Phenology

Adrià Descals' study on phenology, vegetation and warming, Award for Relevant Doctoral Theses from the CSIC

In a situation of global warming, phenology becomes essential scientific knowledge to understand the environment’s behaviour in the medium and long term. Beyond changes as ephemeral and visible as the evolution of the colour of tree leaves, phenology studies the relationship between the cycles of living beings and the climate, linked to the annual course of meteorology in a specific place.

Adrià descals @en Csic theses prize Phenology Theses award

Climate change-induced decline in winds could delay leaf-fall at high latitudes

Wind dynamics need to be factored into studies that measure the impact of climate change on the rhythms of nature. A study published in PNAS and co-authored by CREAF-based CSIC researcher Josep Peñuelas concludes that a decline in winds is currently benefiting plant productivity.

Carbon cycle Carbon sinks Climate change Climate change Fenologia Forest Forests Josep peñuelas @en Nature rhythm Phenology Ritme natura Widespread decline in winds delayed autumn foliar senescence over high latitudes Winds

Some plants do not reproduce every year because of nutrient scarcity

A study involving three CREAF researchers has found that plants with low nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in their leaves do not reproduce every year to enable them to reproduce on a huge scale in years in which conditions are right. Oaks, holm oaks and beeches are examples of trees that behave in such a way.

Climate Edm@en Forests Fruit Geu @en Jordi sardans @en Josep peñuelas @en Marcos fernandez-martinez @en Mediterranean Nutrients @en Phenology Phosphorus Precipitations Reproduction Seed

Local climate causes trees around Europe to leaf at different times

At this time of year, deciduous trees across Europe are losing the last of their leaves. When will they come into leaf again? A study just published in Nature Communications has shown that while year-to-year leafing date variations can be explained by heat accumulation, local climate is a key factor in geographical variations.

Climate Climate change Europe Forests Leaves Monitoring-ecosystems Phenology Spring

The climate is changing faster than animals can adapt

A study just published in the scientific journal Nature Communications presents worrying results on animals’ adaptation to climate change. It concludes that while species are changing some aspects of their lives in response to global warming, they are not doing so quickly enough and do not always make the right changes.

Adaptation Animals @en Birds Climate change Constanti stefanescu @en Iolanda filella @en Phenology

Climate change is causing plants to flower earlier and changing the rhythm of nature

CREAF and the companies Altran and Starlab have led the design of RitmeNatura.cat, a citizen observatory that encourages members of the public to ‘adopt’ a plant, record the changes it undergoes and provide data that can be used to study the effects of climate change.

Citizen science Climate change Corina basnou @en Ester prat @en Groundtruth20 @en Joan masó @en Joan pino @en Phenology Ritmenatura @en

#FenoDato seeks citizens to help monitor how climate change is altering nature’s rhythm

Climate experts, botanists, geographers and ecologists from CREAF and the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) will train citizens to monitor seasonal changes which can be observed in nature. This way citizens will be able to help the scientists study the effects of climate change on animals and plants. Flower emergence, the dropping of leaves, or the arrival of certain birds will be some of the changes to be studied. Once trained, citizens will be able to contribute to European and Spanish phenology observation networks.

#fenodato @en Citizen science Climate change El niño @en Global change Joan masó @en Miquel ninyerola @en Phenology

Increased daytime temperatures is causing earlier leaf emergence

A study led by a CREAF-CSIC researcher has outlined a new methodology for describing changes in the life cycle of plants caused by planetary warmingwith higher precision. Daytime, rather than nocturnal temperatures determine phenological changes. The increase in temperatures, leading to an earlier spring, alters the global functioning of ecosystems.

Climate change Geu @en Global change Josep peñuelas @en Models @en Nutrient cycle Phenology Temperatures @en