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Lorer E, Verheyen K, Blondeel H, De Pauw K, Sanczuk P, De Frenne P, Landuyt D. Forest understorey flowering phenology responses to experimental warming and illumination. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:1476-1491. [PMID: 38031641 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Species are altering their phenology to track warming temperatures. In forests, understorey plants experience tree canopy shading resulting in light and temperature conditions, which strongly deviate from open habitats. Yet, little is known about understorey phenology responses to forest microclimates. We recorded flowering onset, peak, end and duration of 10 temperate forest understorey plant species in two mesocosm experiments to understand how phenology is affected by sub-canopy warming and how this response is modulated by illumination, which is related to canopy change. Furthermore, we investigated whether phenological sensitivities can be explained by species' characteristics, such as thermal niche. We found a mean advance of flowering onset of 7.1 d per 1°C warming, more than previously reported in studies not accounting for microclimatic buffering. Warm-adapted species exhibited greater advances. Temperature sensitivity did not differ between early- and later-flowering species. Experimental illumination did not significantly affect species' phenological temperature sensitivities, but slightly delayed flowering phenology independent from warming. Our study suggests that integrating sub-canopy temperature and light availability will help us better understand future understorey phenology responses. Climate warming together with intensifying canopy disturbances will continue to drive phenological shifts and potentially disrupt understorey communities, thereby affecting forest biodiversity and functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline Lorer
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, BE-9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Kris Verheyen
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, BE-9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Haben Blondeel
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, BE-9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Karen De Pauw
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, BE-9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Pieter Sanczuk
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, BE-9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Pieter De Frenne
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, BE-9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
| | - Dries Landuyt
- Forest & Nature Lab, Department of Environment, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, BE-9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium
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Liu Y, Ma J. Significant early end of the growing season of forest vegetation inside China's protected areas. iScience 2024; 27:108652. [PMID: 38205259 PMCID: PMC10776955 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The land surface phenology (LSP) indicators (i.e., start, end, and length of the growing season: SOS, EOS, LOS) are important to reflect the growth of forest and its response to environmental changes. However, the spatiotemporal variation and its mechanism of forest phenology under different human disturbance' levels are still unclear. Here, we compare the LSP indicators inside and outside China's 257 protected areas (PAs) and explore the influencing factors of phenological differences (ΔSOS, ΔEOS, ΔLOS). We find that in general, EOS inside PAs (mean ± s.e.m: 312.6 ± 1.2days) is significantly earlier than outside (314.6 ± 1.2days), and LOS inside PAs (218.9 ± 2.0days) are significantly shorter than outside (220.6 ± 2.0days). ΔSOS and ΔEOS are controlled by nighttime and daytime temperature differences, respectively, and both factors affect ΔLOS. This evidence provides a new understanding about the functions of PAs and its influence on forest vegetation growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, #2005 Songhu Road, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Jun Ma
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, National Observations and Research Station for Wetland Ecosystems of the Yangtze Estuary, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, #2005 Songhu Road, Shanghai 200438, China
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3
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Dyukaryeva V, Mallik AU. Shade Effect on Phenology, Fruit Yield, and Phenolic Content of Two Wild Blueberry Species in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:4099. [PMID: 38140426 PMCID: PMC10747682 DOI: 10.3390/plants12244099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
We studied the effect of shade on the phenology, growth, berry yield, and chemical content of two common blueberry species (Vaccinium myrtilloides and V. angustifolium) in Northwestern Ontario. We hypothesized that high shade would delay vegetative and reproductive phenology and decrease berry yield by increasing resource allocation to vegetative vs. reproductive growth, whereas moderate shade would increase berry phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. We subjected transplanted blueberry plants to a controlled shade treatment and evaluated plant phenological events, vegetative and reproductive growth, berry phenolics, and antioxidant capacity. High shade caused an earlier leaf maturation in V. myrtilloides, delayed flowering in V. angustifolium, and prolonged fruit maturation in both. The berry yield of both species decreased with increasing shade. High shade reduced the berry phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, especially in V. myrtilloides. We concluded that shade shifts species-specific vegetative and reproductive phenology, leading to a difference in resource acquisition, resulting in lower berry yield and antioxidant activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Azim U. Mallik
