URBAN
Environmental responses of phenology to recent climate change and urbanisation
Evidently, phenology is one of the best bio-indicators of recent climate change as spring events are predominantly triggered by temperature of the preceding months. However, only little is known about the spatial pattern of those observed changes in Germany as well as on their temporal features, such as change points. Especially urban areas might reveal other changes than rural areas and might exhibit non-linearities in their temperature response due to extreme events, which are most important to assess future impacts on vegetation. This project will analyse ample German wide phenological data for urban-rural gradients of larger cities. Moreover, detailed study sites at Munich and Ingolstadt are most suitable to detect other drivers besides temperature, which might be also more important in the future (e.g. drought effects). We are focussing on phenology of birch, horse chestnut and hazel. In addition, our project partner, the Center of Allergy and Environment in Munich, examines the allergenic potential of birches located in urban and rural areas.
Contact person:
Susanne Jochner
Duration:
2008 - 2011