I ce sheets and glaciers are shrinking, causing sea levels to rise. Hurricanes, tornadoes, droughts, and other natural disasters are becoming more intense and more frequent. Plant and animal geographic ranges are shifting due to climate changes, envi- ronmental destruction by forest fires, and human intervention. Humanity must simultaneously reduce the damage we are causing our planet while finding new ways to produce food, clothing, and shelter for a growing population in a changing climate. WHEN Plants GIVE BACK
DUCKWEED, A JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES IN COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE
Researchers are hunting for plants that can survive climate extremes and stresses and serve as efficient sources of bioenergy and bioproducts. HudsonAlpha faculty investigator Alex Harkess, PhD , believes a tiny green aquatic plant called duckweed could help in the fight against climate change. Duckweeds are the fastest-known reproducing flowering plants, doubling their mass in as little as 16 hours under optimal conditions. Despite sometimes reproducing through flowers, they most often reproduce asexually (clonally), quickly dominating the surface of lakes and slow-moving freshwater.
Shown above, duckweed grows at rapid speeds and below, Dr. Harkess measures the duckweed growth over time.
HUDSONALPHA INSTITUTE FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY
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