MSI PI Robert Reich (Forest Resources) is the lead researcher on a recent paper showing that plants can adapt to a warming climate and release less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than previously thought. The findings come from a five-year project called “B4WARMED,” which simulated the effects of climate change on plots of trees in open-air settings. The paper was published recently in the prestigious journal Nature.
Articles about this research appeared in numerous publications, including:
University of Minnesota Discover blog
UM Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) Inquiry blog
Professor Reich used MSI resources for modeling related to the B4WARMED project. He and his group are currently using MSI to develop better global land models.
In another recent Nature article, Professor Reich and colleagues from around the world showed that a relativity small number of combinations of biological traits are successful. An article appears on the OVPR’s Inquiry blog.