Abstract
Did you know cities are often hotter than the countryside around them? All the pavement, cars, and buildings trap heat, and in tropical places it can get really uncomfortable. This extra heat can be dangerous for people’s health. Planting trees can provide shade and help cool cities down, but trees can “feel the heat” too—some trees get stressed by high temperatures. Our research group studied this problem in Miami, Florida, a tropical city where summers are blazing hot. We discovered that Miami’s native trees (the ones that naturally grow there) are more likely to struggle as temperatures rise than are many of the introduced tree species (those brought from elsewhere). But some of Miami’s native trees are extra tough. They can handle heat, drought, hurricanes, and even rising seas. That means city planners can choose these “super survivor” native trees to keep Miami cooler and healthier in the future.