Abstract
Vernal herbs are exposed to the risk of climate change under spring frost and canopy closure. Although vernal herbs contribute to the biodiversity of the understorey layer in temperate forests, few studies assessed the effect of climate change on the phenology of the herbs. To examine phenological shifts in flowering seasons of vernal herb species caused by climate change, a greenhouse experiment was conducted using four species (Adonis amurensis, Hepatica nobilis var. japonica, Viola phalacrocarpa, and Pulsatilla cernua) under two temperature conditions (ambient or elevated temperature) and two precipitation conditions (convective or reduced precipitation). Experimental warming advanced overall aspects of the flowering timing including the first and last day of flowering. The growth of flowering stalk was also promoted by elevated temperature. Effects of decreased precipitation varied among species, which advanced the last day of the flowering of the later flowering species. Consequently, a decrease in overall flowering period length was observed. These results indicate that overall, climate change results in a shortening of the flowering season of vernal herb species, specifically at a higher temperature and under conditions of less precipitation.
Highlights
Vernal herbs are exposed to the risk of climate change under spring frost and canopy closure
Altered climate does not have a homogeneous effect on phenological shifts in all plant species because the timing of crucial growth or phenological events differs from species to s pecies[14]
20 ~ individuals of Adonis amurensis emerged from the total individuals (n = for each experimental condition)
Summary
Vernal herbs are exposed to the risk of climate change under spring frost and canopy closure. A decrease in overall flowering period length was observed These results indicate that overall, climate change results in a shortening of the flowering season of vernal herb species, at a higher temperature and under conditions of less precipitation. The biodiversity of forests and meadows through temporal niche separation[31,32,33] They usually exhibit a relatively short growth period and rapid phenological transitions in spring because of the decline in light intensity caused by leaf emergence of trees[33]. Vernal herbs are exposed to extreme climate events such as frost, drought, and abnormally high temperatures in early spring[31,32], and these risks seem to be higher in altered climate conditions. Assessments of the effect of altered climate conditions on the phenology of vernal herb species have been mainly conducted in extreme climate regions, such as tundra and alpine e cosystem[14,33]
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