Manifestations Of Climate Change Research Articles

Carbon dynamics in high‐Andean tropical cushion peatlands: A review of geographic patterns and potential drivers

AbstractPeatlands store large amounts of carbon (C), a function potentially threatened by climate change. Peatlands composed of vascular cushion plants are widespread in the northern and central high Andes (páramo, wet and dry puna), but their C dynamics are hardly known. To understand the interplay of the main drivers of peatland C dynamics and to infer geographic patterns across the Andean regions, we addressed the following question: How do topography, hydrology, temperature, past climate variability, and vegetation influence the C dynamics of these peatlands? We summarize the available information on observed spatial and inferred temporal patterns of cushion peatland development in the tropical and subtropical Andes. Based on this, we recognize the following emerging patterns, which all need testing in further studies addressing spatial and temporal patterns of C accumulation: (1) Peatlands in dry climates and those in larger catchments receive higher sediment inputs than peatlands from wet puna and páramo and in small catchments. This results in peat stratigraphies intercalated with mineral layers and affects C accumulation by triggering vegetation changes. (2) High and constant water tables favor C accumulation. Seasonal water level fluctuations are higher in wet and dry puna, in comparison with páramo, leading to more frequent episodes of C loss in puna. (3) Higher temperatures favor C gain under high and constant water availability but also increase C loss under low and fluctuating water levels. (4) C accumulation has been variable through the Holocene, but several peatlands show a recent increase in C accumulation rates. (5) Vegetation affects C dynamics through species‐specific differences in productivity and decomposition rate. Because of predicted regional differences in global climate change manifestations (seasonality, permafrost behavior, temperature, precipitation regimes), cushion peatlands from the páramo are expected to mostly continue as C sinks for now, whereas those of the dry puna are more likely to turn to C sources as a consequence of increasing aridification.

Temporal variability of sea surface temperature affects marine macrophytes range retractions as well as gradual warming

Record mean sea surface temperatures (SST) during the past decades and marine heatwaves have been identified as responsible for severe impacts on marine ecosystems, but the role of changes in the patterns of temporal variability under global warming has been much less studied. We compare descriptors of two time series of SST, encompassing extirpations (i.e. local extinctions) of six cold-temperate macroalgae species at their trailing range edge. We decompose the effects of gradual warming, extreme events and intrinsic variability (e.g. seasonality). We also relate the main factors determining macroalgae range shifts with their life cycles characteristics and thermal tolerance. We found extirpations of macroalgae were related to stretches of coast where autumn SST underwent warming, increased temperature seasonality, and decreased skewness over time. Regardless of the species, the persisting populations shared a common environmental domain, which was clearly differentiated from those experiencing local extinction. However, macroalgae species responded to temperature components in different ways, showing dissimilar resilience. Consideration of multiple thermal manifestations of climate change is needed to better understand local extinctions of habitat-forming species. Our study provides a framework for the incorporation of unused measures of environmental variability while analyzing the distributions of coastal species.

Temporal dynamics of drinking water sodium levels in coastal areas, Cyprus 2009–2020

Around the world, groundwater salinity levels are increasing in coastal areas, as a result of its systematic overexploitation for domestic, agricultural and industrial demand and potentially due to climate change manifestations (such as, sea level rise). We hypothesized that the groundwater quality of many Mediterranean coastal areas is already being perturbed, especially for water salinity, depending on the groundwater distance from the seafront. The objectives of this study were: i) to evaluate the magnitude and temporal variance of drinking water sodium (Na) as a metric of salt intake used for public health purposes using drinking water data in Cyprus; and ii) to examine the degree of Na enrichment in drinking water as defined by the seawater coastline distance of each sampling point. Open access governmental data of drinking water Na (n = 3304), daily max ambient air temperature and total rainfall were obtained for the period of 2009–2020 from governmental repositories. Linear mixed-effect regression models of drinking water Na with unsupervised covariance matrix were used. After adjusting for temperature and rainfall data, there was a significant annual increase in drinking water Na levels over time (beta = 0.01; 95 % CI: 0.00, 0.02; p = 0.02) for the coastal areas (<10 km from coastline, cutoff used by the EU Environment Agency), but this was not the case for non-coastal areas (>10 km distance from coastline). The distance of each sampling point from the coastline in Cyprus was negatively associated with drinking water Na in coastal areas (beta = −0.04, 95%CI: −0.06, −0.01; p = 0.002); this was not the case for non-coastal areas. More research is warranted to better understand the impacts of global environmental change on water quality in association with the burden of disease in coastal areas.

