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Leaf senescence exhibits stronger climatic responses during warm than during cold autumns

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Listed:
  • Lei Chen

    (Sichuan University
    Texas Tech University)

  • Heikki Hänninen

    (Zhejiang A&F University)

  • Sergio Rossi

    (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
    Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Nicholas G. Smith

    (Texas Tech University)

  • Stephanie Pau

    (Florida State University)

  • Zhiyong Liu

    (Sun Yat-sen University)

  • Guanqiao Feng

    (Texas Tech University)

  • Jie Gao

    (Beijing Forestry University)

  • Jianquan Liu

    (Sichuan University)

Abstract

A warmer world could extend the growing seasons for plants. Changes in spring phenology have been studied, yet autumn phenology remains poorly understood. Using >500,000 phenological records of four temperate tree species between 1951 and 2013 in Europe, we show that leaf senescence in warm autumns exhibits stronger climate responses, with a higher phenological plasticity, than in cold autumns, indicating a nonlinear response to climate. The onset of leaf senescence in warm autumns was delayed due to the stronger climate response, primarily caused by night-time warming. However, daytime warming, especially during warm autumns, imposes a drought stress which advances leaf senescence. This may counteract the extension of growing season under global warming. These findings provide guidance for more reliable predictions of plant phenology and biosphere–atmosphere feedbacks in the context of global warming.

Suggested Citation

  • Lei Chen & Heikki Hänninen & Sergio Rossi & Nicholas G. Smith & Stephanie Pau & Zhiyong Liu & Guanqiao Feng & Jie Gao & Jianquan Liu, 2020. "Leaf senescence exhibits stronger climatic responses during warm than during cold autumns," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(8), pages 777-780, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:10:y:2020:i:8:d:10.1038_s41558-020-0820-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0820-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Dmuchowski, Wojciech & Baczewska-Dąbrowska, Aneta H. & Gworek, Barbara, 2024. "The role of temperate agroforestry in mitigating climate change: A review," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).

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