title: Five years of phenology observations from a mixed-grass prairie exposed to warming and elevated CO2.
abstract: Atmospheric CO2concentrations have been steadily increasing since the Industrial Era and contribute to concurrent increases in global temperatures. Many observational studies suggest climate warming alone contributes to a longer growing season. To determine the relative effect of warming on plant phenology, we investigated the individual and joint effects of warming and CO2enrichment on a mixed-grass prairie plant community by following the development of six common grassland species and recording four major life history events. Our data support that, in a semi-arid system, while warming advances leaf emergence and flower production, it also expedites seed maturation and senescence at the species level. However, the additive effect can be an overall lengthening of the growing and reproductive seasons since CO2enrichment, particularly when combined with warming, contributed to a longer growing season by delaying plant maturation and senescence. Fostering synthesis across multiple phenology datasets and identifying key factors affecting plant phenology will be vital for understanding regional plant community responses to climate change.
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, Soil Plant Nutrient Research Unit and Northern Plains Area, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reyes-Fox
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado 81301, USA.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Steltzer
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, Rangeland Resources Research Unit, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: LeCain
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS, Agricultural Systems Research Unit and Northern Plains Area, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: McMaster
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D057231:Climate Change; D065948:Grassland
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide