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Science 31 May 2002:
Vol. 296. no. 5573, pp. 1689 - 1691
DOI: 10.1126/science.1071617
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Reports

Rapid Changes in Flowering Time in British Plants

A. H. Fitter,1* R. S. R. Fitter2

The average first flowering date of 385 British plant species has advanced by 4.5 days during the past decade compared with the previous four decades: 16% of species flowered significantly earlier in the 1990s than previously, with an average advancement of 15 days in a decade. Ten species (3%) flowered significantly later in the 1990s than previously. These data reveal the strongest biological signal yet of climatic change. Flowering is especially sensitive to the temperature in the previous month, and spring-flowering species are most responsive. However, large interspecific differences in this response will affect both the structure of plant communities and gene flow between species as climate warms. Annuals are more likely to flower early than congeneric perennials, and insect-pollinated species more than wind-pollinated ones.

1 Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK.
2 Danewood, 9 Coppice Avenue, Great Shelford, Cambridge CB2 5AQ, UK.
*   To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ahf1{at}york.ac.uk

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)