Same species, different climate risks: why plants need regional plans

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA study of vascular plants in the United States finds that a species can face different climate risks depending on which region it grows in, Phys.org reports.

2. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThe researchers, from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, say a plant in the Southwest may be more vulnerable than the same plant in the Midwest.

3. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorOr the other way round.

4. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo we're calling it. This is BBN's Pet of the Day ceremony, and the pet is a plant.

5. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorIt doesn't do tricks.

6. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIt stays where you put it. Dale, the title is Most Regionally Complicated Houseguest, with an asterisk.

7. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorStat line: three hundred eighty-four species in each of seven regions, and twenty-two in all forty-eight states. Zero tricks, zero barks, one very long root.

8. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorBest detail is the lead researcher, Weiqing Qu, calling these plants diverse and very sensitive to climate change. That's a plant with a lot of feelings, and the study's the only one that asked.

9. 

   Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorI'm moved, Hank. Truly. A national plan would have missed every one of them, and the regional data is the reliable bit.

10. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorWe should have been crying about this for years.

11. 

    Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe trophy goes to the Midwest.

12. 

    Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThe Southwest would like a word.