Plants in a warmer world
Walther, G. R. (2003). Plants in a warmer world. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 6(3), 169-185. PDF.
Summary
Walther et al. (2003) reviewed long-term datasets to understand how recent climate change influenced plant phenology (i.e., the timing of life stage events such as flowering and fruiting), species ranges, and the interactions between the two. More specifically, they found that warming over the last several decades has affected the timing and duration of growing seasons, and has led to changes in species distributions and abundances. Furthermore, the authors noted that recent warming has created new (warmer) habitats at higher latitudes and altitudes, which has promoted the establishment of warm-adapted species that compete with native plant communities. However, Walther et al. (2003) also observed that climate change effects were not uniform across the globe, and thus species responses are likely to vary regionally. Therefore, the authors recommended long-term monitoring to broaden our understanding of plant responses to future climate warming.
Take home points
In northern and mid-latitudes, climate change has resulted in earlier and prolonged growing seasons, fewer extreme cold events, and changing precipitation patterns. These changes have created new signals for plant life stage events (e.g., flowering time, die-back), and have allowed species to shift their ranges in order to occupy new (warmer) habitat.
The majority of non-native species (which may become invasive species) were introduced through horticultural trade. Oftentimes, these species are deliberately selected for drought resistance and are therefore pre-adapted to future climate warming. Furthermore, these species benefit from multiple introduction events, which will increase their chances of establishing in these newly created habitats.
A longer growing season may facilitate an invasive species' ability to establish and spread rapidly.
Management implications
There is a strong need for long-term monitoring outside of mid- to northern latitudes. Little is known about plant responses to climate change in most tropical to subtropical regions, and filling these knowledge gaps will result in better informed management decisions. Range shifts are likely, so early detection and rapid response to new invaders will become a higher priority with climate change. Monitoring the timing of bud burst and flowering (phenology) of key species is important for informing the timing of management (i.e., before they flower) and how flowering times might be shifting in your management area.
Keywords
Shifting Seasons; Range Expansion; Competitiveness; Review; Invasive Plant; Terrestrial Habitat; Risk Assessment