- Department of Biology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 5E1, Canada;
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Environmental Drivers of Amphibian Breeding Phenology across Multiple Sites. DIVERSITY 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/d15020253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
A mechanistic understanding of phenology, the seasonal timing of life history events, is important for understanding species’ interactions and the potential responses of ecological communities to a rapidly changing climate. We present analysis of a seven-year dataset on the breeding phenology of wood frogs (Rana sylvatica), tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum), blue-spotted salamanders (Ambystoma laterale), and associated unisexual Ambystoma salamanders from six wetlands in Southeast Michigan, USA. We assess whether the ordinal date of breeding migrations varies among species, sexes, and individual wetlands, and we describe the specific environmental conditions associated with breeding migrations for each species/sex. Breeding date was significantly affected by species/sex identity, year, wetland, and the interactions between species/sex and year as well as wetland and year. There was a great deal of variation among years, with breeding occurring nearly synchronously among groups in some years but widely spaced between groups in other years. Specific environmental triggers for movement varied for each species and sex and changed as the breeding season progressed. In general, salamanders responded to longer temperature lags (more warmer days in a row) than wood frogs, whereas wood frogs required longer precipitation lags (more rainy days in a row) than salamanders. Wood frogs were more likely to migrate around the time of a new moon, whereas in contrast, Ambystoma salamander migration was not associated with a moon phase. Ordinal day was an important factor in all models, suggesting that these amphibians require a latency period or similar mechanism to avoid breeding too early in the year, even when weather conditions appear favorable. Male wood frogs migrated earlier than female wood frogs, and male blue-spotted salamanders migrated earlier than female A. laterale and associated unisexual females. Larger unisexual salamanders migrated earlier than smaller individuals. Differences in species’ responses to environmental cues led to wood frogs and A. laterale breeding later than tiger salamanders in colder years but not in warmer years. This suggests that, as the climate warms, wood frog and A. laterale larvae may experience less predation from tiger salamander larvae due to reduced size differences when they breed simultaneously. Our study is one of few to describe the proximate drivers of amphibian breeding migrations across multiple species, wetlands, and years, and it can inform models predicting how climate change may shift ecological interactions among pond-breeding amphibian species.
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Kim H, McComb BC, Frey SJK, Bell DM, Betts MG. Forest microclimate and composition mediate long-term trends of breeding bird populations. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:6180-6193. [PMID: 36065828 PMCID: PMC9825929 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is contributing to biodiversity redistributions and species declines. However, cooler microclimate conditions provided by old-growth forest structures compared with surrounding open or younger forests have been hypothesized to provide thermal refugia for species that are sensitive to climate warming and dampen the negative effects of warming on population trends of animals (i.e., the microclimate buffering hypothesis). In addition to thermal refugia, the compositional and structural diversity of old-growth forest vegetation itself may provide resources to species that are less available in forests with simpler structure (i.e., the insurance hypothesis). We used 8 years of breeding bird abundance data from a forested watershed, accompanied with sub-canopy temperature data, and ground- and LiDAR-based vegetation data to test these hypotheses and identify factors influencing bird population changes from 2011 to 2018. After accounting for imperfect detection, we found that for 5 of 20 bird species analyzed, abundance trends tended to be less negative or neutral at sites with cooler microclimates, which supports the microclimate buffering hypothesis. Negative effects of warming on two species were also reduced in locations with greater forest compositional diversity supporting the insurance hypothesis. We provide the first empirical evidence that complex forest structure and vegetation diversity confer microclimatic advantages to some animal populations in the face of climate change. Conservation of old-growth forests, or their characteristics in managed forests, could help slow the negative effects of climate warming on some breeding bird populations via microclimate buffering and possibly insurance effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hankyu Kim
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, College of ForestryOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, College of Agricultural and Life SciencesUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Brenda C. McComb
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, College of ForestryOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network, College of ForestryOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Sarah J. K. Frey
