A giant sequoia tree (Sequoiadendron giganteum), a species found only in forests along the Sierra Nevada’s western slope, can grow over 300 feet (91.4 meters) tall and live as long as 3,000 years or more. But even this long-lived species is not invulnerable to climate change. Mature, more deeply-rooted sequoias stand a better chance of surviving more frequent extreme weather events, including floods, droughts, and wildfires, but seedlings and saplings can struggle to establish their roots. And over the past 10 years, scientists have observed that intense, multi-year droughts have contributed to the deaths of dozens of giant sequoia trees, suggesting that they are not as resilient to a changing climate as once thought.
📣This feature is part of our #ClimateAndNature series, where we highlight how climate change is affecting species on our planet.
🌱See this and other species in the Spectrum of Life in the Museum’s Hall of Biodiversity.
🌏Join us tomorrow, April 22, for EarthFest! Learn more about conservation & climate change at this family-friendly online festival in honor of Earth Day. #linkinbio
Photo: Laura Camp, CC BY-NC 2.0, flickr (at American Museum of Natural History) https://www.instagram.com/p/CN7juJPAOrP/?igshid=1j0o1y4sad3zg
Happy belated Earth Day!















