Friday, November 7, 2014

Israeli Plants Resistant to Climate Change


Ayalim Association http://ayalim.org/ was founded in 2002 with the goal of strengthening existing communities and social involvement in the Negev and Galilee. The Association’s role is to revive the former pioneering spirit  in the 21st century and with means to achieve this goal through the establishment of student and entrepreneur villages.

A recently published study by Ayalim shows that while Israel, like the rest of the world, is expected to be impacted by the effect of global warming, Israel’s plans are more resilient than other plant species when it comes to being able to withstand the stresses of global warming. The study took place over the course of a few years and included scientists from Israel, Germany and the United States.

They studied a variety of different plant species from around the world under conditions similar to those expected to occur due to climate changes.  The researchers assumed that different species of flora, including oats, barley and a range of flowering plants and clover would either die of or disperse their seeds in an attempt to find cooler locations with more rainfall.  When it came to these Israeli plant species, many did not.

The researchers explain that over the past 1000 years, these plan species have become increasingly resilient.  The results of this study are making climate researchers rethink the impacts of global warming on Israel and the surrounding region.  One of the researchers commented by saying that  “plant communities in the Holy Land can cope with climate change of ‘biblical’ dimensions.”

"Our plants are strong and so our the people of Israel!" says the spokesman 

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