Impact of climatic factors on the duration of species fl owering in the Karadag Nature Reserve

Abstract

The phenological responses of plants to changing weather conditions are very strong and can serve as an indicator of global climate change. If we understand how individual species respond to changing conditions, we can represent how ecosystems will change. The aim of this study was to analyze the exposure of climatic factors (air temperature and precipitation) on the fl owering duration of the wild vascular plants species in the Karadag Nature Reserve (Crimea). In general, 152 species were taken into account with a number of phenological observations from 5 to 8 years. Correlation analysis between the fl owering duration and the climatic parameters revealed a signifi cant response in 89 (58.6%) species. Moreover, the climatic factors of the current vegetative season impacted 71 species fl owering, previous vegetative season impacted 4 species fl owering, and both vegetative seasons impacted 14 species fl owering. Air temperature and precipitation equally impacted the fl owering duration: air temperature impacted 35 (41.2%) species fl owering; precipitation impacted 32 (37.7%) species fl owering; both factors impacted 18 (21.1%) species flowering. The flowering duration mostly was negatively correlated with air temperature values and positively with precipitation amount. Mesophytes and the forest community species were the most sensitive to the climatic factors; euxerophytes and the steppe community species were the least sensitive to the climatic factors.