| Journal Article |
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| Article Title | Winter and spring warming result in delayed spring phenology on the Tibetan Plateau | | Author | Yu Haiying, Eike Luedeling and Xu Jianchu | | Year | 2010 | | Journal Title | Proceedings of National Academy of Science, USA (PNAS) | | Institution | The National Academy of Sciences of the USA | | Volume | 107 | | Issue | 51 | | Pages | 22151–22156 | | Call Number | JA0421-11 |
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| Abstract: |
| Climate change has caused advances in spring phases of many plant
species. Theoretically, however, strong warming in winter could
slowthe fulfillment of chilling requirements,whichmay delay spring
phenology. This phenomenon should be particularly pronounced in
regions that are experiencing rapid temperature increases and are
characterized by highly temperature-responsive vegetation. To test
this hypothesis, we used the Normalized Difference Vegetation
Index ratio method to determine the beginning, end, and length of
the growing season of meadow and steppe vegetation of the
Tibetan Plateau in Western China between 1982 and 2006.We then
correlated observed phenological dates with monthly temperatures
for the entire period on record. For both vegetation types, spring
phenology initially advanced, but started retreating in the mid-1990s
in spite of continued warming. Together with an advancing end of
the growing season for steppe vegetation, this led to a shortening
of the growing period. Partial least-squares regression indicated
that temperatures in both winter and spring had strong effects on
spring phenology. Although warm springs led to an advance of the
growing season, warm conditions in winter caused a delay of the
spring phases. This delay appeared to be related to later fulfillment
of chilling requirements. Because most plants from temperate and
cold climates experience a period of dormancy in winter, it seems
likely that similar effects occur in other environments. Continued
warming may strengthen this effect and attenuate or even reverse
the advancing trend in spring phenology that has dominated
climate-change responses of plants thus far. |
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GRP 5: Improving the ability of farmers, ecosystems & governments to cope with climate change
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