Trees 'shield vulnerable species from climate change' [View all]

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24761801



Forests with dense canopies create a microclimate that protects a variety of cold-adapted plant species from warming air temperatures, a study has shown.

Researchers found plants that favoured cooler conditions fared better under dense canopies than in ones that were more open to the elements.

They added that these conditions could be a "critical mechanism" in the conservation of forest plant diversity.

The findings appear in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.