Articles tagged with Phenology
A new study by University of Michigan researchers found that smaller tree swallows reproduce less due to declining insect populations. The decline in insects affects the timing of breeding and reproduction, leading to a phenological mismatch, which has significant consequences for bird biology.
A team of researchers, led by Felicity Newell, tracked over 8,000 birds in Peru's cloud forests and found that breeding times vary significantly due to changing environmental conditions. The results suggest a more complex response to climate change than previously thought.
A study analyzing 12 years of data found that artificial light at night was associated with earlier pollen season starts, longer seasons, and more severe allergen exposure. The effect on pollen season duration was larger than the effect on season start date.
A decade-long study found that Antarctic penguin species are adapting to a changing environment by advancing their breeding seasons. Gentoo penguins showed the greatest change, with an average advance of 13 days per decade, making them vulnerable to declining food availability and ecosystem collapse.
A new analysis of 73 species reveals that most animals are changing their habits in response to warming, but surprisingly, many are thriving. The study found that most species shifted their timing in warmer years, yet maintained or even increased their numbers despite the climate crisis.
Wild great tits exhibit clear behaviors signalling 'divorce' long before the breeding season, according to a study by Oxford researchers. The team used data from the Wytham Woods great tit project and found that faithful birds visited feeding stations with their partners more often than those that went on to divorce.
Researchers used satellite data to verify that global warming is causing earlier spring leaf flush in Japan. The study found that high temperatures in 2023 and 2024 led to a 3-7 day shift in the start of season, with some regions experiencing an 9-day earlier onset.
A new study suggests that extreme weather events are crucial to understanding phenological responses in plants and insects. The research found that disruptions to the delicate relationships between certain species, such as the yucca plant and yucca moth, can have significant consequences for survival.
Researchers found that terrestrial snakes on Sado Island coexist by differentiating their activity time, habitat, and diet. Niche complementarity among species with overlapping food resources reduces overlap in other dimensions.
Research by Montana State University ecologist Diane Debinski found that eastern monarch butterflies are delaying their fall migration, staying in the field for nine days longer than they did in 2003. This delay was linked to a similar shift in the timing of milkweed blooming, which could have implications for population dynamics and v...
Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University discovered that durian plants bloom approximately 50 days after a 15-day dry spell, affecting both grafted and seed-grown varieties. This study sheds light on the tropical ecosystems and can inform effective agricultural practices to predict flowering and manage harvests.
A new study enhances phenology predictions using a 150-year-old dataset, revealing that plant species in the US are flowering three to four weeks earlier. The research used historical observations from a rediscovered 19th-century report to improve forecast accuracy.
A study published by researchers from Göttingen University sheds light on the critical role of leaf phenology in trees providing shade and improving climate resilience in cocoa agroforestry systems. The research found that certain shade tree species can significantly influence productivity and environmental stability.
A study in Greenland found that plant species exhibited earlier green-up when grazed by herbivores, while others showed later growth. Herbivory also led to increased plant abundance in most affected species.
Researchers gather seven years of data on sucker spawning migrations using observations from trained volunteers. The data reveals that temperature is the primary trigger for sucker spawning migration, which can help inform conservation strategies in light of a changing climate.
A study revealed that canopy structure significantly influences local-scale variations in autumn phenology by mediating microclimate conditions. Complex canopies delay leaf senescence through reduced light availability and temperature buffering. The findings improve prediction accuracy for autumn phenology models.
A recent study reveals that terrestrial insectivores in the Amazon rainforest employ behavioral and physiological adaptations to cope with rising temperatures, including modifying their warming routines and using water to regulate body temperature.
The ICNIRP panel states that research on SWL exposure is inconsistent, with some studies indicating possible effects on alertness or sleep and others not supporting such effects. The panel also notes that potential long-term adverse effects of SWL exposure are unclear, particularly regarding its impact on chronic diseases and conditions.
Research found trees and shrubs respond differently to warming, with trees advancing and shrubs delaying their growth due to increased sensitivity to chilling accumulation. This phenological mismatch confers a competitive advantage to trees, potentially driving upward treeline shifts.
Research found that North American wildflower timing is more sensitive to warmer temperatures than surrounding tree growth, threatening the flower's ability to grow. In contrast, European and Asian forests show a synchronized shift in tree and wildflower phenology, potentially leading to increased light for wildflowers.