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, College of ForestryOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network, College of ForestryOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - David M. Bell
- Pacific Northwest Research StationUSDA Forest ServiceCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Matthew G. Betts
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, College of ForestryOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network, College of ForestryOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
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6
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Xing X, Zhang M, Li K, Hao P, Dong L. Spatial heterogeneity of first flowering date in Beijing's main urban area and its response to urban thermal environment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2022; 66:1929-1954. [PMID: 36048247 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-022-02322-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Phenology - the rhythm of periodic plant life cycle events - was significantly shaped by urban climate, with flowering as one most sensitive phenophase. Apart from the widely noticed urban-rural phenological discrepancy caused by heat island effect, driven by the aggravating spatial unevenness of urban thermal environment, the spatial heterogeneity of flowering time was also found within the urbanized area of some metropolitans, bringing multiple impacts on urban ecology, landscape and public health. This research aimed to reveal the intraurban spatial variation and response characteristics of Beijing's trees flowering phenology that remained largely unclear before. We analyzed the spatial heterogeneity pattern of the first flowering date (FFD) for 42 deciduous woody species in Beijing's main urban area (MUA), and explored the species-specific phenological response to local thermal environment. The sample plots were set in 9 green spaces distributing from urban center to northwest suburb in Beijing's MUA, the FFD data was collected by ground-based phenological observation, and local thermal environment was measured with land surface temperature (LST) retrieved from MOD11A1 products. The main results are as follows: (1) A significant spatial variation for FFD existed among 9 sample plots and the maximum spatial difference of FFD reached 6.76 ± 1.77 days in average, FFD showed an overall delay trend from urban center in 2nd Ring to outskirts beyond 5th Ring with 3rd Ring as a critical line for significant phenological difference. (2) The FFD of 35 species was found to be negatively correlated with [Formula: see text] (average of daily mean LST above 0 °C before mean FFD) in the sample plot (p < 0.05) with a response sensitivity of 2.99 ± 0.87 days/°C, which reflected the significant impact of LST variation during flower development period. Furthermore, the spatial difference and response sensitivity of FFD for a specific species were found to be negatively associated with its mean FFD value (p < 0.05), i.e., the flowering time of early-blooming species tended to be more sensitive to thermal environment variation compared with late-blooming ones. This research illustrated how flowering phenology responded to the heterogeneous intraurban thermal environment in Beijing's MUA, which can improve our understanding of the vegetation dynamics in a constantly changing urban environment. And as a critical indicator of trees' climate vulnerability assessment, the species-specific phenological response sensitivity could also guide species selection in urban forest construction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Xing
- Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
- Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | | | - Kun Li
- Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
- Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Peiyao Hao
- Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Li Dong
- Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
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7
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Campbell JL, Driscoll CT, Jones JA, Boose ER, Dugan HA, Groffman PM, Jackson CR, Jones JB, Juday GP, Lottig NR, Penaluna BE, Ruess RW, Suding K, Thompson JR, Zimmerman JK. Forest and Freshwater Ecosystem Responses to Climate Change and Variability at US LTER Sites. Bioscience 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Forest and freshwater ecosystems are tightly linked and together provide important ecosystem services, but climate change is affecting their species composition, structure, and function. Research at nine US Long Term Ecological Research sites reveals complex interactions and cascading effects of climate change, some of which feed back into the climate system. Air temperature has increased at all sites, and those in the Northeast have become wetter, whereas sites in the Northwest and Alaska have become slightly drier. These changes have altered streamflow and affected ecosystem processes, including primary production, carbon storage, water and nutrient cycling, and community dynamics. At some sites, the direct effects of climate change are the dominant driver altering ecosystems, whereas at other sites indirect effects or disturbances and stressors unrelated to climate change are more important. Long-term studies are critical for understanding the impacts of climate change on forest and freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Julia A Jones
- Oregon State University , Corvallis, Oregon, United States
| | - Emery R Boose
- Harvard University , Petersham, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Hilary A Dugan
- University of Wisconsin , Madison, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Peter M Groffman
