Changed plant and animal life cycles from 1952 to 2000 in the Mediterranean region
Peñuelas, Josep (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia)
Filella, Iolanda, dir. (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia)
Comas Sanchez, Pere (Cardedeu Field Station)

Fecha:	2002
Resumen:	The available data on climate over the past century indicate that the earth is warming. Important biological effects, including changes of plant and animal life cycle events, have already been reported. However, evidence of such effects is still scarce and has been mostly limited to northern latitudes. Here we provide the first long-term (1952-2000) evidence of altered life cycles for some of the most abundant Mediterranean plants and birds, and one butterfly species. Average annual temperatures in the study area (Cardedeu, NE Spain) have increased by 1. 4 °C over the observation period while precipitation remained unchanged. A conservative linear treatment of the data shows that leaves unfold on average 16 days earlier, leaves fall on average 13 days later, and plants flower on average 6 days earlier than in 1952. Fruiting occurs on average 9 days earlier than in 1974. Butterflies appear 11 days earlier, but spring migratory birds arrive 15 days later than in 1952. The stronger changes both in temperature and in phenophases timing occurred in the last 25 years. There are no significant relationships among changes in phenophases and the average date for each phenophase and species. There are not either significant differences among species with different Raunkiaer life-forms or different origin (native, exotic or agricultural). However, there is a wide range of phenological alterations among the different species, which may alter their competitive ability, and thus, their ecology and conservation, and the structure and functioning of ecosystems. Moreover, the lengthening of plant growing season in this and other northern hemisphere regions may contribute to a global increase in biospheric activity.
Derechos:	Tots els drets reservats.
Lengua:	Anglès
Documento:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Materia:	Bird migration ; Butterfly appearance ; Climate change ; Flowering ; Fruiting ; Leaf fall ; Leaf unfolding ; Migración de las aves ; Aparición de mariposas ; Cambio climático ; Migració de les aus ; Aparició de papallones ; Canvi climàtic ; Floració ; Fructificació ; Caiguda de les fulles ; Desenvolupament de la fulla ; Fenologia
Publicado en:	Global change biology, Vol. 8, Núm. 6 (2002) , p. 531-544, ISSN 1365-2486

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2486.2002.00489.x

14 p, 536.4 KB

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Documentos de investigación > Documentos de los grupos de investigación de la UAB > Centros y grupos de investigación (producción científica) > Ciencias > CREAF (Centre de Recerca Ecològica i d'Aplicacions Forestals)
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