Warming inhibits HgII methylation but stimulates methylmercury demethylation in paddy soils

Inorganic mercury (HgII) can be transformed into neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) by microorganisms in paddy soils, and the subsequent accumulation in rice grains poses an exposure risk for human health. Warming as an important manifestation of climate change, changes the composition and structure of microbial communities, and regulates the biogeochemical cycles of Hg in natural environments. However, the response of specific HgII methylation/demethylation to the changes in microbial communities caused by warming remain unclear. Here, nationwide sampling of rice paddy soils and a temperature-adjusted incubation experiment coupled with isotope labeling technique (202HgII and Me198Hg) were conducted to investigate the effects of temperature on HgII methylation, MeHg demethylation, and microbial mechanisms in paddy soils along Hg gradients. We showed that increasing temperature significantly inhibited HgII methylation but promoted MeHg demethylation. The reduction in the relative abundance of Hg-methylating microorganisms and increase in the relative abundance of MeHg-demethylating microorganisms are the likely reasons. Consequently, the net Hg methylation production potential in rice paddy soils was largely inhibited under the increasing temperature. Collectively, our findings offer insights into the decrease in net MeHg production potential associated with increasing temperature and highlight the need for further evaluation of climate change for its potential effect on Hg transformation in Hg-sensitive ecosystems.

Climate change and its effect on food security in Southern Africa

In recent years, the term "climate change" has been widely utilized worldwide. Almost everyone knows or bears an idea of the definition of the phrase in mind. Climate change has become part of the global agenda, being the topic of discussion in the realm of numerous international conferences. Climate change poses a threat to global security as it poses a danger to various aspects of human life. For instance, lives are occasionally lost due to weather events triggered by changing weather conditions, and food scarcity caused by these changing conditions that can limit people's access to food in many ways. One manifestation of climate change is the occurrence of extreme weather events, characterized by a rise in global temperatures, increased frequency of cyclones, floods, and droughts. The objective of this research is to understand what SADC countries are doing at the regional level to mitigate the effects of climate change on food security. While developing the research, documentary and bibliographic techniques are applied. However, secondary sources including the analysis of works carried out by other researchers have allowed a better understanding into the problem and broadened the scope through the provision of answers to the problem scrutinized by the research.

Sea water temperature and light intensity at high-Arctic subtidal shallows – 16 years perspective

Manifestations of climate change in the Arctic include an increase in water temperatures and massive loss of sea ice enabling more light penetration. Yet to understand tempo and scale of these parameters change over time, constant monitoring is needed. We present 16-yr long-term datasets of sea water temperature and relative light intensity at two depth strata (8 and 14 ± 1 m) of two hard-bottom sites in southern Isfjorden proper (Spitsbergen, 78°N). The high temporal resolution of the datasets (every 30 min, between 2006–2022) makes them suitable for studying changes at a local scale, correlating environmental variability with observed processes in benthic assemblages, and serving as ground-truth for comparison with, for example, remotely sensed or mooring data. These datasets serve as baseline for long-term investigations in the shallows of a high-Arctic fjord undergoing severe environmental changes.

Manifestations of Climate Change in Qur’an and Sunnah

‌Climate change arises from a combination of natural factors, such as solar radiation and volcanic activity, and human activities like industrial emissions and deforestation. These factors contribute to increased levels of carbon dioxide and methane, resulting in global warming and the occurrence of extreme weather events. Interestingly, references to various climate change phenomena, including rainfall, wind, earthquakes, and floods, can be found in the Qur'an and Sunnah. The main objective of this study is to strengthen the confidence of believers by highlighting the scientific wonders contained within these religious texts and how they relate to today's society. To achieve this, the study adopts a descriptive, analytical, and inductive approach, drawing upon a range of sources such as previous research, classical scientific literature, electronic resources, and online databases. Ultimately, the study confirms the existence of evidence regarding climate change within the Qur'an and Sunnah, and recommends further investigation in this area. The aim is to foster scientific inquiry and demonstrate the ongoing relevance of these religious texts in addressing contemporary challenges, specifically climate change. By delving into this subject, the study aims to bridge the gap between religious teachings and our current scientific understanding. It has the potential to significantly influence future discussions and research on climate change that integrate both faith and science.

