magazine...The impacts of climate change extend far beyond the weather reports.Take allergies for example. Many plants respond to rising tempatures and higher levels of carbon dioxide by blooming earlier and producing more pollen. Ragweed is becoming even more allergic, not only does increased CO2 result in more ragweed pollen, but the pollen contains higher levels of an allergy-causing protein, potentially leading to more severe hay-fever attacks. ticks, mosquitoes, aphids, and other pests prosper due to longer growning seasons.
Any poison ivy? "The chemicals that makes you itch is increasing with higher carbon-dioxide levels" explains Havens. Poison ivy is becoming more toxic.
There is more in this article for the home gardner about how some plants are blooming much earlier now in a study that has been on going with some plants and trees since1970.(smile)
Posted By: ROBINSON IRMA
Saturday, June 4th 2011 at 9:48PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...