BayCEER Workshop 2019
October 10, 2019
NW III, University of Bayreuth
Phenological responses in a changing climate
O 1.3 in Plant and soil responses to drought: Interdisciplinary approaches and views
10.10.2019, 11:45-12:00, H36, NW III
Introduction
Mountain regions like the European Alps are hotspots of species richness and endemism (Körner 2002). Temperature increase due to climate warming in mountain regions is approximately two to three times higher than the global average (Appenzeller et al. 2008; Box et al. 2019). Flowering phenology is sensitive to climate change and is expected to advance in onset (Menzel & Fabian 1999; Cornelius et al. 2014; Moore & Lauenroth 2017), impacting community dynamics (CaraDonna et al. 2014) and trophic interactions (Schmidt et al. 2016). Changes in the phenology of plants is one of the fastest reactions to changed environmental conditions (Inouye 2008; Box et al. 2019). Thus, plant phenology is a sensitive indicator of climate, that captures the nature of a system, integrating abiotic factors (such as above- and belowground temperatures, soil moisture, snow cover and consequently metabolic rates) steering biotic interactions in alpine environments.
Material and Methods
We've been weekly monitoring marked flowering individuals throughout the season along an elevational gradient of 1.000m from a subalpine alm in the German Alps to Bayreuth (passive warming by translocating intact plant-soil monoliths). This resembles a climatic gradient of +3.5°C and significant changes in precipitation regime.
Results
We found a asignificant positive correlation between phenological sensitivity and performance sensitivity. This correlation becomes negative once drought effect become dominant.
Conclusions
We can resume that alpine grassland species will perform better in a warmer climate, given that they are able to track climate change and water is not limited. Accelerated phenology under warmer conditions leads to higher flower performance.
Keywords: phenology, drought effects, elevational gradient, translocation
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