Plant phenology

Indicator Specification

Indicator codes: CLIM 023

Created 11 Jul 2008 Published 08 Sep 2008 Last modified 28 Jun 2016

Note: new version is available!

Phenology of plant and animal species

Phenological sensitivity to temperature changes Oak (Quercus sp) leafing date in Surrey (United Kingdom) 1950-2008

Update planned for November 2012

Assessment versions

Published (reviewed and quality assured)

08 Sep 2008, 12:00 AM
- Plant phenology

Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

Phenology is the study of changes in the timing of seasonal events such as budburst, flowering, dormancy, migration and hibernation. Some phenological responses are triggered principally by temperature, while others are more responsive to day length (Menzel et al., 2006). Changes in phenology are linked with the growing season and affect ecosystem functioning and productivity. Farming, forestry and gardening, as well as wildlife, are affected. The timing of tilling, sowing and harvesting is changing, fruit is ripening earlier due to warmer summers (Menzel et al., 2006), and grass in municipal parks and on road verges requires cutting more frequently and for longer.
Changes in flowering have implications for the timing and intensity of the pollen season; this is showing an advancing trend as many species start to flower earlier. Allied to this, the concentration of pollen in the air is increasing (Nordic Council, 2005).

Scientific references

References DEFRA, 2007. Conserving biodiversity in a changing climate: guidance on building capacity to adapt. DEFRA, UK. Fitter, A. H. and Fitter, R. S. R., 2002. Rapid Changes in Flowering Time in British Plants. Science 296: 1689-1691. Høye, T. T.; Post, E.; Meltofte, H.; Schmidt, N. M. and Forchhammer, M. C., 2007. Rapid advancement of spring in the high Arctic. Current Biology 17 (12): 449-451. Menzel, A.; Sparks, T. H.; Estrella, N.; Koch, E.; Aasa, A.; Ahas, R.; Alm-Kübler, K.; Bissolli, P.; Braslavská, O.; Briede, A.; Chmielewski, F. M.; Crepinsek, Z.; Curnel, Y.; Dahl, Å.; Defila, C.; Donelly, A.; Filella, I.; Jatczak, K.; Måge, F.; Mestre, A.; Nordli, Ø.; Peñuela, J.; Pirinen, P.; Remišová, V.; Scheinfinger, H.; Stríž, M.; Susnik, A.; Van Vliet, A. J. H.; Wiegolaski, F.-E.; Zach, S.; Zust, A., 2006. European phenological response to climate change matches the warming pattern. Global Change Biology 12: 1969-1976. Nature's Calendar, UK. www.naturescalendar.org.uk/climate+change/past.htm . Nordic Council, 2005. Conservation of Nordic Nature in a Changing Climate. Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen. Parmesan, C. and Yohe, G., 2003. A globally coherent fingerprint of climate change impacts across natural systems. Nature 421: 37-42. Root, T. L.; Price, J. T.; Hall, K. R., Schneider, S. H.; Rosenzweig, C.; Pounds, J. A., 2003. Fingerprints of global warming on wild animals and plants. Nature 421: 57-60.

Indicator definition

Phenological sensitivity to temperature changes
Oak (Quercus sp) leafing date in Surrey (United Kingdom) 1950-2008

Units

http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2008_4/pp111-148CC2008_ch5-7to9_Terrestrial_ecosystems_soil_and_agriculture.pdf

Policy context and targets

Context description

In April 2009 the European Commission presented a White Paper on the framework for adaptation policies and measures to reduce the European Union's vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. The aim is to increase the resilience to climate change of health, property and the productive functions of land, inter alia by improving the management of water resources and ecosystems. More knowledge is needed on climate impact and vulnerability but a considerable amount of information and research already exists which can be shared better through a proposed Clearing House Mechanism. The White Paper stresses the need to mainstream adaptation into existing and new EU policies. A number of Member States have already taken action and several have prepared national adaptation plans. The EU is also developing actions to enhance and finance adaptation in developing countries as part of a new post-2012 global climate agreement expected in Copenhagen (Dec. 2009). For more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/adaptation/index_en.htm