"Baxter's Research Aims to Find Climate-Resilient Plants"

Researchers led by paleoecologist Jacquelyn Gill at the University of Maine are conducting a five-year study to examine ancient DNA found in lake sediment in four Northeast mountain ranges to determine which alpine plants are most likely to survive global warming. The study aims to identify the traits shared by climate-resilient plants and those that have been lost over time. The research will help prepare for a warmer future in Maine and could have implications for farmers, conservation biologists, and foresters. The project received a $2.5 million National Science Foundation award and will culminate in the creation of models to predict the impact of climate change on alpine plant species.