J Plant Ecol ›› 2024, Vol. 17 ›› Issue (2): rtae008.DOI: 10.1093/jpe/rtae008

• Research Articles •    

Comparison of the timing of spring phenological events between phenological garden trees and wild populations

Calum J Sweeney, Fidelma Butler, Astrid Wingler   

  1. School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences and Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Distillery Fields, North Mall, Cork T23 TK30, Ireland
  • Received:2023-07-31 Revised:2023-10-09 Accepted:2024-01-21 Online:2024-02-01 Published:2024-02-22
  • Contact: E-mail: astrid.wingler@ucc.ie

春季物候花事在物候园树木和野生种群之间的时序比较

Abstract: Phenological research is engaged in monitoring the influence of climate change on the natural environment. The International Phenological Gardens (IPG) network provides a valuable dataset of standardized tree phenology records dating back to the mid-20th century. To make best use of this actively growing record, it is important to investigate how network data can be applied to predict the timing of phenological events in natural populations. This study compared clonally propagated IPG downy birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) and hazel (Corylus avellana L.) specimens of central European provenance to nearby wild populations at the western-most margin of the IPG network, in the south-west of Ireland. In addition to monitoring by trained scientists, observations by citizen scientists were included. The order of the timing of phenological events among sites was consistent across 2 years, confirming reproducibility of the results. IPG trees had the earliest B. pubescens leaf unfolding and C. avellana flowering dates of the sites studied. In addition, leaf unfolding occurred later in the wild populations than expected from the temperature responses of the B. pubescens and C. avellana IPG clones. Natural variation in phenology also exceeded the historical change observed at the IPG site, suggesting a potential genetic basis for climate adaptation. Trunk circumference, reflecting the age-dependent increase in tree size, was found to influence C. avellana phenology, with earlier timing of phenological events in larger trees. This finding highlights tree size as an important consideration in the management of phenological gardens and tree phenology research in general.

Key words: citizen science, downy birch (Betula pubescens), hazel (Corylus avellana), phenological garden, spring phenology, tree size

摘要:
春季物候花事在物候园树木和野生种群之间的时序比较物候研究致力于监测气候变化对自然环境的影响。国际物候园(International Phenological Gardens, IPG)网络提供了一份宝贵的标准化树木物候记录数据集,可追溯至20世纪中期。为了充分利用这一不断增长的记录,研究如何将网络数据应用于预测自然群体物候事件的时机至关重要。本研究比较了中欧产区的IPG毛桦(Betula pubescens Ehrh.)和榛树(Corylus avellana L.)的无性繁殖标本与IPG网络最西端、位于爱尔兰西南部附近的野生种群。除了由专业科学家的监测外,还包括了公众科学家的观察。两年内,物候事件的时间顺序在不同站点之间保持一致,证实了结果的可重复性。IPG站点观察到的毛桦展叶和榛树开花日期是研究站点中最早的。此外,与无性繁殖的毛桦和榛树的温度响应预期相比,野生种群的展叶时间较晚。物候的自然变异也超过了IPG站点观察到的历史变化,表明气候适应可能存在潜在的遗传基础。反映树木尺寸随年龄增长而增加的树干周长被发现影响榛树的物候,较大树木中物候事件的发生时间较早。这一发现突显了树木大小在物候园管理和树木物候研究中的重要性。

关键词: 公民科学, 毛桦(Betula pubescens), 榛树(Corylus avellana), 物候园, 春季物候, 树木大小