Analysis of Shoreline and Erosion Changes along the West African Coast from 1980 to 2020

The manifestations of climate change in coastal areas may represent a serious threat to livelihoods and lives. In West Africa, where many capital cities are located with a high concentration of people, shoreline changes have been studied in some port cities and beaches. This study investigates the changes along the coastline of West Africa from 1980 to 2020 at a regional scale including twelve countries. Spatial technique, remote sensing and GIS were employed in the assessment and analysis and monitoring of the shoreline changes from Mauritania to Nigeria. The findings revealed noticeable decadal changes with the most significant change evident from 1980 to 1990. The study further indicates that the coasts of Senegal and Guinea and Guinea Bissau experienced significant shift in the shoreline as it moved landward from 1980 to 1990. The results of the geospatial analysis indicates that erosion and accretion trends were dominated by loss of coastal land totaling 17372.45 km2 from 1980 to 1990 with erosion rates higher than areas gained through accretion. The difference between erosion and accretion rates between 1980-1990 period is 15,769.8 km2 with erosion rates on the increase. Study has provided to demonstrate decadal changes of coastal erosion and shoreline changes that characterize the West Africa coast from 1980-2020 highlighting its vulnerability. The study recommends concerted effort by relevant authorities in the region in mitigating against the adverse the consequences of sea level rise at a regional scale.

Impact of urban dynamics and climate change on forest areas the Maamora forest in the city of Kenitra, Morocco

Studies have focused on the issue of drought on one hand, and urban dynamics on the other, as prominent topics in physical geography for the former, which specializes in climate change, and human geography for the latter, which concerns field sciences. This research is part of a series of studies and specifically relates to a wetland area in the western plain, specifically Maamora Forest in the city of Kenitra. This research addresses three main axes: the first axis relates to human factors contributing to the reduction and deterioration of Maamora Forest over the past three decades and analyzes their impact on the forest. This is done by determining the development and dynamics of cork oak through remote sensing data, manifested in the analysis of aerial images from three different periods (1975, 1995, and 2022), complemented by field research throughout the period between 2022 and 2023. The second axis focuses on studying climatic data for the studied area, extending from 1987 to 2019. It highlights the manifestations of climate change, such as a decrease in annual precipitation and an increase in temperatures, and their impacts on the overall forest and specifically on cork oak trees. This is done using the LANG equation. The results indicate that the region has experienced four dry periods, accounting for 87.5% of the total 28 years, which range from 1987/1988 to 1995/1994, 1997/1998 to 2010/2011, 2012/2013 to 2014/2015, and 2016/2017 to 2018/2019. In contrast, the percentage of semi-humid and extremely dry years only accounted for 6.25% each, with an average duration of two years. The third axis relates to monitoring the effects of climate change on the forestry sector, specifically the Maamora Forest, through the use of modern techniques such as remote sensing and spectral plant and water indicators. It aims to understand the role of these technologies in spatial monitoring of factors and phenomena that negatively impact forest areas in general, and the Maamora Forest in particular.

A simulated natural heatwave perturbs bumblebee immunity and resistance to infection.

As a consequence of ongoing climate change, heatwaves are predicted to increase in frequency, intensity, and duration in many regions. Such extreme events can shift organisms from thermal optima for physiology and behaviour, with the thermal stress hypothesis predicting reduced performance at temperatures where the maintenance of biological functions is energetically costly. Performance includes the ability to resist biotic stressors, including infectious diseases, with increased exposure to extreme temperatures having the potential to synergise with parasite infection. Climate change is a proposed threat to native bee pollinators, directly and through indirect effects on floral resources, but the thermal stress hypothesis, particularly pertaining to infectious disease resistance, has received limited attention. We exposed adult Bombus impatiens bumblebee workers to simulated, ecologically relevant heatwave or control thermal regimes and assessed longevity, immunity, and resistance to concurrent or future parasite infections. We demonstrate that survival and induced antibacterial immunity are reduced following heatwaves. Supporting that heatwave exposure compromised immunity, the cost of immune activation was thermal regime dependent, with survival costs in control but not heatwave exposed bees. However, in the face of real infections, an inability to mount an optimal immune response will be detrimental, which was reflected by increased trypanosomatid parasite infections following heatwave exposure. These results demonstrate interactions between heatwave exposure and bumblebee performance, including immune and infection outcomes. Thus, the health of bumblebee pollinator populations may be affected through altered interactions with parasites and pathogens, in addition to other effects of extreme manifestations of climate change.

