Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hongbiao Zi, Xin Jing, Anrong Liu, Xiaomin Fan, Si-Chong Chen, Hao Wang, Jin-Sheng He
Summary: Climate warming has an impact on plant sexual reproduction, leading to changes in species distribution and community dynamics. The study found that warming overall decreased the number of fruits and increased seed mass, but had little effect on flower number, fruit mass, or seed number. The response of seed mass to warming was regulated by pollination type, with insect-pollinated plants showing a stronger response than wind-pollinated plants. The study also found that warming increased seed mass for nondominant species but not for dominant species. Phylogenetic relatedness did not explain the effects of warming on plant reproductive effort and success. Furthermore, there was a negative relationship between the effects of warming on flowering onset and the responses in terms of fruit and seed number, indicating a cascading effect of plant reproductive development.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Zhenxing Zhou, Kunpeng Zhang, Zhaolin Sun, Yinzhan Liu, Yuanchen Zhang, Lingjie Lei, Ying Li, Dong Wang, Mengjun Hu, Shilin Wang, Quanwei Lu, Yupeng Cui, Mingxing Zhong, Shijie Han, Yuan Miao
Summary: Experimental warming was shown to extend the flowering season by approximately 2.08% across all species, with varying responses based on plant functional types such as herbaceous and woody species. The impacts of warming on different pollination types, latitude, and temperature showed contrasting results, highlighting the complexity of how climate warming affects terrestrial plant phenology.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuxin Qiao, Hongshuang Gu, Hanfeng Xu, Qimei Ma, Xin Zhang, Qin Yan, Jie Gao, Yuchuan Yang, Sergio Rossi, Nicholas G. Smith, Jianquan Liu, Lei Chen
Summary: The phenological changes induced by climate warming have significant impacts on water, energy, and carbon cycling in forest ecosystems. Our study reveals that growing-season warming advances spring and autumn phenology, but the accelerating effects of warming on tree phenology gradually disappear, resulting in delayed phenological events. We also found a synchronized decline in the effect of growing-season warming on photosynthetic productivity.
Article
Agronomy
Hsin-Wu Hsu, Kyungdahm Yun, Soo-Hyung Kim
Summary: Rising global temperatures are impacting plant phenology, with spring warming causing early flowering and winter warming potentially delaying bloom dates. Chilling temperatures during dormancy showed variability along latitudes, while forcing temperatures after dormancy exhibited consistent effects. Winter warming may offset spring warming, leading to delays in bloom dates.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Qianqian Ma, Heikki Hanninen, Frank Berninger, Xiaobo Li, Jian-Guo Huang
Summary: Climate warming has advanced both flowering and fruiting phenology of temperate woody species, but the rates of advancement are not equal, resulting in divergent changes in the length of fruit development period (FDP). The shortened FDP is mainly due to elevated temperature, while the prolonged FDP is primarily caused by the substantial increase of the forcing requirement for fruiting. This study provides empirical evidence of warming-induced advances of FDP but divergent changes in its length in temperate woody species.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Qianqian Ma, Jian-Guo Huang, Heikki Hanninen, Xiaobo Li, Frank Berninger
Summary: This study examined the responses of leaf-out and flowering of four common temperate tree species to climate warming using long-term phenological records in Europe. The results showed that the time interval between leaf-out and flowering increased from 1950 to 2013, with the first event advancing more than the second. The unequal advances of the two events may alter resource partitioning and spring frost damage, affecting species fitness and ecosystem structure and function.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Natalie L. R. Love, Susan J. Mazer
Summary: Predicting how species will respond to climate change is challenging, as sensitivity to climate can vary within species. This study on mountain jewelflowers showed that individuals from warmer regions advanced their flowering date by 20 days over the past century, while those from cooler regions did not show a shift. Plants from warmer regions were more sensitive to temperature and experienced greater climate warming, leading to the divergent phenological responses observed.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Alistair G. Auffret
Summary: Organisms around the world are experiencing shifts in phenological events due to climate change. A study in Sweden spanning 220 years found changes in flowering times, with flowers starting earlier, ending later, and lasting longer, potentially influenced by regional temperature increases. Historical floras could be a valuable resource for filling gaps in plant phenological datasets and studying long-term climate responses.
