Canopy structure regulates autumn phenology by mediating the microclimate in temperate forests

Xiaoyong Wu, Chunyue Niu, Xiaoqiang Liu, Tianyu Hu, Yuhao Feng, Yingyi Zhao, Shuwen Liu, Zhonghua Liu, Guanhua Dai, Yao Zhang, Koenraad Meerbeek, Jin Wu, Lingli Liu, Qinghua Guo and Yanjun Su ()
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Xiaoyong Wu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chunyue Niu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiaoqiang Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Tianyu Hu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yuhao Feng: Peking University
Yingyi Zhao: The University of Hong Kong
Shuwen Liu: The University of Hong Kong
Zhonghua Liu: The University of Hong Kong
Guanhua Dai: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yao Zhang: Peking University
Koenraad Meerbeek: KU Leuven
Jin Wu: The University of Hong Kong
Lingli Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Qinghua Guo: Peking University
Yanjun Su: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Climate Change, 2024, vol. 14, issue 12, 1299-1305

Abstract: Abstract Autumn phenology plays a critical role in shaping the carbon sequestration capacity of temperate forests. Notable local-scale variations in autumn phenology have drawn increasing attention recently, potentially introducing substantial uncertainty when predicting temperate forest productivity. Yet the underpinning mechanisms driving these variations remain inadequately elucidated. Here we observed significant and consistent relationships between canopy structure and autumn phenology across six temperate forest sites, induced by the regulation effect of canopy structure on microclimate conditions. Incorporating the identified ‘canopy structure–microclimate–autumn phenology’ pathway into existing autumn phenology models significantly improves the prediction accuracy and reduces the projected delay in the start of autumn over the remainder of the century. These findings offer a new perspective for interpreting the local variations of autumn phenology in temperate forests and emphasize the urgent need to integrate the identified pathway into the Earth system and vegetation models, especially considering the asynchronous changes of macroclimate and microclimate conditions.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-02164-2

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