Реализация концепции ресурсосбережения в границах сельских территорий

The increasing relevance of the problem of efficient resource utilization can be attributed to the popularity of sustainable development and the challenges posed by biological, climatic, and geopolitical factors, all of which are connected to society’s perception of crucial elements of the natural environment like land, water resources, and air. Specifically focused on rural areas, the research presented in this article examines the issues of effective resource utilization. The main scientific conclusion proposed in the work is that resource saving is an inevitable consequence of the negative manifestations of climate change, which entails positive effects for agricultural producers and the rural population, largely depends, first, on the motivation of rural entrepreneurs, secondly, on the state initiatives recorded in institutional documents, thirdly, on the preferences of rural communities and their active participation in the implementation of the concept under consideration.

Presenting a Wind Turbine Model for Climate Change Education and Action

This article introduces and evaluates a climate change education model - the wind turbine model. Developed through an extensive review of technical literature, this model extracts essential facets of climate change education. The wind turbine model serves as a comprehensive educational tool for addressing climate change, highlighting the significance of various elements: knowledge acquisition, critical thinking abilities, awareness of values, identity formation, worldview, practical actions, motivation, participation, future orientation, hope, emotions, and identification of operational barriers. In this study, wind is conceptualized as one of the manifestations of climate change, and the turbine is portrayed not as a tool for production but as a mechanism to combat climate change. Each component of the turbine, including the generator, gearbox, and transformer, is integral to this system aiming to augment knowledge, foster environmental perspectives, and influence family behavior. Lastly, this model is proposed for implementation in environmental education via social networks within families. Following the presentation of the aforementioned action plan to address climate change, prioritization is conducted. Ultimately, this article delves into prospects for the future development of this model.

Preliminary assessment of the vulnerabilities in urban ecosystems as a result of climate change effects. Case studies.

The current context of the increasing manifestation of climate change in the form of extreme weather phenomena prioritizes efforts to find solutions as quickly as possible to ensure adaptation to these new conditions and to achieve climate resilience. The phenomena are problematic, they usually cause much material damage, and therefore knowing the particularities of each urban or peri-urban environment where they occur can ensure the finding of viable and sustainable solutions in the long term. The current knowledge of the phenomena related to pollution and the variation of some climatic parameters, such as temperature and humidity, can bring valuable information for understanding the phenomena that appear against the background of the manifestation of climatic changes in urban environments and those adjacent to them. The analysis presented in this article refers to three cities in Romania, analyzed as case studies, for understanding climatic vulnerabilities in parallel with a quantification of the quality of environmental factors, in an integrated air, water, and soil approach. In these areas, the manifestation of natural factors, together with the anthropic footprint, particularly more evident in the urban environment, offers the possibility of an objective, quantifiable evaluation of the studied areas. The proposed comparisons will allow highlighting the vulnerabilities together with the zonal variability that is the basis of the influencing factors, as well as how the quality of the monitored parameters will evolve in space and time.

Enabling asset-based community development solutions: Pro-poor urban climate resilience in Kumasi, Ghana

Cities of the Global South, such as Kumasi, Ghana, face elevated risks from climate change, and current adaptation efforts are failing. Ghanaian cities are beset by weak urban planning capacities and inadequate finance to contend with climate risks, with the poor being swept aside. Given that the urban poor are excluded from official climate interventions, coupled with the fact that weak institutional and stakeholder coordination presently exists, community-led approaches to climate change are critical in providing a minimum localised climate-specific capacity. A preliminary investigation of two largely established informal settlements in Kumasi assessed residents' and local planning authorities' sensitivities for community-led approaches to climate risks. Our research: (i) investigated perceptions of the nature and evidence of climate change; (ii) examined respective knowledge on the asset-based community development approach (ABCD); (iii) identified and examined the influence of the ABCD approach in building resilience to climate change impacts; and (iv) probed the challenges with its implementation in informal settlements. We surveyed 367 households, six governmental agencies and conducted focus group discussions for relevant data. Respondents demonstrated a good understanding of the most salient manifestations of climate change: flooding, heat, and drought events. The absence of formally recognised associations and the challenges associated with utilising community assets and households' high expectations for government aid impede ABCD pathways. We conclude that mainstreaming ABCD within urban planning and governance systems can be enhanced by emphasising the co-benefits, better alignment with a shared vision of climate adaptation and transitioning towards an inclusive urban planning future.