- City University of New York, and with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies , Millbrook, New York, United States
| | | | - Jeremy B Jones
- University of Alaska Fairbanks , Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
| | - Glenn P Juday
- University of Alaska Fairbanks , Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
| | - Noah R Lottig
- University of Wisconsin's Trout Lake Station , Boulder Junction, Wisconsin, United States
| | | | - Roger W Ruess
- University of Alaska Fairbanks , Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
| | | | | | - Jess K Zimmerman
- University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras , San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States
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8
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Willems FM, Scheepens JF, Bossdorf O. Forest wildflowers bloom earlier as Europe warms: lessons from herbaria and spatial modelling. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 235:52-65. [PMID: 35478407 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Today plants often flower earlier due to climate warming. Herbarium specimens are excellent witnesses of such long-term changes. However, the magnitude of phenological shifts may vary geographically, and the data are often clustered. Therefore, large-scale analyses of herbarium data are prone to pseudoreplication and geographical biases. We studied over 6000 herbarium specimens of 20 spring-flowering forest understory herbs from Europe to understand how their phenology had changed during the last century. We estimated phenology trends with or without taking spatial autocorrelation into account. On average plants now flowered over 6 d earlier than at the beginning of the last century. These changes were strongly associated with warmer spring temperatures. Flowering time advanced 3.6 d per 1°C warming. Spatial modelling showed that, in some parts of Europe, plants flowered earlier or later than expected. Without accounting for this, the estimates of phenological shifts were biased and model fits were poor. Our study indicates that forest wildflowers in Europe strongly advanced their phenology in response to climate change. However, these phenological shifts differ geographically. This shows that it is crucial to combine the analysis of herbarium data with spatial modelling when testing for long-term phenology trends across large spatial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska M Willems
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
- Conservation Biology, Department of Biology, University of Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - J F Scheepens
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Oliver Bossdorf
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
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9
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Stewart JE, Maclean IMD, Trujillo G, Bridle J, Wilson RJ. Climate-driven variation in biotic interactions provides a narrow and variable window of opportunity for an insect herbivore at its ecological margin. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210021. [PMID: 35184597 PMCID: PMC8859521 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate-driven geographic range shifts have been associated with transitions between dietary specialism and generalism at range margins. The mechanisms underpinning these often transient niche breadth modifications are poorly known, but utilization of novel resources likely depends on phenological synchrony between the consumer and resource. We use a climate-driven range and host shift by the butterfly Aricia agestis to test how climate-driven changes in host phenology and condition affect phenological synchrony, and consider implications for host use. Our data suggest that the perennial plant that was the primary host before range expansion is a more reliable resource than the annual Geraniaceae upon which the butterfly has become specialized in newly colonized parts of its range. In particular, climate-driven phenological variation in the novel host Geranium dissectum generates a narrow and variable 'window of opportunity' for larval productivity in summer. Therefore, although climatic change may allow species to shift hosts and colonise novel environments, specialization on phenologically limited hosts may not persist at ecological margins as climate change continues. We highlight the potential role for phenological (a)synchrony in determining lability of consumer-resource associations at range margins and the importance of considering causes of synchrony in biotic interactions when predicting range shifts. This article is part of the theme issue 'Species' ranges in the face of changing environments (Part II)'.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E. Stewart
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4PS, UK
| | - Ilya M. D. Maclean
- Environment & Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Exeter TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Gara Trujillo
- International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE), Lund University, P.O. Box 196, 22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Jon Bridle
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
- Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Robert J. Wilson
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4PS, UK
- Environment & Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Exeter TR10 9FE, UK
- Departmento de Biogeografía y Cambio Global, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid E28006, Spain
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10