Article
Ecology
Jian Wang, Desheng Liu
Summary: This study investigates the impacts of diurnal temperature range (DTR) on autumn leaf senescence date (LSD) and predicts future trends of LSD under warming. The results show that increased DTR has an advancing effect on LSD, whereas increased mean temperature delays LSD. These findings highlight the importance of considering DTR in phenology modeling and call for a better understanding of the ecological impacts of warming asymmetry.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Marco Cirilli, Stefano Gattolin, Remo Chiozzotto, Irina Baccichet, Thierry Pascal, B. N. Dicte Quilot-Turion, Laura Rossini, Daniele Bassi
Summary: This study identified a major QTL capable of delaying blooming date in peach by increasing heat requirement. A genetic variant (pet DEL) in the PETALOSA gene was found to be strictly associated with this QTL, affecting both flower morphology and flowering time. Analysis on segregating genome-edited tobacco plants further confirmed the potential ability of PET variations to delay flowering time.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Franziska M. Willems, J. F. Scheepens, Oliver Bossdorf
Summary: Today, plants often flower earlier due to climate warming. Studying over 6000 herbarium specimens of 20 spring-flowering forest understory herbs from Europe, this research found that on average plants now flowered over 6 days earlier than at the beginning of the last century, and these changes were strongly associated with warmer spring temperatures. Spatial modelling also showed that in some parts of Europe, plants flowered earlier or later than expected. This study highlights the importance of combining herbarium data analysis with spatial modelling when assessing long-term phenology trends on a large scale.
Article
Biophysics
Majken Pagter, Katrine Heinsvig Kjaer
Summary: The rate of global warming varies between seasons, with a more pronounced effect in winter and spring at high latitudes. Winter warming has minimal impact on spring phenology and fruit yield in blackcurrant crops, but significantly alters the composition of phenolic compounds and reduces soluble sugars in berries.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Albert Muleke, Matthew Tom Harrison, Peter de Voil, Ian Hunt, Ke Liu, Maria Yanotti, Rowan Eisner
Summary: This study analyzed the effects of climate change and extreme climatic events on crop flowering periods and concluded that irrigation can increase average crop yields but cannot fully offset the long-term yield decline caused by the climate crisis.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jarrod Kath, Vivekananda Mittahalli Byrareddy, Kathryn Reardon-Smith, Shahbaz Mushtaq
Summary: A study found that climate change-induced early flowering alters the sensitivity of plants to climate stress and affects crop yield. The study also highlights the importance of considering changes in plant phenology when predicting crop yield.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Chenyao Yang, Andrej Ceglar, Christoph Menz, Joana Martins, Helder Fraga, Jose A. Santos
Summary: Seasonal phenology forecasts are in high demand by winegrowers and viticulturists. This study assesses the performance of seasonal forecasts in predicting flowering and veraison stages of two representative varieties in Portugal. The study finds that forecast performance is influenced by initialization timings, regions, and predicting subjects. Improved forecast performance is observed with delayed initialization and only April 1st initialized forecasts outperform climatology in predicting phenology terciles. The study highlights the importance of climate variability in forecast performance and suggests methodological innovations and practical applications for reliable phenology forecasts.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Annika Herbert, Jennifer M. Fitchett
Summary: The Drakensberg-Maloti region has been important hydrologically, providing water to South Africa and being a valuable resource for paleoecological studies. This study is the first attempt at a regional synthesis, utilizing pollen records to reconstruct climate over the past 8000 years.
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kirsten Noome, Jennifer M. Fitchett
Summary: Tourism Climate Indices (TCIs) are widely used to quantify climate suitability for tourism, with a focus on the Global North. Applying TCI to Namibia reveals threats to nature-based tourism from rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns. The study shows that the most suitable climatic conditions for tourism in Namibia typically occur during the austral spring, autumn, and winter months.
ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Z. Abrahams, G. Hoogendoorn, J. M. Fitchett
Summary: Last Chance Tourism is seen as a major motivation for tourists visiting glaciers, with a quarter of tourists explicitly engaging in the discourse. Common topics discussed by tourists include satisfaction, access to the glacier, weather, and guided tours. Those mentioning the Last Chance aspect often comment on the aesthetics of the glacier, recognize the impact of climate change, and provide warnings for future travelers.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Pascal L. Snyman, Jennifer M. Fitchett
Summary: This study analyzed historical records and social media data to examine the flowering patterns of daisies in the Namaqualand region of South Africa and the impact of climate change on their timing. The results showed that the flowering dates of Namaqualand daisies are advancing, and increasing temperatures are the main driving factor. These findings have significant implications for the tourism industry in the region.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Sarah J. Roffe, Jessica Steinkopf, Jennifer M. Fitchett
Summary: Mounting evidence suggests consistent drying trends in South Africa's southwestern winter rainfall zone since 1980, with projections indicating this will continue. However, there is limited evidence regarding changes in rainfall seasonality in the region. To understand these trends, researchers analyzed a long-term meteorological record from Cape Town and found a strengthening of dry conditions, primarily due to a later start-date and shorter wet-season. The study also revealed a decline in rain day counts and average rainfall per rain day. The findings highlight the importance of water conservation and management strategies in Cape Town.
