Trophic level asynchrony in rates of phenological change for marine, freshwater and terrestrial environments

Abstract Recent changes in the seasonal timing (phenology) of familiar biological events have been one of the most conspicuous signs of climate change. However, the lack of a standardized approach to analysing change has hampered assessment of consistency in such changes among different taxa and trophic levels and across freshwater, terrestrial and marine environments. We present a standardized assessment of 25 532 rates of phenological change for 726 UK terrestrial, freshwater and marine taxa. The majority of spring and summer events have advanced, and more rapidly than previously documented. Such consistency is indicative of shared large scale drivers. Furthermore, average rates of change have accelerated in…

• CM
  Cardiff Metropolitan University
• BA
  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

  Award: BBS/E/C/00004957
• CF
  Centre for Ecology and Hydrology