Responses of Plants' Phenology to Climate Warming in the Desert Area in Northwestern China

Zhaofeng Chang,Shujuan Zhu,Fugui Han,Shengnian Zhong,Qiangqiang Wang

doi:10.19026/ajfst.5.3298

Abstract

With climate warming, plants’ spring phenology has advanced while autumn phenology has delayed. How does the phenology of desert plants respond to climatic variation? To reveal it, this study analyzed the phenological data of 22 desert species growing in the Minqin Desert Plants Botanical Garden located in the typical desert area in northwest China. The data was observed during the year 1974-2009. Results revealed that comparing with the literatures available, the temperature in the study area since 1974 rose more significantly and plants’ growing periods were longer. Both the advance of arbor’s spring phenology and the delay of herb’s autumn phenology were obviously greater than that reported in available literature. The starting date of spring phenolgy advanced markedly. From 1974 to 2009, the starting date of spring phenology, the ending date of autumn phenology and plants’ growing duration experienced 6 stages. The phenological changes in different stages were closely related to temperature variation.

Highlights

The response of plant phenology to climate change has currently become a hotspot in phenological research
The studies abroad are mainly concentrated on the response of plants phenology to climate warming, dealing with issues like advance of spring phenology, delay of autumn phenology and lengthening of plants’ growing periods (Menzel, 2002; Matsumoto et al, 2003; Badeck et al, 2004)
Since 1974, the temperature in the study area showed a significant rising trend and the duration of temperature rising was longer than that reported in literatures available

Summary

Introduction

The response of plant phenology to climate change has currently become a hotspot in phenological research. The studies abroad are mainly concentrated on the response of plants phenology to climate warming, dealing with issues like advance of spring phenology, delay of autumn phenology and lengthening of plants’ growing periods (Menzel, 2002; Matsumoto et al, 2003; Badeck et al, 2004). Plants’ spring phenology depends on temperature changes (Chmielewski and Homas, 2001). In Europe, with the temperature rising by 1°C in early spring, the growing period had advanced by 7 days; and with the mean annual temperature rising by 1°C, the growing period had lengthened by 5 days (Frank et al, 2001; White et al, 1999). Plants cannot survive without favorable temperature and only under certain accumulated temperatures can they complete their living circle (Menzel, 2000)

Methods

Results

Conclusion