Leaf-out and flowering are two key phenological events of plants, denoting the respective onsets of visible vegetative growth and reproduction during the year. For each species, the schedule of vegetative growth and reproduction is crucial to the maximization of its fitness. Warming-induced advan...

The microbial immobilization of inorganic nitrogen (N) has a vital role in controlling the size of the soil inorganic N pool and is therefore an important mechanism for the retention of N in ecosystems. As the dominant microorganisms in soil, fungi and bacteria are probably the main participants ...

Many areas on the earth are becoming drier under global warming. Meanwhile, in the past decades, drought-induced forest die-off has been recorded on every forested biome, exerting great effects on biodiversity and ecosystem functions. However, a general understanding of forest vulnerability to dr...

The global temperature has averagely increased by about 0.85°C since the late 19th century, and is projected to likely exceed 1.5°C in the end of the 21st century. The timing of seasonal biological activity such as flowering (i.e. phenology) is a sensitive indicator of the ecological effects of...

Paphiopedilum is an important genus of the orchid family Orchidaceae and has high horticultural value. The wild populations are under threat of extinction because of overcollection and habitat destruction. Mature seeds of most Paphiopedilum species are difficult to germinate, which severely restr...