I read this paper because phenology (the timing of biological events) is a subject that I am fascinated by. The effects of climate change on spring phenology are well documented. Such effects include the advancement of the timing of budburst, as well as earlier breeding and egg-laying dates. Autumnal phenological events, in contrast, are largely understudied despite their ecological and evolutionary significance.
Autumn represents the end of the growing and breeding season for temperate species. Changes in autumn phenology, in particular the lengthening of the growing season, can 1) increase the reproductive capacity of species, 2) can increase the net productivity of ecosystems, 3) can exacerbate invasions, and importantly 4) can alter the ecological dynamics of interacting species.
Synchrony is important for many interspecific interactions, and phenological mismatches are well documented for spring events, for instance, climate change has resulted in asynchrony between flowers and pollinators [1]. Autumnal temporal shifts and the cascading effects of these on ecological systems have been understudied, but are ecologically very interesting. For instance, migratory songbirds rely on fruit consumption during autumn migration, and plants rely on these birds to disperse their seeds. However, if climate change is advancing fruit ripening [2] and delaying songbird departures [3] then this mismatch could have important adverse consequences for both migrants and plant species.
Autumn represents the end of the growing and breeding season for temperate species. Changes in autumn phenology, in particular the lengthening of the growing season, can 1) increase the reproductive capacity of species, 2) can increase the net productivity of ecosystems, 3) can exacerbate invasions, and importantly 4) can alter the ecological dynamics of interacting species.
Synchrony is important for many interspecific interactions, and phenological mismatches are well documented for spring events, for instance, climate change has resulted in asynchrony between flowers and pollinators [1]. Autumnal temporal shifts and the cascading effects of these on ecological systems have been understudied, but are ecologically very interesting. For instance, migratory songbirds rely on fruit consumption during autumn migration, and plants rely on these birds to disperse their seeds. However, if climate change is advancing fruit ripening [2] and delaying songbird departures [3] then this mismatch could have important adverse consequences for both migrants and plant species.
So why are autumnal phonological events understudied?
Drivers of autumn phenology are more difficult to disentangle than those of spring phenology. This is because autumnal events cannot be assigned to a single date (such as budburst), instead, events such as leaf senescence are temporally extended and asynchronous, and therefore harder to accurately define and standardize. Progress has been made in understanding the drivers of autumn phenology, despite autumn’s relative neglect. But such drivers are more difficult to predict than those of spring phenology (which is largely related to temperature [2]). Autumnal events are weakly related to temperature, and also related to less predictable factors such as drought and frost events.
Conclusion
Autumn is a relatively neglected season in climate change research in temperate ecosystems, despite its importance on ecological events such as migration, fruit ripening and leaf senescence. Shifts in autumnal phenology can alter species interspecific interactions, which can affect ecological dynamics. Much uncertainty remains of the drivers of these shifts, and how these shifts will manifest at the community and ecosystem level. The authors highlight that this field is wide open for discovery, and that it is a vital missing piece of the “effects of climate change on ecology” puzzle.
Drivers of autumn phenology are more difficult to disentangle than those of spring phenology. This is because autumnal events cannot be assigned to a single date (such as budburst), instead, events such as leaf senescence are temporally extended and asynchronous, and therefore harder to accurately define and standardize. Progress has been made in understanding the drivers of autumn phenology, despite autumn’s relative neglect. But such drivers are more difficult to predict than those of spring phenology (which is largely related to temperature [2]). Autumnal events are weakly related to temperature, and also related to less predictable factors such as drought and frost events.
Conclusion
Autumn is a relatively neglected season in climate change research in temperate ecosystems, despite its importance on ecological events such as migration, fruit ripening and leaf senescence. Shifts in autumnal phenology can alter species interspecific interactions, which can affect ecological dynamics. Much uncertainty remains of the drivers of these shifts, and how these shifts will manifest at the community and ecosystem level. The authors highlight that this field is wide open for discovery, and that it is a vital missing piece of the “effects of climate change on ecology” puzzle.
References
- Hegland, S.J. et al (2009) How does climate warming affect plant-pollinator interactions. Ecology Letters, 12, 184-195.
- Menzel, A. et al (2006) European phonological response to climate change matches the warming pattern. Global Change Biol. 12, 1969-1976.
- Jenni, L. and Kery, M. (2003) Timing of autumn bird migration under climate change: advances in long-distance migrants, delays in short distance migrants. Proc. R. Soc. B: Biol. Sci. 270, 1467-1471.
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