Changes in tropical leafing behaviour with climate change over nine decades: A case study from the Singapore Botanic Gardens

Over nine decades, leaf flush intervals for tropical tree species at the Singapore Botanic Gardens have significantly shortened, coinciding with changes in rainfall patterns. The study, leveraging historical records from 1927–1939 and ongoing phenological monitoring since 2016, found that mean daily rainfall over 1–4 months prior to leaf flushing either negatively or positively influenced the probability of flushing for nine out of 23 species analyzed. Long-term rainfall data revealed February has become drier while May has grown wetter since the 1960s, suggesting more distinct dry and wet periods today. These shifts may impact plant-herbivore interactions, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem resilience. The research underscores the value of botanical gardens as sentinels for environmental change in tropical regions.

Ho, B.-C., Chia, E. J. J., Chong, K. Y., Tan, J. S. Y., Tan, W. X., Lai, S., Choo, T. Y. S., Tan, P. Y., & Er, K. B. H. (2024). Changes in tropical leafing behaviour with climate change over nine decades: A case study from the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Plants, People, Planet, 6(6), 1469–1479. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10547