Climate change opens new phenological niche . . . Enter plant invader?
by Julie Kray
By Julie Kray Climate change is altering phenology in temperate ecosystems around the world by extending favorable conditions for growth into spring and autumn1,2,3. Now, as vacant niches open up in seasons that once were marginal, it raises a key question: which species will fill them? Populations of resident native species may expand or adapt to occupy new phenological niches, but if they are slow to keep pace with climate change, others could take advantage4. In the […]
Categories: Articles, Climate Change, Global Change, Grassland Ecology, Uncategorized • Tags: Bromus tectorum, cheatgrass, climate, climate change, CO2, competition, downy brome, elevated CO2, field, forage, global change, grass, grassland, grassland ecology, growing season, growing season length, invasive plant, invasive plant management, invasive species, mixed-grass prairie, native plant, niche, nitrogen limitation, PHACE, phenological niche, phenology, prairie, Prairie Heating and CO2 Enrichment, rangeland, USDA-ARS, warming