This is just one post in the Water Quality Category
Click here to view all posts

Less fog puts redwoods at risk, scientists say

Posted by: Maven on February 16, 2010 at 6:52 am

redwoodsFrom the San Francisco Chronicle:

“A gradual decrease in summer fog along the California coast over the past century may be endangering the region’s giant redwoods and affecting the ecology of the area surrounding the trees, according to a study by UC Berkeley scientists.

“The redwoods along our coast are highly dependent on fog as a source of water during the summer when water in the ground is scarce,” Todd E. Dawson, one of the study’s two authors, said in an interview. “Foggy nights are needed to rehydrate the trees that can’t tolerate long droughts.”

Mature redwoods are unlikely to die if the decrease in fog persists, he said. But fewer seeds are likely to sprout, take root and grow to maturity. … “

Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.

Picture of redwoods in fog by flickr photographer mercurialn (Creative Commons).

February 16, 2010 · Filed Under Water Quality

Comments

Leave a Reply