In this post, Professor Haiyan Ren from the College of Grassland Science at Inner Mongolia Agricultural University provided an in-depth discussion and shared insights on the paper "Climate warming advances plant reproductive phenology in China's northern grasslands" published in Journal of Plant Ecology.

Why study the plant flowering phenology?

As climate warming progresses, changes in plant phenology have drawn widespread attention, particularly regarding flowering phenology. Flowering time is a key event in the plant life cycle and is highly sensitive to temperature cues. Compared to vegetative phenology, such as leaf-out, flowering is more directly influenced by temperature. Warming-induced early flowering could increase plant exposure to frost, negatively affecting reproductive success. Earlier flowering may also lead to asynchrony among life cycle stages, impacting pollination and seed set, and consequently influencing plant community dynamics. Changes in flowering phenology significantly affect individual growth and reproduction and directly relate to ecosystem functions. Early flowering may extend the growing season, enhance primary productivity, and alter carbon and nutrient cycling.

In grassland ecosystems, responses of different plant functional groups to warming are markedly distinct. For example, legumes are particularly sensitive, showing advanced flowering, while sedges may flower later due to reduced soil moisture. These differences highlight varying adaptive strategies and provide valuable insights for ecological management and climate adaptation. Although extensive research exists globally, empirical studies on plant phenology in China’s northern grasslands remain limited. Further investigation is essential to understand climate impacts on local ecosystems and to provide critical data for ecological conservation and climate adaptation strategies.

What are the findings of this study?

Our study revealed that climate warming tends to extend the duration of reproductive phenology while having minimal effect on vegetative phenology. Sensitivities to temperature varied among phenophases: bud break advanced by 1.73 days per °C, leaf unfolding was delayed by 3.38 days, and leaf senescence advanced by 0.56 days. Distinct responses were observed across plant functional groups: warming advanced the leaf unfolding of shrubs and semi-shrubs, whereas bud break of sedges was delayed. Regarding reproductive phenology, flowering advanced by 1.73 days per °C, fruit ripening by 2.53 days, and fruit drop by 0.11 days. Except for legumes, warming led to earlier flowering and fruit ripening across all functional groups. These results indicate that higher temperatures have driven the advancement and extension of reproductive phenology in northern grassland plants, with negligible effects on vegetative phenology, highlighting the diverse growth strategies and adaptive responses of different plant functional groups under climate warming.

Figure: Diagram of plants phenological events measured in this study

Some views on ecological research

Ecological research is like a key that unlocks the secrets of nature, and plant phenology serves as the "growth diary" of plants. Imagine a plant’s life as a journey from infancy to adulthood: germination is its "infancy," full of hope and potential; flowering is its "adolescence," displaying its most beautiful side and preparing for new life; and fruiting is its "coming-of-age," completing its mission and spreading seeds for the future. Each phenological event quietly reveals how plants interact with their environment, respond to seasonal changes, and even cope with climate fluctuations. Studying these "growth stages" not only helps us understand plant adaptation but also sheds light on how entire ecosystems evolve through subtle changes. Observing plant phenology allows us to witness the resilience and wisdom of life in nature, with stories that are both fascinating and insightful.

About the author

Lu Bai

My research primarily focuses on global change ecology, investigating how key global change factors, such as climate warming and nitrogen deposition, affect plant growth, phenology, and ecosystem functions. During my PhD, I particularly examined the phenological responses of different plant functional groups in grassland ecosystems and their implications for ecosystem stability. Based on long-term field experiments simulating global change and integrated analyses, I systematically revealed multi-scale patterns of plant phenological changes and their ecological significance, providing scientific insights for grassland management.

If you are interested in more details about the story, please read our paper “Lu Bai, Lei Tian, Zhiguo Ren, Xiaohui Song, Kailiang Yu, Lin Meng, Zhanfeng Hou, Haiyan Ren*. Climate warming advances plant reproductive phenology in China’s northern grasslands” published in Journal of Plant Ecology (https://doi.org/10.1093/jpe/rtae080).