Mesic Temperate Deciduous Forest Phenology

Deciduous forests in temperate climates are characterized by significant seasonal changes in ecological and biogeochemical processes that are directly linked to forest phenology. The timing of spring leaf emergence and autumn leaf senescence is heavily determined by weather and climate, and these phenological events influence the seasonal cycles of water, energy, and carbon fluxes. In addition to its role in ecological interactions and in regulating ecosystem processes, deciduous forest phenology has also been shown to be a robust indicator of the biological impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems. With an emphasis on spring leaf emergence and autumn leaf senescence, this chapter highlights the phenology of canopy trees in mesic temperate deciduous forests by describing the climate of these forests, environmental drivers of phenology, feedback of phenology on lower atmospheric processes, impacts of climate change on phenology, and future research directions.

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