Dr. Daijiang Li is building Phenobase, a global database on plant phenology using AI and machine learning to extract information from millions of images and existing records.
A Japanese research group discovered that the leaf area index of mixed-forests influences seasonal changes in the formation of a nocturnal cold-air pool at a small mountain basin. The study found that weakening of the nighttime temperature inversion occurred during leaf expansion, while strengthening occurred after leaf fall.
The Nature's Notebook platform has collected over 30 million phenological records, enabling data-driven natural resource management. The platform is well-suited for answering well-defined questions but faces limitations in addressing unplanned queries due to spatial and temporal unevenness and species biases.
A study published in the Journal of Ecology found that plants flowered and leafed out earlier in contemporary years than in the early 19th century, coinciding with a warming trend. The accelerated timing poses risks for some species' survival and informs conservation efforts.
Researchers developed a new technique using radar altimetry to measure river ice thickness and predict safe travel dates on ice roads and bridges in arctic regions. This method can help sustain the network of ice roads built on frozen lakes and rivers, critical for northern communities' food security.
A study improved the pDSSAT model to analyze spatiotemporal patterns of winter wheat phenology and its drivers in China from 2000 to 2015. The results showed significant enhancements in simulation accuracy, particularly for anthesis and maturity dates.
A new study reveals that climate change causes a mismatch between above- and belowground plant phenology, with woody plants responding more strongly to warming in their roots. This finding highlights the importance of plant root phenology and its impact on ecosystem functioning.
A new global-scale analysis shows that phenological changes are lagging temperature change, especially in human-dominated landscapes. Human activities such as population density and land-use types play a key role in this mismatch.
Researchers discovered that humidity-driven movement in spore-bearing leaves is the key mechanism behind the unique timing of spore dispersal in the sensitive fern. The study found that dead fronds open when dry and close when wet due to differential cell expansion, a process also observed in pine cones.
Lakes in the Northern Hemisphere are warming at an alarming rate, with some losing up to two months of ice cover since records began. The study, led by York University, found that lakes are losing on average 17 days of ice cover per century.
A new study found that Arctic tundra spring phenology has shifted due to a warmer climate, with delays in the start of growing seasons observed at high-latitude regions. The study used multiple remote sensing indices and ground observations from 2000 to 2018 to analyze spatial and temporal variations.
A region-wide study by Penn State researchers confirms that invasive shrubs have an advantage over native shrubs, contributing to their proliferation. The study found that invasive shrubs maintain leaves for 77 days longer than native shrubs, giving them a competitive edge in acquiring energy and creating shade.
Researchers used co-clustering analysis to study the spatio-temporal differentiation of spring phenology in China. The results revealed three spatial patterns and five temporal patterns, with most areas in China exhibiting a stable state, while northern regions showed fluctuating trends.
Researchers analyzed long-term first bloom dates dataset using Bregman block average co-clustering algorithm with I-divergence, revealing spatio-temporal differentiation of spring phenology in China. The study identified three spatial patterns and five temporal categories, with most areas belonging to the stable state.
A recent study by Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that tree budburst, or the timing of leaf emergence, is becoming more variable in hotter regions due to rising temperatures. In contrast, cold climates show a more stable pattern of budburst year-over-year.
A study found that urban areas in the US experience an earlier start to plants' greening season compared to rural areas. The advancement of spring phenology is driven by warmer temperatures, but the rate of change slows down under continued warming.
Researchers introduce RadialPheno, a new tool to visualize phenocam-collected phenology data, providing meaningful insights into plant developmental events. The tool uses radial representation to identify recurrent events and integrates with common statistical methods, making it a valuable resource for phenology experts.
This special issue of Applications in Plant Sciences presents cutting-edge methods to study plant phenology, including automated scoring from herbaria collections and standardized ontology for data integration. These innovations enable large-scale datasets to be generated, addressing the urgent need to understand ecosystem responses to...
Researchers at UNH found that during a 15-year period of slowed air temperature rise, phenology remained relatively constant, with no appreciable increase in growing seasons. This finding has significant implications for regulating plant photosynthesis and energy exchange.
A new report synthesizes existing evidence on phenological shifts in the Gulf of Maine, highlighting the need for increased research and data incorporation. Marine species are responding to climate change through timing changes, with fish, birds, and mammals affected in various ways.
