Negative effects of winter and spring warming on the regeneration of forest spring geophytes. (8th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vangansbeke, P.; Sanczuk, P.; Govaert, S.; De Lombaerde, E.; De Frenne, P.
• Is Part Of: Plant biology. Volume 24:Number 6(2022)
• Page Start: 950
• Page End: 959
• Publication Date: 2022-07-08
• Subjects: Climate change -- plant performance -- regeneration -- seedling emergence -- spring geophytes -- spring warming -- winter warming; Botany -- Periodicals; Plants -- genetics -- Periodicals; Plants -- growth & development -- Periodicals; Plant Proteins -- Periodicals; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/plb.13443
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1435-8603

Abstract

Abstract: The climate is changing rapidly, provoking species to shift their ranges poleward and upslope. We currently lack a mechanistic understanding of the effect of warmer temperatures on plants, especially for seasonally distinct patterns. Spring geophytes are emblematic forest plants that have a short aboveground lifecycle in the first half of the year and are thus particularly sensitive to winter and spring warming. We set up a warming experiment with separate and combined winter and spring warming on seedlings of three European spring geophytes: Anemone nemorosa, Hyacinthoides non‐scripta and Ornithogalum pyrenaicum . Seedling emergence and plant height were recorded at the end of winter and spring treatment, when also biomass of the root, shoot and storage organ was determined. We found negative effects of combined winter and spring warming on seedling emergence. The weight of the storage organ proved to be the best indicator of seedling performance and was negatively affected by separate winter warming in Anemone and by spring warming in Hyacinthoides . Successful seedling emergence was jeopardized by the absence of a cold period, while seedling performance seemed to be negatively influenced directly by higher temperatures through a phenological shift. Our findings confirm that warmer winter and spring temperatures could hamper regeneration of spring geophytes. Abstract : We found negative effects of both experimental winter and spring warming on seedling emergence and performance in three spring geophytes of temperate forests, indicating that climate change could directly threaten plant populations at the warm edge of the distribution range.