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Pastore MA, Classen AT, D'Amato AW, Foster JR, Adair EC. Cold-air pools as microrefugia for ecosystem functions in the face of climate change. Ecology 2022; 103:e3717. [PMID: 35388477 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Cold-air pooling is a global phenomenon that frequently sustains low temperatures in sheltered, low-lying depressions and valleys and drives other key environmental conditions, such as soil temperature, soil moisture, vapor pressure deficit, frost frequency, and winter dynamics. Local climate patterns in areas prone to cold-air pooling are partly decoupled from regional climates and thus may be buffered from macroscale climate change. There is compelling evidence from studies across the globe that cold-air pooling impacts plant communities and species distributions, making these decoupled microclimate areas potentially important microrefugia for species under climate warming. Despite interest in the potential for cold-air pools to enable species persistence under warming, studies investigating the effects of cold-air pooling on ecosystem processes are scarce. Because local temperatures and vegetation composition are critical drivers of ecosystem processes like carbon cycling and storage, cold-air pooling may also act to preserve ecosystem functions. We review research exploring the ecological impacts of cold-air pooling with a focus on vegetation, and then present a new conceptual framework in which cold-air pooling creates feedbacks between species and ecosystem properties that generate unique hotspots for carbon accrual in some systems relative to areas more vulnerable to regional climate change impacts. Finally, we describe key steps to motivate future research investigating the potential for cold-air pools to serve as microrefugia for ecosystem functions under climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A Pastore
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.,Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Aimée T Classen
- Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.,Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,University of Michigan Biological Station, Pellston, MI, USA
| | - Anthony W D'Amato
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Jane R Foster
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - E Carol Adair
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.,Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
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11
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Finn DS, Johnson SL, Gerth WJ, Arismendi I, Li JL. Spatiotemporal patterns of emergence phenology reveal complex species‐specific responses to temperature in aquatic insects. DIVERS DISTRIB 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Debra S. Finn
- Department of Biology Missouri State University Springfield Missouri USA
| | - Sherri L. Johnson
- U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station Corvallis Oregon USA
| | - William J. Gerth
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
| | - Ivan Arismendi
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
| | - Judith L. Li
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
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12
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Willems FM, Scheepens JF, Ammer C, Block S, Bucharova A, Schall P, Sehrt M, Bossdorf O. Spring understory herbs flower later in intensively managed forests. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02332. [PMID: 33765327 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Many organisms respond to anthropogenic environmental change through shifts in their phenology. In plants, flowering is largely driven by temperature, and therefore affected by climate change. However, on smaller scales climatic conditions are also influenced by other factors, including habitat structure. A group of plants with a particularly distinct phenology are the understory herbs in temperate European forests. In these forests, management alters tree species composition (often replacing deciduous with coniferous species) and homogenizes stand structure, and as a consequence changes light conditions and microclimate. Forest management should thus also affect the phenology of understory herbs. To test this, we recorded the flowering phenology of 16 early-flowering herbs on 100 forest plots varying in management intensity, from near-natural to intensely managed forests, in central and southern Germany. We found that in forest stands with a high management intensity, such as Norway spruce plantations, the plants flowered on average about 2 weeks later than in unmanaged forests. This was largely because management also affected microclimate (e.g., spring temperatures of 5.9°C in managed coniferous, 6.7 in managed deciduous, and 7.0°C in unmanaged deciduous plots), which in turn affected phenology, with plants flowering later on colder and moister forest stands (+4.5 d per -1°C and 2.7 d per 10% humidity increase). Among forest characteristics, the percentage of conifers had the greatest influence on microclimate, but also the age, overall crown projection area, structural complexity and spatial distribution of the forest stands. Our study indicates that forest management alters plant phenology, with potential far-reaching consequences for the ecology and evolution of understorey communities. More generally, our study demonstrates that besides climate change other drivers of environmental change, too, can influence the phenology of organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska M Willems
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - J F Scheepens
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Christian Ammer
- Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Svenja Block
