Creeping Vine Growth Signals Major Shift In Southern U.S. Forests

Over the last several years, and during my woods walks, vines like grape, trumpet vine, poison ivy, and Virginia creeper were more visible than I had ever noticed before. I began wondering if I was letting my reading of speculative press reports on Global Warming with higher carbon dioxide (CO2) levels influence me.

Probably not. An Ohio State University study now confirms that vines are indeed growing at unprecedented rates in the Southern United States. Researchers charting the growth of vines in two forests in South Carolina found up to a 10-fold increase in the number of vines in just two decades.

“Collectively, we're talking about an increase of more than 500 vine stems in 27 acres of forest area that we studied,” says study leader Bruce Allen. “There are now so many vines that they're starting to change the makeup of the forest”.

Recent scientific studies have suggested that higher CO2 concentrations increase vine growth. Although the study does not blame Global Warming, it does conclude that higher carbon dioxide levels may play a part in vine growth.

• Increase In Creeping Vines Signals Major Shift In Southern U.S. Forests

Virginia Creeper Leaf Silhouette, Image by Steve Nix