Effect of altitude on phenology of selected forest plant species in Slovakia (Western Carpathians)

Abstract

Phenological response of selected forest plant species to different ecological conditions along the altitudinal gradient were studied during the period of 5 years (2007–2011). Leafing as well as flowering phenophases were investigated within two herb species (Dentaria bulbifera and Galium odoratum) and three shrubs (Prunus spinosa, Rubus idaeus and Sambucus nigra), respectively. Altitudinal gradient was expressed by different altitude sites situated in Burda Mts (200 m a.s.l.), in Kremnické vrchy Mts (500 m a.s.l.) and in Poľana Mts (≥900 m a.s.l.) belonging to Western Carpathians. On average, the earliest onset of the phenophases was found in the low-lying sites and vice versa. For vegetative phenophases, phenological gradient expressing the shift in onset of the phenophases along the gradient reached the mean values from +2.7 to +3.6 days per 100 m. In the case of generative phases (flowering) within the species, the gradient moved from +3.0 to +4.3 days per 100 m of an altitude increase. Interannual variability in onsets of phenophases was also determined.