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anna Bucharova
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research Group, Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Peter Schall
- Silviculture and Forest Ecology of the Temperate Zones, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Melissa Sehrt
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Oliver Bossdorf
- Plant Evolutionary Ecology, Institute of Evolution and Ecology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Sethi ML, Theobald EJ, Breckheimer I, Hille Ris Lambers J. Early snowmelt and warmer, drier summers shrink postflowering transition times in subalpine wildflowers. Ecology 2020; 101:e03171. [PMID: 32852790 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Plant reproductive phenology-the timing of reproduction-is shifting rapidly with global climate change. Many studies focus on flowering responses to climate, but few investigate how postflowering processes, such as how quickly plants develop from flowering to seed dispersal, respond to environmental factors. We examined the climatic drivers of postflowering phenology in 28 species of western North American subalpine meadow plants over large spatial and temporal climate gradients. We took a Bayesian hierarchical approach to address whether and how climate influences the time it takes for wildflower populations to transition from flower to seed. Our previous work on the same species demonstrated that the initiation of flowering depends on snowmelt timing, with warmer temperatures and soil moisture also playing a role. Here, we found that for the majority of the flowering community, the same climate drivers also affected the time it takes to move from flowering to seed dispersal. Climate-sensitive species shortened flower-seed transitions when snow melted earlier, temperatures were warmer, and/or soil dried down more quickly-conditions we expect with higher frequency under climate change. Our work underscores the fact that predicting the impact of climate change on plant reproductive phenology demands empirical data on phases beyond flowering. Additionally, it suggests that some species face a future in which multiple environmental factors will push them towards more rapid transitions from flowering to postflowering phases, with potential effects on plants themselves and the many animal associates that rely on them, including frugivores and seed predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meera Lee Sethi
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Box 351800 Seattle, Seattle, Washington, 98195-1800, USA
| | - Elli J Theobald
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Box 351800 Seattle, Seattle, Washington, 98195-1800, USA
| | - Ian Breckheimer
- Harvard University Herbaria, 22 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138, USA.,Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, PO Box 519, Crested Butte, Colorado, 81224, USA
| | - Janneke Hille Ris Lambers
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Box 351800 Seattle, Seattle, Washington, 98195-1800, USA
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Olliff‐Yang RL, Ackerly DD. Topographic heterogeneity lengthens the duration of pollinator resources. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:9301-9312. [PMID: 32953062 PMCID: PMC7487246 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The availability of sufficient and diverse resources across time is important for maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. In this study, we examine the potential for variation in environmental conditions across topographic gradients to extend floral resource timing. Flowering time on a landscape may vary across topography due to differences in abiotic factors, species turnover, or genotypic differences. However, the extent to which this variation in phenology affects overall flowering duration on a landscape, and the components of diversity that influence flowering duration, are unexplored. We investigate whether differences in flowering time due to topography yield an overall extension in duration of flowering resources in a northern California grassland. We recorded flowering time of pollinator resource species across four successive spring growing seasons (2015-2018) on paired north and south aspects. Flowering time differences were evaluated both at the community level and within species present on both paired aspects. The role of plasticity was examined in an experimental case study using genotypes of Lasthenia gracilis. We found that aspect is a strong determinant of phenology, with earlier flowering on warmer south-facing slopes. Aspect differences resulted in complementarity in timing of flowering resources across sites, as aspects that started flowering earlier also ended earlier. Complementarity between north and south aspects served to extend the flowering time of pollinator resources by an average of 4-8 days (8%-15%), depending on the year. This extension can be attributed to both within-species responses to aspect differences and species turnover. Flowering of L. gracilis genotypes was distinct across aspects, demonstrating that plasticity can drive the extension of flowering duration. Our findings indicate that heterogeneous topography can extend overall flowering time of pollinator resources, which may support pollinator biodiversity. Extension was most pronounced at the community level, which incorporates species turnover as well as plastic and genotypic differences within species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David D. Ackerly
- Integrative BiologyUC BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
- Environmental Science, Policy, and ManagementUC BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
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