Impacts of climate change on the phenological phases of five main shrub species in the desert region

Phenology is often used as a reliable indicator of climate change. Based on the analysis of phenological data, the effects of climate change on the phenological phases of five main shrub species in desert region were found. The findings are significant in clarifying the carbon cycle of the desert ecosystem. A study was performed on the phenological and corresponding meteorological data of five shrub species in the desert area of the Alashan Left Banner league of Inner Mongolia in the past 30 years by using simple linear regression and correlation analysis. The results indicate 1) from 1983 to 2012, the temperature increases obviously in the study area, and its climatic tendency is 0.43 ℃·10 a-1. No significant change in precipitation was found. The climate shows a warm and dry trend in the data. 2) The spring phenophase of the five shrub species is shorten. The withering stage showed either a significant advance or no obvious backward trend, and the growing season has extended. 3) The mean temperature in March, April, and October have significant effects on the phenological phases of five shrub species. There is significant or extremely significant correlation between the monthly precipitation and the spring phenophase of Nitraria tangutorum.