Education · 07/02/2025

A study from UC Davis suggests that Dudleya plants are more likely to adapt to climate change by selecting suitable microclimates and adjusting their growth timing rather than relying on genetic evolution. The research highlights the importance of herbaria in providing historical data to understand long-term plant responses and explores the role of phenotypic plasticity in plant survival. However, extreme weather events and phenological mismatches pose new challenges to plant survival. The study underscores the complex interplay between environmental factors and plant adaptation strategies in the face of a changing climate.