THEORETICAL AND APPLIED CLIMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Keegan Fraser, Jennifer M. Fitchett
Summary: This article examines the issue of spreading misinformation in a globalized era, especially the impact it may have on disaster news. The study found that the potential sources of misinformation include both official information provided to journalists and conflicting reports from different sources, making consistent reporting challenging.
WEATHER CLIMATE AND SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Gholamreza Roshan, Reza Sarli, Jennifer M. Fitchett
Summary: The severity of the Urban Heat Island (UHI) in Esfahan was hypothesized to have decreased during the COVID-19 lockdown due to a reduction in activities. The study found that the land area experiencing heat stress decreased significantly during the lockdown period, while the total energy heating requirement increased.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Review
Geography, Physical
Mauro Lourenco, Jennifer M. Fitchett, Stephan Woodborne
Summary: This article reviews and discusses the definitions of peatlands, proposing that future definitions should focus on carbon storage and potential greenhouse gas emissions. It highlights the physical and chemical characteristics of peatland deposits and suggests including the growth dynamics and carbon flux in inventories. International technical agencies and experts are recommended to standardize concept definitions and methods from the perspective of climate science.
PROGRESS IN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY-EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mauro Lourenco, Stephan Woodborne, Jennifer M. Fitchett
Summary: This study analyzes the fire regimes and their impact on peatlands in an understudied area of the Angolan Highlands from 2001 to 2020. The results show that peatlands have a higher fire frequency and larger burned area, mainly occurring during dry months. The findings highlight the importance of unique fire management strategies considering the influence of land use/land cover on fire frequency and distribution.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Sarah J. Roffe, Adriaan J. van Der Walt, Jennifer M. Fitchett
Summary: The 6th Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts increasing thermal-associated morbidity and mortality due to anthropogenic warming. The Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) is used to quantify thermal stress, but its application has been limited to Europe. To overcome this limitation, a gridded dataset of UTCI equivalent temperatures for southern Africa was developed. The study reveals significant increases in heat stress over the study period, highlighting the importance of considering these climate changes in decision-making regarding outdoor activities.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Mauro Lourenco, Stephan Woodborne, Jennifer M. Fitchett
Summary: Drought has detrimental effects on health systems, agriculture, economies, energy, and the natural environment. The vulnerability of rural communities in the Angolan Highlands, which rely on rain-fed agriculture, is a concern due to the increasing frequency of droughts and the potential impact of climate change. This study conducted the first historical assessment of drought in the Angolan Highlands, using climate data and vegetation indices. The findings indicate that droughts have become more frequent since 1981, with eight distinct drought periods identified. The relationship between drought occurrence and El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is not linear. The study highlights the need for mitigation and adaptation strategies to address the potential environmental degradation and water resource and agricultural challenges in the region.
THEORETICAL AND APPLIED CLIMATOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biophysics
Ogone Motlogeloa, Jennifer M. Fitchett
Summary: The relationship between climate and health has been extensively studied in the field of biometeorology. The International Journal of Biometeorology has published a total of 2183 papers on the broad topic of human health and its relationship with climate. Among these, 180 papers specifically focus on the interaction between meteorological variables and specific diseases. The number of publications on climate and health in the journal has increased significantly since 2011, with a particular emphasis on respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Jennifer M. Fitchett, Charne A. Meyer
Summary: Camping serves as both tourist recreation and accommodation, and it is particularly sensitive to local weather and climate in South Africa. The Camping Climate Index (CCI) can be applied in South Africa, with 33 meteorological stations providing the required data variables. The importance of the primary index factors and the thresholds for overriding factors have been confirmed through questionnaire responses, making the use of the CCI in South Africa feasible and beneficial.
JOURNAL OF OUTDOOR RECREATION AND TOURISM-RESEARCH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ariel S. Prinsloo, Jennifer M. Fitchett
Summary: The emergence of digital tourism platforms through the sharing economy has raised concerns about the potential opportunities it could bring and the inequalities it could exacerbate. This study examines the impact of Airbnb in Cape Town during a severe drought, using a mixed methods approach. The findings highlight spatial inequalities and historical considerations of water use.
ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jonathan A. Holmes, Jennifer M. Fitchett
Summary: Oxygen-and hydrogen-isotope ratios in rainfall provide important hydroclimatic information, but there are geographical gaps in data coverage. A simple and cost-effective rainwater collector was constructed using readily available materials, which prevented evaporation and isotope fractionation. The collector's design can be easily adapted for construction in other locations.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE
(2023)