Retrospective phenology in western Mediterranean plants: revealing climate change patterns through herbarium specimens.

ABSTRACT: Herbarium specimens have proven useful for assessing phenological responses to climate change. Using preserved specimens, we analysed the changes in day of year (DOY) for four phenophases: three reproductive (preflowering, flowering, fruiting) and one vegetative (growth). We conducted phenological analysis across bioclimatic belts (thermotypes) from the Rivas-Martinez classification and across 77 taxa present in the Baetic Ranges of the southern Iberian Peninsula. Taxa were characteristic, common, or endemic species from Habitats of Community Interest (HCI) under the European Directive 92/43/EEC. Phenological shifts were assessed using two approaches: long-term trends in DOY with time and relationships with historical climate variables related to temperature and precipitation. At the therm

SUBMITTER: Solakis-Tena A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12611260 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature