Changes in first flowering dates and flowering duration of 232 plant species on the island of Guernsey. (2nd May 2014)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Changes in first flowering dates and flowering duration of 232 plant species on the island of Guernsey. (2nd May 2014)
- Main Title:
- Changes in first flowering dates and flowering duration of 232 plant species on the island of Guernsey
- Authors:
- Bock, Anna
Sparks, Tim H.
Estrella, Nicole
Jee, Nigel
Casebow, Andrew
Schunk, Christian
Leuchner, Michael
Menzel, Annette - Abstract:
- <abstract abstract-type="main" id="gcb12579-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Climate change has affected plant phenology; increasing temperatures are associated with advancing first flowering dates. The impact on flowering duration, however, has rarely been studied. In this study, we analysed first flowering dates and flowering durations from a 27 year dataset of weekly flower observations on 232 plant species from the island of Guernsey in the English Channel. The aim of this study was to explore variation in trends and relationships between first flowering dates, flowering duration and temperature. We specifically looked for evidence that traits, such as life forms and phylogenetic groups, explained variation in sensitivity of first flowering and flowering duration among species. Overall trends revealed significantly earlier flowering over time, by an average of 5.2 days decade<sup>−1</sup> since 1985. A highly significant shortening of flowering duration was observed by an average of 10 days decade<sup>−1</sup>. Correlations between first flowering, flowering duration and year varied between different species, traits and flowering periods. Significant differences among traits were observed for first flowering and to a lesser degree for flowering duration. Overall, in comparison to first flowering, more species had significant trends in flowering duration. Temperature relationships revealed large differences in strength and direction of response. 55% of the species<abstract abstract-type="main" id="gcb12579-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Climate change has affected plant phenology; increasing temperatures are associated with advancing first flowering dates. The impact on flowering duration, however, has rarely been studied. In this study, we analysed first flowering dates and flowering durations from a 27 year dataset of weekly flower observations on 232 plant species from the island of Guernsey in the English Channel. The aim of this study was to explore variation in trends and relationships between first flowering dates, flowering duration and temperature. We specifically looked for evidence that traits, such as life forms and phylogenetic groups, explained variation in sensitivity of first flowering and flowering duration among species. Overall trends revealed significantly earlier flowering over time, by an average of 5.2 days decade<sup>−1</sup> since 1985. A highly significant shortening of flowering duration was observed by an average of 10 days decade<sup>−1</sup>. Correlations between first flowering, flowering duration and year varied between different species, traits and flowering periods. Significant differences among traits were observed for first flowering and to a lesser degree for flowering duration. Overall, in comparison to first flowering, more species had significant trends in flowering duration. Temperature relationships revealed large differences in strength and direction of response. 55% of the species revealed a significant negative relationship of first flowering dates and temperature. In contrast, only 19% of flowering durations had a significant negative temperature relationship. The advance in first flowering date together with a shortening of flowering duration suggests potentially serious impacts on pollinators, which might pose a major threat to biodiversity, agriculture and horticulture. Human health, in terms of pollen allergies, however, might benefit from a shortening of specific plant pollen seasons.</p> </abstract> … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Global change biology. Volume 20:Number 11(2014:Nov.)
- Journal:
- Global change biology
- Issue:
- Volume 20:Number 11(2014:Nov.)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 20, Issue 11 (2014)
- Year:
- 2014
- Volume:
- 20
- Issue:
- 11
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2014-0020-0011-0000
- Page Start:
- 3508
- Page End:
- 3519
- Publication Date:
- 2014-05-02
- Subjects:
- Climatic changes -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals
Troposphere -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals
Biodiversity conservation -- Periodicals
Eutrophication -- Periodicals
551.5 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/member/institutions/issuelist.asp?journal=gcb ↗
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1111/gcb.12579 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 1354-1013
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 4195.358330
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 4228.xml