The mechanisms driving the timing and duration of alpine meadow plant leaf senescence under climate warming and precipitation changes

Miaojun Ma. Lanzhou University, discusses his article: Warming advanced leaf senescence in alpine plants through advancing leaf emergence and increasing soil drought Background Plant autumn leaf senescence, which marks the end of photosynthesis and the growing season, as well as the onset of dormancy, is particularly critical in the plant annual cycle. Early or late…

Testing the Island Rule in plants: A global study of leaf size evolution

Xoaquín Moreira, Misión Biológica de Galicia (CSIC, Spain), discusses his article: Global insular leaf size shifts follow the island rule, independently of insect herbivory and macroclimate This work came out of a collaboration between 17 institutions across five continents, all brought together by a shared interest in island biogeography. By combining data, expertise, and fieldwork…

How Leaf Traits Help Us Understand the Future of Grasslands

Kuo Sun and Zhenzhu Xu, Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, discuss their article: Global coordination and trade-off of grassland species traits and climatic drivers Grasslands stretch across vast parts of the world — from the wide prairies of North America to Africa’s savannas and the steppes of Asia. These landscapes are…