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Tree responses and temperature requirements in two central Italy phenological gardens
Marco Fornaciari1, Silvia Marrapodi1, Luigia Ruga1
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy.
International Journal of Biometeorology
|August 1, 2023
Summary
This study shows most tree species adapt to climate warming by adjusting their phenological phases, like budburst and flowering, in response to rising temperatures in Italy. This adaptation is crucial for understanding plant resilience in changing environments.
Area of Science:
- Phenology
- Climate Change Biology
- Plant Ecology
Background:
- Plants exhibit phenological plasticity to adapt to environmental changes.
- Climate change is causing significant temperature increases globally.
- Understanding plant responses is vital for predicting ecosystem dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phenological responses of tree species in central Italy to recent temperature increases.
- To analyze the relationship between temperature, heat accumulation, and phenological phases.
- To assess the adaptive capacity of different tree species to climate warming.
Main Methods:
- Monitoring of four key phenological phases (BBCH_11, BBCH_19, BBCH_91, BBCH_65) over 14 years in two Italian phenological gardens.
- Cross-referencing phenological data with local meteorological records.
- Grouping years into "warm" and "cold" based on average temperatures to compare species behavior.
Main Results:
- A strong correlation was observed between maximum February temperatures and the advancement of early phenological phases (BBCH_11 and BBCH_65).
- Most tree species demonstrated significant adaptation to warming by altering the timing of their phenological events.
- Differences in phenological timing were highlighted between "warm" and "cold" years for various species.
Conclusions:
- Tree species in central Italy exhibit adaptive responses to climate warming through phenological adjustments.
- Phenological gardens provide valuable data for understanding plant adaptation mechanisms.
- The findings underscore the resilience of many tree species to moderate climate change impacts.
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