Plant Phenology in a Changing Climate

This study examines changes in the phonological events of the British wild plants recorded by a natural historian in over a 30-year period in response to climate change. Analysis showed that an overall increase of 1°C air temperature would advance spring phenophases such as leafing and flowering by 4-16 days and delay autumn phases such as fruit ripening by 3-4 days. The current findings were compared and contrasted with similar findings from published studies, and found consistent in most cases. It can be concluded that winter and spring phenophases will get progressively earlier while autumn phenophases will be delayed as the climate warms. Based on UKCIP02’s scenarios it was projected that most of the spring phenophases will dramatically advance, if the current climate warming continues, raising concerns for the monitoring and conservation of, and implications for, woodland species and native wild flora in the UK. This monograph will be useful for climate scientist, plant biologist, natural historian and nature lovers.