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Understanding urban plant phenology for sustainable cities and planet

Nature Climate Change volume 12, pages 302–304 (2022)Cite this article

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The broad impacts of urbanization on plant phenology can include advanced spring leaf-out and flowering, delayed autumn senescence and extended growing-season length1,2 (Fig. 1b). These shifts can have benefits, such as increased cropping seasons for urban agriculture3 or improved vegetation-based cooling in urban areas4. However, faster growth of urban trees due to extended growing-season length may lead to shortened lifetimes compared to trees in rural areas5. The advancement of spring leaf-out can also increase plant vulnerability to spring frost damage6 and cause phenological mismatches, resulting in loss of pollination services and biological control of plant pests7. Moreover, phenology changes in cities have important cultural and economic implications by shifting significant events (for example, cherry blossom and maple foliage)8 and can impact human health (for example, through changes in allergenic pollen release)9. Overall, phenological changes in urban areas already have a variety of ecological, climate, health and economic consequences (Fig. 1c), with the probable existence of more impacts that are currently unclear. This urges the need for science and management communities to develop policies and plans to ensure sustainable urban ecosystems.

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Fig. 1: Understanding plant phenology in global cities: implications, challenges and opportunities.

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Acknowledgements

This study is supported by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean’s Emerging Faculty Leaders Award from Iowa State University.

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  1. Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA

    Yuyu Zhou

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  1. Yuyu Zhou
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Correspondence to Yuyu Zhou.

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Zhou, Y. Understanding urban plant phenology for sustainable cities and planet. Nat. Clim. Chang. 12, 302–304 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-022-01331-7

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