Impact of Climatic Factors on the Duration of Species Flowering in the Karadag Nature Reserve

• Published in: Moscow University biological sciences bulletin 2022, Vol.77 (4), p.231-237
• Main Authors: Letukhova, V. Ju, Zuev, A. V., Potapenko, I. L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air temperature; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell Biology; Climate change; Correlation analysis; Flowering; Life Sciences; Nature reserves; Plant Sciences; Plants; Precipitation; Research Article; Species; Zoology
• ISSN: 0096-3925; 1934-791X
• DOI: 10.3103/S0096392522040058

— The phenological responses of plants to changing weather conditions are very strong and can serve as an indicator of global climate change. If we understand how individual species respond to changing conditions, we can represent how ecosystems will change. The aim of this study was to analyze the exposure of climatic factors (air temperature and precipitation) on the flowering duration of the wild vascular plant species in the Karadag Nature Reserve (Crimea). In general, 152 species were taken into account with a number of phenological observations from 5 to 8 years. Correlation analysis between the flowering duration and the climatic parameters revealed a significant response in 89 (58.6%) species. Moreover, the climatic factors of the current vegetative season impacted 71 species flowering, previous vegetative season impacted four species flowering, and both vegetative seasons impacted 14 species flowering. Air temperature and precipitation equally impacted the flowering duration: air temperature impacted 35 (41.2%) species flowering; precipitation impacted 32 (37.7%) species flowering; both factors impacted 18 (21.1%) species flowering. The flowering duration was mostly negatively correlated with air temperature values and positively with precipitation amount. Mesophytes and the forest community species were the most sensitive to the climatic factors; euxerophytes and the steppe community species were the least sensitive to the climatic factors.