The opening of flowers is triggered by environmental signals – a change in temperature, an increase in the amount of nutrients and water and others inherent in the arrival of spring. For example, in Doñana National Park in southwestern Spain, these ideal conditions for flowering occur several weeks earlier. Thanks to an increase in average temperature of only one degree Celsius and temperatures at least 2 degrees higher than normal, the park’s vegetation already feels like the first week of May in the garden in April.

More than 875 species of plants grow in this park. Some of these will be familiar to most people: lavender, rosemary, thyme, clove, oleander, thistle, juniper, blackberry. Researchers from the University of Seville in Spain and São Paulo State University in Brazil were able to track this by accessing 35 years of flowering data from 51 shrub, shrub and tree species. Peak flowering of plants occurs earlier each year: it is now observed 22 days earlier than in the 1980swhen these observations began.

The study found that climate change is causing many plants in Doñana National Park to adjust their biological rhythms, and these rhythms are studied in a field of science known as “phenology.” The word “pheno” comes from Greek and means “to show, to illuminate, to reveal.” Phenology studies biological events, periodic events in biological life cycles. The focus is on what is happening and when, and this has become an important way of monitoring climate change in the 21st century.

80 percent of the flower species in this study started blooming earlier than they should, and 68 percent finished blooming early. Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) was the plant that delayed flowering the most among all the species examined, blooming as early as 92 days. Change is not the same for all species. Many bloom longer than before, meaning bloom time is stacked with new combinations.

Just over half of the pollinator species in the study are now competing for attention, which could mean a significant population increase. But Nearly 40 percent of pollinating plant species have mistakenly changed their flowering time moving away from potential competitors, perhaps seeking new opportunities.

Results

Doñana National Park borders the Strait of Gibraltar and its extensive salt flats are an important stopover for species migrating seasonally between Europe and Africa. This means that any change in this highly biodiverse ecosystem It could have consequences stretching from Northern Europe to Southern Africa.

Therefore, ideal conditions for flowering occur earlier and flowers open their petals earlier. However, almost all of the species in this study rely on insect pollination for reproduction, and the insects rely on flowers for food.

Doñana National Park is also a breeding ground and transit area for thousands of migratory bird species in winter; Another phenological phenomenon closely related to the seasonal availability of foods such as insects and seeds. It is difficult to even imagine how many bird species will be affected by this small transfer and how it will change interconnected ecosystems.