Leaf senescence exhibits stronger climatic responses during warm than during cold autumns

Lei Chen (), Heikki Hänninen, Sergio Rossi, Nicholas G. Smith, Stephanie Pau, Zhiyong Liu (), Guanqiao Feng, Jie Gao and Jianquan Liu ()
Additional contact information
Lei Chen: Sichuan University
Heikki Hänninen: Zhejiang A&F University
Sergio Rossi: Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
Nicholas G. Smith: Texas Tech University
Stephanie Pau: Florida State University
Zhiyong Liu: Sun Yat-sen University
Guanqiao Feng: Texas Tech University
Jie Gao: Beijing Forestry University
Jianquan Liu: Sichuan University

Nature Climate Change, 2020, vol. 10, issue 8, 777-780

Abstract: Abstract A warmer world could extend the growing seasons for plants. Changes in spring phenology have been studied, yet autumn phenology remains poorly understood. Using >500,000 phenological records of four temperate tree species between 1951 and 2013 in Europe, we show that leaf senescence in warm autumns exhibits stronger climate responses, with a higher phenological plasticity, than in cold autumns, indicating a nonlinear response to climate. The onset of leaf senescence in warm autumns was delayed due to the stronger climate response, primarily caused by night-time warming. However, daytime warming, especially during warm autumns, imposes a drought stress which advances leaf senescence. This may counteract the extension of growing season under global warming. These findings provide guidance for more reliable predictions of plant phenology and biosphere–atmosphere feedbacks in the context of global warming.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0820-2

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