MAINE PUBLIC • December 13, 2022
On a perfect summer day at the summit of Acadia's Cadillac Mountain, throngs of tourists are taking in the expansive view of rocky ledges, surrounding hills and the Gulf of Maine spreading out endlessly to the south. But Chris Nadeau is focused on the tiny plants at his feet, shooting up from thin soil between the granite that covers much of the mountain top. Just a few inches tall, with small white flowers, this is three-toothed cinquefoil. “It’s a plant that’s been identified to be really sensitive to climate change,” Nadeau says. Nadeau's work is related to assisted migration, which simply means physically moving plants and animals to locations that might suit them in a changing climate. He's wondering whether certain varieties of the same species might be better designed for warming temperatures.