The potential of energy planning at Municipality scale: Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAP) and local Energy Communities to meet the energy demand variability

Energy planning tools play a key role in achieving sustainable development goals and in the energy transition toward a zero-carbon future. Energy security and decentralization are, as well, additional benefits from a rational energy planning applied to a territory. In particular, the relevance of territorial energy planning grows at the local scale, the peculiarities of a territory being a key point. This is especially true for Municipalities, which represent the smallest units with political responsibility. Cities are often the most unsustainable environments, being responsible for 75% of global energy use, 70% of global CO2 emissions, and considering that the percentage of the global population living in cities is expanding from 50% in 2022 to 70% in 2050. In this regard, the European Community has already designed a specific energy planning tool, called SECAPs (Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans), an evolution of SEAPs (Sustainable Environmental Action Plans) that allows the quantification of energy flowing throughout the territory to support the local economy. The greenhouse gases emission commitments are, as well, considered and could be fulfilled being the cornerstone of the European deal on climate change. Waiting for a zero Carbon economy, the intention of the cited plans is to propose mitigation and adaptation actions to delay or to react to climate change manifestations. A formidable new planning tool is certainly “Energy Communities”, where cities, public and private companies, citizens, energy producers and consumers (so called prosumers) can share renewable energy in whatever form is locally available, improving energy security and partial independence from the grid. The paper presents, for a small/medium size Italian city located in the Apennine Mountain hinterland some criteria to design energy communities demonstrating how the potential energy generation based on renewable sources can fulfil energy demand when an Energy Community is organized. The starting point is the knowledge of thermal and electricity consumptions available from SEAPs. Hourly load profiles for them were reconstructed and coupled to renewable energy production availability which is a peculiarity of a territory. Thanks to a suitable diversification of energy production, the fulfilment of the energy needs can be achieved with only a residual grid assistance. Consistency is given to the concept of energy resilience.

Climate Change and the Challenges of Sustainable Development in Nigeria

In recent years, the international community has been increasingly concerned about climate change. This is due to the harm it poses to people and other living things in particular. This study aims to advance the body of knowledge regarding how climate change affects sustainable development in Nigeria. Additionally, data for this study was gathered from secondary sources, including books, journals, and websites, and it was then analysed using content analysis. Additionally, this study makes the case that increased desertification, heatwaves, droughts, and floods, particularly in the country's northern regions, are all manifestations of climate change. Last but not least, the National Assembly needs to swiftly ratify the numerous international agreements on environmental protection in order to address the mounting environmental threats that climate change poses to Nigeria.

Contribution of Civil Society in Climate Change Adaptation in Nairobi City County, Kenya

The impacts of climate change, the brunt of which is experienced in the Global South, have occasioned the development of adaptation plans, policies, and strategies by developing countries, with the aim of reducing vulnerability and risks. By and large, however, these adaptation plans and strategies have not yielded the expected results, as evidenced by the increasing manifestations of climate change, including declining agricultural production, food insecurities, and floods, among others. Against this backdrop, this study sought to explore the avenues for enhancing the contribution of civil society organizations in adapting to climate change in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study adopted the descriptive survey design, targeting all 267 civil society organizations pertinent to adapting to climate change in Kenya. A total of 160 top administrative personnel were randomly sampled from among the civil society organizations. Primary data was gathered for the study using a standardized questionnaire. In data analysis, descriptive analysis and a Chi-square test were performed. The results established that mobilization, knowledge sharing, and policy support have a significant effect on the contribution of CSOs in adapting to climate change in Nairobi City County. It was also found that institutional coordination was also found to have a significant intervening role in the association between the avenues for enhancing the contribution of CSOs in adapting to climate change in Nairobi City County, Kenya. It is thus recommended that administrators of CSOs involved in adapting to climate change in Nairobi City County, invest in mobilization, knowledge sharing, policy support, and institutional coordination.

