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2020-07-13 -Signs, Portents, and the Weather-
Poison ivy likely to become more abundant and more potent with climate change
[Bay Today] Leaves of three, let it be. Many of us were taught this rhyme as children to keep us on the lookout for the dreaded poison ivy plant. If you think you’re seeing more of it these days, it’s probably not your imagination. It’s also likely to be larger than you’ve seen it in the past and will cause a more potent rash.

Several Manitoulin Islanders have shared their recent experiences, saying they have reacted badly this year but have never experienced the painful, itchy rash previously. Brittany from Manitowaning had to bandage most of her leg. Bill P. said the usual patches near his property had spread, and the plants were looking very healthy.

A six-year study completed by Duke University researchers found that elevated levels of carbon dioxide not only increased the growth of poison ivy but those high carbon dioxide receiving plants produced a more potent form of urushiol. That’s the oil that causes the skin inflammation, Rhus-dermatitis, in 50 to 80 per cent of humans when they come into contact with the plant (only humans and apes react to urushiol). Urushiol is poison ivy’s defense mechanism.

Researchers pumped carbon dioxide into an intact forest ecosystem; under the elevated carbon dioxide conditions, poison ivy showed increases in photosynthesis, water use efficiency, growth and biomass. They found that at carbon dioxide levels expected by the year 2050, poison ivy in the forest grew at a 70 per cent higher annual rate than at the time of the study. That 70 per cent will rise if we keep polluting the atmosphere with greenhouse gas emissions by burning fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide is considered one of the leading causes of global warming.
Growing faster and sucking up excess carbon dioxide — sounds good to me! Get a prescription of Prednisone to treat the allergic reaction, perhaps also a cortisone shot if it’s really bad. Poison ivy plants can be killed by spraying with bleach or Round Up, then cut down the vines and bag carefully for disposal. Do not add to your mulch pile, as the oil is still irritating after several years, and absolutely do not burn the stuff — the oils irritate lungs as easily as skin.
Posted by Besoeker 2020-07-13 02:49|| || Front Page|| [11135 views ]  Top

#1 On the positive side, it'll provide a better habitat for the Murder Hornets.
Posted by Mercutio 2020-07-13 04:54||   2020-07-13 04:54|| Front Page Top

#2 Any plant grows better w/ increased CO2. Want a green revolution? Pump up atmospheric CO2 to 1000-1200 ppm.
Posted by Cromomble Photle1865 2020-07-13 06:51||   2020-07-13 06:51|| Front Page Top

#3 Poison ivy I can handle. I'm wondering about venus flytraps. What if they start walking? Or will that happen when they eat GMO mosquitoes? Makes ya think, donit?
Posted by AlmostAnonymous5839 2020-07-13 08:11||   2020-07-13 08:11|| Front Page Top

#4 Thanks for nightmares AA-5839.

Posted by jpal 2020-07-13 10:32||   2020-07-13 10:32|| Front Page Top

#5 So they over-fed the plants and they grew more.

On the other hand, Poison ivy is not all bad. It provides forage for whitetail deer, black bears and raccoons and several bird species eat the berries. During autumn when other food sources are scarce, poison ivy provides sustenance for Northern flickers, bobwhite quail, Eastern phoebes, cedar waxwings, woodpeckers, robins and other birds. Goats and other livestock can eat it as a low quality forage (urishiol won’t show up in their milk).
Posted by Bobby 2020-07-13 12:12||   2020-07-13 12:12|| Front Page Top

#6 poison oak is worse!
Posted by 746 2020-07-13 13:33||   2020-07-13 13:33|| Front Page Top

#7  Goats and other livestock can eat it as a low quality forage (urishiol won’t show up in their milk).

But don’t brush up against them while preparing to milk them. Goat herds can be hired to clear the landscape of all sorts of invasive plants, including Chinese and Japanese honeysuckle and eucalyptus trees. Kudzu, too, I think

poison oak is worse!

So I’ve heard.

As I recall, poison ivy berries have a high fat content, making them an ideal winter food for whatever critters can reach them. This compares to preferred summer fruits that are high in fructose for quick energy.
Posted by trailing wife 2020-07-13 21:52||   2020-07-13 21:52|| Front Page Top

#8 And more intelligent too. I swear I saw a bougainvillea steal a woman's purse the other day.

CRAP = Climate Related Anxiety Psychosis

And someone tell Bill P to get off his arse and do some weeding once in a while..
Posted by Dron66046 2020-07-13 22:09||   2020-07-13 22:09|| Front Page Top

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