overcome in many tropical forest species by using stored trunk water, deeper roots,
and soil moisture (Borchert 1994). The water stress resulting from regional drought
may be the dominant contributor to widespread increases in tree mortality rates
across tree species, sizes, elevations, longitudes, and latitudes (Peng et al. 2011). In
the desert ecosystem, seed germination of annual species only becomes possible
after a heavy rainfall of 15–25 mm, and completion of the plant life cycle depends on
further rainfall (Kemp 1983).
Recent studies have also established a relationship between rainfall pattern and
the advance of spring (Fu et al. 2014). Estiarte and Peñuelas (2015) observed that
decreased water availability might regulate the effect of nitrogen presence on plant
growth in arid and semiarid regions and thus affect plant phenology. Many studies
have shown that long-term precipitation that exceeded plant demand (i.e., when
precipitation is greater than evapotranspiration) in wet tropical forests can have a
negative impact on forest growth because high water input is negatively correlated to
the availability of other essential plant resources such as nutrients or light (Posada
and Schuur 2011). Matthews and Mazer 2016 demonstrated that higher precipitation
delayed flowering. However, more research is required to understand the mechanism
by which water and nutrients interact with other abiotic factors such as temperature
and photoperiod in determining plant phenophases.
Impact of Climate Change on Tree Phenology
It has been observed that multivariate and hierarchical modelling is needed for
monitoring shifts in phenological changes (Qiu et al. 2020). It was also reported
that, coupled with global warming, biodiversity (or lack of it) would also equally
influence a change in phenological cycles, highlighting the importance of biotic
interactions (Wolf et al. 2017). Extreme climate events such as drought, extreme
temperature or precipitation, or availability of water and other resources might
influence or trigger phenological changes. Phenology would be impacted by any
activity triggering these changes, which would become more complex when these
conditions occur in tandem with each other (Qiu et al. 2020). “The Buddhist quote
can describe this phenomenon as “the wise will rejoice while the foolish will retreat
(WND-1 2003), in other words, the more resilient and adaptive species would be
able to survive and complete their phenological cycles, while more vulnerable ones
would gradually wither.
Impact on Leaf Phenology Caused by Climate Change
Studying leaf phenological events help us to know seasonal pattern and evolution
occurring on a temporal scale in different types of forest (Negi 2006). Climatic
factors are central in regulating leaf phenology in plants. Changes such as leaf
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P. Tiwari et al.
and soil moisture (Borchert 1994). The water stress resulting from regional drought
may be the dominant contributor to widespread increases in tree mortality rates
across tree species, sizes, elevations, longitudes, and latitudes (Peng et al. 2011). In
the desert ecosystem, seed germination of annual species only becomes possible
after a heavy rainfall of 15–25 mm, and completion of the plant life cycle depends on
further rainfall (Kemp 1983).
Recent studies have also established a relationship between rainfall pattern and
the advance of spring (Fu et al. 2014). Estiarte and Peñuelas (2015) observed that
decreased water availability might regulate the effect of nitrogen presence on plant
growth in arid and semiarid regions and thus affect plant phenology. Many studies
have shown that long-term precipitation that exceeded plant demand (i.e., when
precipitation is greater than evapotranspiration) in wet tropical forests can have a
negative impact on forest growth because high water input is negatively correlated to
the availability of other essential plant resources such as nutrients or light (Posada
and Schuur 2011). Matthews and Mazer 2016 demonstrated that higher precipitation
delayed flowering. However, more research is required to understand the mechanism
by which water and nutrients interact with other abiotic factors such as temperature
and photoperiod in determining plant phenophases.
Impact of Climate Change on Tree Phenology
It has been observed that multivariate and hierarchical modelling is needed for
monitoring shifts in phenological changes (Qiu et al. 2020). It was also reported
that, coupled with global warming, biodiversity (or lack of it) would also equally
influence a change in phenological cycles, highlighting the importance of biotic
interactions (Wolf et al. 2017). Extreme climate events such as drought, extreme
temperature or precipitation, or availability of water and other resources might
influence or trigger phenological changes. Phenology would be impacted by any
activity triggering these changes, which would become more complex when these
conditions occur in tandem with each other (Qiu et al. 2020). “The Buddhist quote
can describe this phenomenon as “the wise will rejoice while the foolish will retreat
(WND-1 2003), in other words, the more resilient and adaptive species would be
able to survive and complete their phenological cycles, while more vulnerable ones
would gradually wither.
Impact on Leaf Phenology Caused by Climate Change
Studying leaf phenological events help us to know seasonal pattern and evolution
occurring on a temporal scale in different types of forest (Negi 2006). Climatic
factors are central in regulating leaf phenology in plants. Changes such as leaf
194
P. Tiwari et al.