The Influence of Climatic Changes on the Woody Vegetation of the Mehedinti Plateau Geopark

Abstract

In the climatic conditions of the Mehedinți Plateau, the plant species of sub-Mediterranean origin have adapted to a certain duration and variation of the thermal and precipitation regime during the growing season, in correlation with their demands on temperature and humidity.The climatic disturbances observed in recent years (short periods with very abundant precipitation, very long periods of drought, springs with very low temperatures, at the limit of freezing), can create serious imbalances in these plants. From a phenological point of view, the plants started growing in 2021, at the beginning of April. In 2022, in the same period, the plants were still resting. Compared to the data from the spring and summer of 2021, in 2022 the water content of the leaves was lower and much lower values of the photosynthesis process were recorded. As a consequence, the growth rate was seriously affected. Young plants were more strongly affected than mature trees.