Researchers found that climate during wheat growing season has become warmer and drier in the past, causing changes in wheat phenology. The study reveals significant differences in phenological changes across regions and attributes these changes to both climate change and crop management measures.
Researchers found that species' phenology shifted four days earlier per decade after 1981, with increased synchrony between species pairs from 0.97 to 6.1 days per decade. However, the magnitude of shifts and correlations with temperature changes remain uncertain due to short time series and variations among species.
The research found that Gymnocypris selincuoensis fish reproductive cycle is advancing due to climate change, with growing seasons increasing by 17 days per decade. The study suggests that the plateau's aquatic ecosystems are responding to global warming.
A 55-year series of Tibetan Plateau tree-ring data shows that the start of growing season advanced by 0.28 days/year, while end of growing season delayed by 0.33 days/year between 1960-2014. April-June and August-September minimum temperatures drive these changes.
CIRC researcher Keith Larson will lead a citizen science project in Abisko, Sweden, where the public can help collect valuable climate change data and learn about climate research methods. The project aims to replicate a study from 1917-1919 and modernize it with new climate stations and smartphone app.
Declining plant diversity shifts flowering phenology at the same magnitude as global warming, according to a new study. This finding highlights the critical role of biotic interactions in understanding ecosystem changes and the impact on plant reproduction.
A new set of maps shows that spring is arriving ahead of schedule across the US, with areas such as California, Kansas, and Ohio seeing early blooms. The study highlights the challenges posed by earlier springs for planning and managing issues affecting the economy and society.
Early-flowering plants face trade-offs between enhanced pollination and increased frost susceptibility. Delayed blooming time reduces plant reproduction due to reduced pollination. Climate change constraints early plant reproduction primarily through direct environmental impacts.
Scientists project a median 3-week shift in spring plant growth onset due to global warming, with significant impacts on animal migration and ecosystems. The study's findings have long-term implications for the growing season of plants and their relationships with animals.
A recent study published in Nature found that broadleaf tree species in Central Europe have shown a significant decline in their sensitivity to climate change. Leaf unfolding phenology, which is the timing of when leaves unfurl in spring, has advanced earlier by four days per degree Celsius increase in temperature between 1980 and 1994...
Researchers use tree-ring growth data to reconstruct forest drought-stress index, revealing strong relationships between FDSI and regional forest productivity. Climate change is expected to lead to increased forest drought-stress by the 2050s, driving imminent changes in forest structure and composition.
A new global study reveals widespread systemic shifts in marine species distribution and phenology, comparable to those observed on land. The research found that 81% of changes were consistent with climate change, with some species shifting up to 11 days earlier in spring.
A new study finds that plant responses to climate change are advancing at a rate four to eight times faster than predicted by experiments, according to natural observations. This could lead to major changes in ecosystems, pollination of crops, and water supplies, emphasizing the need for accurate predictions.
A new study on Northumberland's Chillingham cattle reveals climate change is altering the timing of their breeding schedules, leading to more winter births and lower calf survival rates. The long-term dataset, dating back to 1860, provides valuable insights into how mammals respond to global warming.
Research from University of Sheffield geographers shows British summer onset has advanced by 11 days since the mid-1950s, with early summer flowering plants blooming three days earlier. This shift could lead to increased ecological divergences and prolonged periods of extreme weather.
Volunteers in Project BudBurst are tracking plant blooms across the US, providing a baseline for studying climate change impacts. Key findings include some plants blooming earlier than usual, which could be related to rising temperatures.
The Nicotiana attenuata tobacco plant has developed a clever strategy to combat herbivorous caterpillars: it opens its flowers in the morning instead of at night. This change in flower phenology also attracts a new pollinator, the local hummingbird, which is satisfied with just nectar rewards.
The USDA Forest Service has developed an early warning system to monitor forest health using satellite imagery and land surface phenology data. The system aims to provide near-real-time information on forest conditions impacted by insects, diseases, wildfires, or extreme weather events.
The USA-NPN is launching a new national program to track the effects of climate change on seasonal changes in plant and animal behavior. Scientists will use volunteer observations to monitor life cycles of nearly 200 species of plants, predicting wildfires, pollen production, droughts and assessing ecosystem vulnerability.
Research by David Inouye shows that warmer springs in the Rockies are causing three common wildflowers to bloom less due to late frost damage. This can have significant impacts on ecosystem dynamics, as these plants provide food for various insects and animals, which may disappear if they vanish.