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Earlier Budding and Blooming
The effects of global warming can be witnessed each spring as plants and flowers begin to bud and bloom earlier each year. Ornamental plants are also coming up earlier in the season. For every 1.8 degrees that the temperature increases, plants and flowers will emerge up to five days earlier each year. Earlier budding and blooming has negative impacts on the food chain, as flowers and plants also die out earlier in the season. As plants die out sooner, insects like bees and butterflies see a lack of food.
Moving Plants
In their attempt to survive the heat, plants begin to migrate to more sustainable temperatures. Plant species migrate through the spreading of seeds. As the climate rises, so do winds, which spread seeds and pollen to higher elevations where plants are able to thrive in cooler climates. The migration of plants also affects the food chain, as animals will also have to move with their food sources. Sugar maple trees, which are native to New England, may begin to migrate north so they can survive in cooler climates as temperatures rise.
Diminished Cooling Power
According to Science Daily, "more than a quarter of the warming from increased carbon dioxide is due to its direct impact on vegetation." Plants and trees work as natural air conditioning in the ecosystem by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing water through small pores in their leaves. However, when levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are too high, plants respond by shrinking their pores and releasing less water. This leads to diminished cooling powers. As global warming continues to increase, we are in danger of a vicious cycle between plants and carbon dioxide: The more carbon dioxide that is emitted into the atmosphere, the more plants will struggle to cool the earth, thereby contributing to increasing climates.
Soil
As the planet warms, colder climates will experience less snowfall. Winter snow aids the growing of plants by keeping temperatures in the soil steady. However, as the ground experiences unsystematic freezing and thawing throughout the season due to lack of snow cover, the root systems of plants will suffer, and plants may not be able to survive in such unsteady soil temperatures.
Positive Effects
Not all the effects of global warming on plant life are negative. Some plants have experienced positive impacts due to climate change. In warmer climates, microbial organisms that aid plant growth are able to thrive, providing more productive plant growth. As seeds and pollen spread on warmer winds, forests that have been destroyed due to fire may become repopulated. In other areas, plants that already live on the edge of climate zones will have an easier time migrating into new, warmer climate zones.