Upslope migration of Andean trees

Tropical Andean tree genera are migrating upslope at rates of approximately 2.5–3.5 vertical meters per year, likely due to rising temperatures. This study, conducted across an elevational gradient in Manu National Park, Peru, analyzed repeated forest inventory data from 14 plots between 950 and 3400 meters over five years. Researchers tracked changes in the distributions of 38 tree genera, finding that most shifted upward while lower-elevation species increased in abundance. These findings provide the first documented evidence of climate-driven migrations in tropical plants, though migration rates were slower than predicted by temperature increases alone. The study suggests potential risks to biodiversity if trees struggle to keep pace with further climate change.

Feeley, K. J., Silman, M. R., Bush, M. B., Farfan, W., Cabrera, K. G., Malhi, Y., Meir, P., Revilla, N. S., Quisiyupanqui, M. N. R., & Saatchi, S. (2010). Upslope migration of Andean trees. Journal of Biogeography, 38(4), 783–791. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2010.02444.x