Traits and climate are associated with first flowering day in herbaceous species along elevational gradients.

ABSTRACT: Phenological responses to changing temperatures are known as "fingerprints of climate change," yet these reactions are highly species specific. To assess whether different plant characteristics are related to these species-specific responses in flowering phenology, we observed the first flowering day (FFD) of ten herbaceous species along two elevational gradients, representing temperature gradients. On the same populations, we measured traits being associated with (1) plant performance (specific leaf area), (2) leaf biochemistry (leaf C, N, P, K, and Mg content), and (3) water-use efficiency (stomatal pore area index and stable carbon isotopes concentration). We found that as elevation increased, FFD was delayed for all species with a highly species-specific rate. Populations at higher ele

SUBMITTER: Bucher SF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5773311 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature