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Stabilizing mechanisms enable dioecious trees to maintain synchrony in spring budburst under climate warming
Zhaofei Wu1,2, Yufeng Gong1, Constantin M Zohner3
1College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
The New Phytologist
|June 10, 2025
Summary
Male trees budburst earlier than females, especially in warmer climates. Dioecious trees have mechanisms to maintain synchrony despite climate change impacts on plant phenology.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Climate change ecology
- Reproductive biology
Background:
- Climate change can impact plant fitness by altering phenology.
- Differential temperature responses between sexes in dioecious plants are poorly understood.
- Spring phenological differences in wind-pollinated dioecious trees require investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sexual differences in spring budburst timing.
- To assess the influence of climate on these sex-specific phenological responses.
- To understand the implications for dioecious species under climate change.
Main Methods:
- Combined in situ ground observations with controlled climate experiments.
- Studied budburst timing in Ginkgo biloba, Fraxinus chinensis, and Eucommia ulmoides.
- Analyzed the relationship between climate variables and sexual disparity in budburst.
Main Results:
- Male trees budburst earlier than females in 96% of observed cases (average 3.0 days).
- Sexual disparity in budburst was greater in warmer regions but decreased above 17.1°C mean annual temperature.
- Warming treatments reduced sexual disparities, indicating nonlinear responses.
Conclusions:
- Dioecious trees exhibit sex-specific phenological responses to climate.
- Stabilizing mechanisms like photoperiod and chilling requirements help maintain synchrony.
- Findings are crucial for conservation and ecosystem management under climate change.
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