Phenophase shifts across elevations on major mountains in North China

Abstract

Previous studies have reported plant phenological changes along horizontal belts in North China, however, little is known about elevation effects on mountain phenophases in China, such as how vegetation phenophases shift across elevation on mountains, and how they change under background of global change. In this context, by application of remote sensing data, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), changes of spring phenophases across elevation on 6 typical mountains in North China, namely Wuling, Xiaowutai, Guandi, Migang, Huashan and Taibai Moutians, and the effects of elevation on phenophases along altitudinal gradients, were studied in current work. Preliminary results showed that, similar to our fi ndings of phenological changes in plain area in North China, the onset of vegetation phenophases in spring advanced on these mountains, while the ending time for autumn phenophases delayed in the past two decades. Trends for advanced spring phenophase increased signifi cantly with altitude in some mountain regions, and spring phenophase sensitivities to altitude are stronger in lower latitude than in higher latitude regions. Similar to foreign studies, it is reported for the fi rst time that global warming has led to a more uniform spring phenology across elevation in North China mountains in recent years. Findings will not only benefi t policy making for the government in the fi eld of ecological constructions, but also will be helpful to evaluate future climate change on vegetation in such areas.

Daily minimum temperature and precipitation control on spring phenology in arid‐mountain ecosystems in China

“…These climatic changes will inevitably impose great environmental stresses on AM ecosystems. Although climate warming is generally associated with a lengthening of the growing season due to advances in the spring onset of growth and/or delays in autumn senescence (Wang et al ., ; He et al ., ; Dai et al ., ), individual responses vary greatly over different vegetation types (Ge et al ., ). As observed in a recent study in the Santa Catalina Mountains in the United States, phenological sensitivity of annual forbs to a changing climate can differ from that of woody plants by more than onefold (Crimmins et al ., ).…”