Phenology at High Altitudes

High-altitude climates, which strongly influence phenology, are determined by global, regional, and local processes and patterns. Phenology at high altitudes in the temperate zones is characterized by a short growing season that begins with snowmelt. SnowmeltSnowmelt is getting earlier as the climate changes, and the phenology of most plants and many animal species is responding, but not uniformly. The fact that frost dates are not changing as quickly as snowmelt is resulting in large-scale frost damage in some years (at low altitudes too). The elevational gradients available in mountain regions offer the potential for observations and experimental studies that will improve our understanding of phenology as an important ecological trait. Relatively little is known about high-altitude phenology in the tropics, or about high-altitude animal phenology, and we are only beginning to understand the consequences of how phenological changes are influencing interactions among species. A growing number of experimental studies manipulating snowpack and temperature are providing good insights into control of high-altitude phenology.