Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses02:45

Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses

37.9K
The circadian—or biological—clock is an intrinsic, timekeeping, molecular mechanism that allows plants to coordinate physiological activities over 24-hour cycles called circadian rhythms. Photoperiodism is a collective term for the biological responses of plants to variations in the relative lengths of dark and light periods. The period of light-exposure is called the photoperiod.
37.9K
Background and Environment Affect Phenotype02:27

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

6.7K
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
6.7K
What is an Ecosystem?01:17

What is an Ecosystem?

40.6K
Overview
40.6K
Ecological Disturbance02:26

Ecological Disturbance

17.5K
An ecological disturbance is a temporary disruption in the environment resulting from abiotic, biotic, or anthropogenic factors, causing a pronounced change in an ecosystem. The impact of an ecological disturbance, which can depend on its intensity, frequency, and spatial distribution, plays a significant role in shaping the species diversity within the ecosystem.
17.5K
Epistasis01:39

Epistasis

47.6K
In addition to multiple alleles at the same locus influencing traits, numerous genes or alleles at different locations may interact and influence phenotypes in a phenomenon called epistasis. For example, rabbit fur can be black or brown depending on whether the animal is homozygous dominant or heterozygous at a TYRP1 locus. However, if the rabbit is also homozygous recessive at a locus on the tyrosinase gene (TYR), it will have an unshaded coat that appears white, regardless of its TYRP1...
47.6K
Ecological Succession02:17

Ecological Succession

17.7K
Ecological succession is influenced by the processes of facilitation, inhibition, and toleration. Facilitation occurs when early successional species create more favorable ecological conditions for subsequent species, such as enhanced nutrient, water, or light availability. In contrast, inhibition happens when early successional species create unfavorable ecological conditions for potential successive species, such as limiting resource availability. In some cases, later successional species...
17.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Evolutionary history drives organ-specific variability in plant non-structural carbohydrates.

Nature ecology & evolution·2026
Same author

Increasingly severe thermal stresses on global photosynthesis using insights from observations of canopy temperature.

National science review·2026
Same author

Integrated policies could raise China's soybean self-sufficiency and ease global land-use pressure.

Nature food·2026
Same author

Sympatric Oaks Exhibit Local Divergence and Convergence in Adaptive Strategies Along Climate Gradients.

Plant, cell & environment·2026
Same author

Asymmetric temperature responses to soil moisture drought legacies under anthropogenic forcing.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Elevated CO<sub>2</sub> and warming intensify plant reliance on soil nitrogen reserves despite intensive fertilization.

Nature communications·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 9, 2025

A Telemetric, Gravimetric Platform for Real-Time Physiological Phenotyping of Plant&#8211;Environment Interactions
15:30

A Telemetric, Gravimetric Platform for Real-Time Physiological Phenotyping of Plant–Environment Interactions

Published on: August 5, 2020

11.8K

Ecosystem Phenology: Integrating Traits and Processes Beyond Observable Events.

Lei Chen1, Josep Peñuelas2,3

  • 1Key Laboratory of Bio-Resource and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Global Change Biology
|September 4, 2025
PubMed
Summary

We introduce ecosystem phenology, expanding beyond visible events to include continuous functional traits and processes. This new framework offers a more complete understanding of ecosystem responses to climate change.

Keywords:
biochemical processesclimate changeeco‐phenologyfunctional traitsphenology

More Related Videos

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning
09:23

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning

Published on: March 21, 2025

1.2K
A Precise and Autonomous System for the Detection of Insect Emergence Patterns
06:22

A Precise and Autonomous System for the Detection of Insect Emergence Patterns

Published on: January 9, 2019

5.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 9, 2025

A Telemetric, Gravimetric Platform for Real-Time Physiological Phenotyping of Plant&#8211;Environment Interactions
15:30

A Telemetric, Gravimetric Platform for Real-Time Physiological Phenotyping of Plant–Environment Interactions

Published on: August 5, 2020

11.8K
JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning
09:23

JenaTron - An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Plant History and Soil History on Grassland Ecosystem Functioning

Published on: March 21, 2025

1.2K
A Precise and Autonomous System for the Detection of Insect Emergence Patterns
06:22

A Precise and Autonomous System for the Detection of Insect Emergence Patterns

Published on: January 9, 2019

5.8K

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Climate Change Biology
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Phenology traditionally studies discrete seasonal events (e.g., flowering, migration) influenced by climate variability.
  • This event-based approach often misses continuous ecosystem dynamics like functional traits and biogeochemical processes.
  • Understanding ecosystem responses to climate change requires a more holistic view beyond visible cues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose an expanded concept, 'ecosystem phenology,' integrating functional traits and biochemical processes.
  • To provide a comprehensive framework for understanding temporal changes in ecosystem functioning.
  • To enhance the forecasting of ecosystem functions and inform climate policy.

Main Methods:

  • Reviewing limitations of traditional event-based phenology.
  • Conceptualizing ecosystem phenology to encompass continuous trait and process dynamics.
  • Integrating functional traits and biogeochemical data with phenological observations.

Main Results:

  • The event-based framework overlooks crucial continuous ecosystem dynamics.
  • Ecosystem phenology captures the full temporal spectrum of ecosystem changes.
  • This expanded view reveals more nuanced ecosystem responses to climate change.

Conclusions:

  • Ecosystem phenology offers a more comprehensive understanding of ecosystem dynamics.
  • This framework is vital for accurate ecosystem function forecasting.
  • Informing climate policy requires integrating continuous ecosystem processes into phenological studies.