Complex spatiotemporal phenological shifts as a response to rainfall changes

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01003.x
• Publication Date: 2004-12-28T04:51:40Z
• Authors: Josep Peñuelas; Iolanda Filella; Xiaoyang Zhang; Laura Llorens; Romà Ogaya; Francisco Lloret; Pere Comas; Marc Estiarte; Jaume Terradas
• Keywords: Peninsula; Shrubland; Growing season

• Climatic warming produces significant gradual alterations in the timing of life-cycle events, and here we study phenological effects rainfall-pattern changes. We conducted ecosystem field experiments that partially excluded rain runoff during growing season a Mediterranean forest mediterranean shrubland. Studies time-series leaf-unfolding, flowering fruiting over last 50 yr central Catalonia were carried out, greenup onset Iberian Peninsula was monitored by satellite images. Experimental, historical geographical changes rainfall produced significant, complex strongly species-specific, as well spatially temporally variable, effects. Among these changes, it found Peninsula, from spring (triggered rising temperatures) northern cool-wet regions to autumn arrival rainfalls) southern warm-dry regions. Even mesic (NE peninsula) had stronger relative influence than temperature on phenology. The results show water availability, an important driver climate change, can cause with likely far-reaching consequences for biosphere functioning structure. seasonal shift further highlights this importance indicates vegetation may respond change not only gradual, but also abrupt temporal spatial, onset.