Plant phenology is one of the most sensitive bio-indicators of ongoing global warming in extra tropical regions, as temperature is one of the main drivers of phenology. Shifting phenological events due to climate change, such as earlier leaf-out and flowering and delayed leaf coloring, have been widely reported using multiple approaches, i.e. ground observations, manipulative experiments, and remote sensing. However, research focusing on the consequences of phenological shifts on ecosystem functioning is still limited. For example, shifts in phenology could substantially affect local climate, plant/animal fitness and distribution, plant-animal interactions due to cascading effects through the food web, as well as regional and hemispheric-scale carbon, water, and energy balance. It is urgent to conduct more studies on how climate-warming induced phenological shifts are currently affecting ecosystem functioning, ecosystem services, and local climate and hydrology. For example, earlier spring growth and resource use of dominant plant species may induce warmer springs, increase summer drought stress, and finally reduce overall ecosystem productivity and food quality for herbivores. Additionally, different temperature sensitivity of phenophases within and among species may lead to phenological mismatches and food web disruption which may substantially affect ecosystem structure and function, especially under extreme climate change conditions.
This Research Topic aims to synthesize and inspire innovative research in plant phenology to address outstanding research questions and challenges on the consequences of phenological shifts for ecosystem functioning and local climate and hydrology. Reviews, Perspectives, and Original Research contributions emphasizing plant and animal phenological responses to environmental and biotic changes are all welcomed.
As a Research Topic focusing on shifted plant phenology and its implications for ecosystem functioning and local climate and hydrology, submitted papers may address one of the following aspects:
- impacts of phenological shifts on ecosystem structure and species distributions;
- impacts of phenological shifts on river basin water balance and water quality, as well as local climate;
- impacts of phenological shifts on plant and animal fitness (trade-offs between leaf-out timing and frost risk, food web disruption, competition for resources such as nutrients, water, and light, phenological mismatches);
- impacts of phenological shifts on biotic and trophic interactions (i.e. cascading impacts of earlier or later flowering on pollinators);
- modeling phenological change and its implications for ecosystems and the climate system under future climate change conditions.
Plant phenology is one of the most sensitive bio-indicators of ongoing global warming in extra tropical regions, as temperature is one of the main drivers of phenology. Shifting phenological events due to climate change, such as earlier leaf-out and flowering and delayed leaf coloring, have been widely reported using multiple approaches, i.e. ground observations, manipulative experiments, and remote sensing. However, research focusing on the consequences of phenological shifts on ecosystem functioning is still limited. For example, shifts in phenology could substantially affect local climate, plant/animal fitness and distribution, plant-animal interactions due to cascading effects through the food web, as well as regional and hemispheric-scale carbon, water, and energy balance. It is urgent to conduct more studies on how climate-warming induced phenological shifts are currently affecting ecosystem functioning, ecosystem services, and local climate and hydrology. For example, earlier spring growth and resource use of dominant plant species may induce warmer springs, increase summer drought stress, and finally reduce overall ecosystem productivity and food quality for herbivores. Additionally, different temperature sensitivity of phenophases within and among species may lead to phenological mismatches and food web disruption which may substantially affect ecosystem structure and function, especially under extreme climate change conditions.
This Research Topic aims to synthesize and inspire innovative research in plant phenology to address outstanding research questions and challenges on the consequences of phenological shifts for ecosystem functioning and local climate and hydrology. Reviews, Perspectives, and Original Research contributions emphasizing plant and animal phenological responses to environmental and biotic changes are all welcomed.
As a Research Topic focusing on shifted plant phenology and its implications for ecosystem functioning and local climate and hydrology, submitted papers may address one of the following aspects:
- impacts of phenological shifts on ecosystem structure and species distributions;
- impacts of phenological shifts on river basin water balance and water quality, as well as local climate;
- impacts of phenological shifts on plant and animal fitness (trade-offs between leaf-out timing and frost risk, food web disruption, competition for resources such as nutrients, water, and light, phenological mismatches);
- impacts of phenological shifts on biotic and trophic interactions (i.e. cascading impacts of earlier or later flowering on pollinators);
- modeling phenological change and its implications for ecosystems and the climate system under future climate change conditions.
