Due to increasing urbanization, rural and natural environments are experiencing changes to their evolution. These were the findings of a landmark global study that included participation from researchers at Nipissing University and the City of North Bay.
The study examined more than 6,000 of the white clover plants in 26 countries to examine the effects of plant evolution due to urbanization, aiming to deepen understandings of how climate change is impacting plants. The clover populations were sampled in both urban and rural areas and then analyzed for the ability to produce a specific chemical marker, hydrogen cyanide (HCN).
The study concluded the production of HCN increased when the clover is further away from the urban center in many cities, suggesting that it is a response to climate change and herbivory pressure in urban centers.
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