In recent years, not only in Spain, but around the world, farmers and gardeners have noticed that cherry and almond trees are blooming and bearing fruit earlier than ever.
Known for their beauty and delicious round fruit, it is both exciting and worrying to see how these trees change their behavior, for reasons we can relate to rising temperatures and climate change.
Climate change causes delays, advances or Unpredictable behaviors in the phases of the life cycle of plants and flowers are perfect sensors.
Flowers are very sensitive to environmental changes, the spring period is advancing, there is greater humidity and moderate temperatures, these are conditions that favor flowering.
These changes in the ecosystem can jeopardize the continuity of fruit and seed formation because there is a lack of synchronization between floral production and pollination.
Almond and cherry trees: part of the landscape of southern Spain
In the southern regions of Spain, cherry and almond trees are an essential part of the landscape. Both types of trees bloom in spring, creating an abundant view of pink and white petals. that extend from the tips of the branches to the ground.
Both the fruits of these trees - cherries and almonds They are incredibly popular, and also an important source of income for the many farmers who grow them.
Blooming of early cherry and almond trees
In March 2021, farmers in the Spanish region of Andalusia were surprised to see that Cherry trees and almond trees began to bloom much earlier than in previous years.
Some trees bloomed up to a month in advance! This was even stranger when compared to previous years, in which trees bloomed with a real delay: the 10 days of February 2010-2020 were on average 2 degrees C colder each year.
New research showed that this was not an isolated event. In fact, this change in behavior was constant throughout the peninsula, including regions beyond Andalusia, as well as in other countries such as Italy, Portugal and Turkey.
The flowering of the almond trees is also advancing, and it is an event that has been repeated in recent years and could have an impact on the harvest.
Experts explain that it is because each year temperatures are continuously higher than normal both in summer and winter.
Advance flowering of flowers and plants
In addition to cherry and almond trees, there are other varieties of fruit trees, they are species that need a certain cold in winter to be able to activate their flowering process properly and The climate is changing, some species move forward and others fall behind.
Experts think that flowering is happening faster than they thought, The climate and flowering is changing because the temperature is increasing.
Climate change and increased temperatures: it is the main cause.
The culprit behind the early flowering of cherry and almond trees is none other than climate change and rising temperatures.
According to Randal Jaworski, a researcher at the Global Change Research Institute of Maryland (USA), increasing temperatures and evaporation rates They are making the cherry and almond trees - as well as many other types of plants in the area - bloom earlier and earlier.
This increased evaporation is causing a decrease in water availability, and The trees are responding in an attempt to conserve and take advantage of it.
When water becomes available, trees are prepared to quickly release pollen and bear fruit, fearing that there may be a shortage again. Jaworski explains that Trees also respond to increased exposure to sunlight, which speeds up flower and fruit production.
This phenomenon, known as phenological development, is not exclusive to cherry and almond trees, but seems especially significant in the Iberian Peninsula.
Consequences of early flowering
According to a group of climate change experts that includes more than 1300 scientists from all countries in the world, global temperatures will continue to rise in the coming decades. which will have consequences on the ecosystem.
Regarding agriculture, some crops will be lost and a gap in nature will occur. Furthermore, it affects ecosystems because the synchrony that exists with pollinators is lost. and plants attract particular types of insects at particular times.
At the beginning of the sentence, the reproductive phase, the plant has to be synchronized with them, such as bees, flies, but since it starts to flower earlier, the pollinators are not there on those dates to restart the process. Which produces a mismatch in nature and an imbalance that is seen by decreasing reproduction.
There are very important crops such as cereals, which if this problem occurs, that of flowering ahead of time, will have a low yield, and they are crops that will be lacking in the market. Therefore, we will face a decrease in food.
Adaptation is necessary
Based on this information, it is likely that the earlier flowering of cherry and almond trees will become a recurring trend.
Phenomena such as early budding and flowering are some of the clearest phenological changes due to climate change, and They have cautionary value for farmers and researchers, who find it imperative to adapt.
Adaptation can mean things like planting a more varied portfolio of trees that can withstand a wider range of climatic conditions, as well as changing harvesting and management strategies to meet evolving production systems.
Finally, it is crucial that communities, countries and agencies focus more attention in mitigating or potentially reducing the impacts of climate change, in order to guarantee the continuity of these and other essential trees and plants. Only by working collaboratively can we ensure that these beautiful landscapes will continue to thrive for many generations.