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Rainfall in South-central Senegal: Example of the Fatick and Kaolack Regions

One of the manifestations of climate change in the Sahel is a decrease in rainfall, which has led to a sharp decline in water potential in the south-central Senegal. The objective of this study is to understand the changes in rainfall through time and space, in the south-central Senegal (Fatick and Kaolack regions), to better plan water management for sustainable development. The rainfall data used ranges from 1961 to 2020 for the sites of Gossas, Foundiougne, Guinguineo and Nioro, and from 1951 to 2020 for the sites of Fatick and Kaolack. Pettitt and Buishand break tests were used to detect changes in rainfall patterns, Hubert segmentation was used to highlight sub-periods within the time series, and Standardized Precipitation Indices (SPI) were used to highlight deficits and surpluses. The results of break tests and Hubert segmentation show a decrease in average rainfall between the 1960s and 1970s, and an increase between the 1990s and 2000s, for some of the sites. The decrease in the 1960s and 1970s was early in sites in the Fatick region (Gossas, Fatick and Foundiougne) and late or absent in the Kaolack region (Guinguineo, Kaolack and Nioro). As for the increase in the 1990s and 2000s, it was first observed in the south and center of the study area in the 1990s (Nioro and Kaolack). In the 2000s, the increase was observed further north (Fatick and Gossas). The Standardized Precipitation Index shows reduced rainfall for 1971-2000 compared to the surrounding periods. Coefficient of variation values show that dispersion is lowest in the wetter years 1950 for two sites (Fatick and Kaolack), 1990 and 2000 for four sites (Gossas, Foundiougne, Guinguineo and Nioro). The highest coefficients of variation were detected in the drought years 1960, 1970 and 1980 for these four sites (Gossas, Foundiougne, Guinguineo and Nioro). This is not the case at the Fatick site, where the coefficients of variation for the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s are higher than those for 2000 and 2010. Coefficients of variation increase in the 2010s at five sites (Kaolack, Gossas, Foundiougne, Guinguineo and Nioro). The highest coefficients of variation were recorded in 2010 in Gossas, Guinguineo and Nioro. The decrease in average rainfall from the 1960s to the 1990s, and the increase in the 1990s and 2000s detected in most of the study sites, corroborates results of other studies from West and Central Africa.

Characterization of Climate Change and Aquifer Recharge in Three Localities in the South-West of Côte d’Ivoire

Located in the southwestern part of Côte d'Ivoire, the study area's economic activity is rainfall-dependent agriculture and facing climate change impact on water resources. This study aims to improve the resilience of water users based on a better understanding of the recent manifestation of climate change. Specifically, it is to determine the episodes of rainfall variability and estimate the effective rainfall and groundwater recharge. The hydro-climatic database for this study covers more or less the period from 1977 to 2021. The characterization of rainfall variability was highlighted by the calculation of rainfall indices, while effective rainfall and recharge values were determined using the ESPERE (Estimation of Effective Rainfall and Recharge) software according to different mathematical methods. Using the non-parametric Pettitt test was possible to detect years with significant rainfall breaks. Thus, there was an alternation of deficit and surplus periods at different scales in the three localities. However, a break in the rainfall pattern occurred in 1989 in San Pedro, whereas this event took place a year later, in 1990, in the other two localities. The effective rainfall and annual recharge closely followed the rainfall evolution in the three localities at different scales. This acquired knowledge of hydrological and hydrogeological rainfall, dynamics can be used to better educate the resilience and climate change adaptation habits of the populations in the southwest region of Côte d'Ivoire.

Inconsistent phenotypic differentiation at physiological traits in Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) provenances under contrasting water regimes

Abstract Norway spruce is expected to suffer from drought stress and other manifestations of climate change. This study relies on a manipulative experiment with drought-stressed and well-watered (control) seedlings, comprising five provenances of Norway spruce distributed along a steep elevational transect from 550 to 1,280 m a.s.l. within the natural range. Seedlings were subjected to measurement of physiological traits (content of phytohormones and monoterpenes, slow and fast chlorophyll a fluorescence kinetics, gas exchange, hyperspectral indices), and genotyping at 8 nuclear microsatellite loci. Comparison of the coefficient of differentiation at neutral loci (FST ) vs. differentiation at phenotypic traits (PST ) was used to identify traits underlying divergent selection. In total, 18 traits exhibited a significant PST – FST difference. However, the consistency in differentiation patterns between drought-stressed and control plants was limited, only three traits exhibited signals of selection under both treatments. This outcome indicates that the identified differentiation patterns can only be interpreted in the context of environmental setup of the experiment, and highlights the importance of common gardens in adaptation research, as they allow both elimination of environment-induced phenotypic variation and studying genotype-by-environment interaction in physiological responses to environmental stresses.