University of Waterloo researchers found that black spruce trees need a specific combination of traits to grow well in warmer and drier conditions. The study, led by Dr. Julie Messier, shows that fewer needles, conservative water use, and conservative carbon use all have to be present. One trait alone, such as water efficiency, did not make the difference. These findings matter for reforestation programs and carbon storage planning. As Canada's climate changes, choosing seedlings with the right traits could improve survival rates and keep forests storing carbon instead of becoming a liability. The full study is published in Annals of Botany.
