Late spring freezes coupled with warming winters alter temperate tree phenology and growth

Spring phenology is advancing with warming but late spring freezes may not advance at the same rate, potentially leading to an increase in after trees initiate budburst. Research suggests winters delay budburst through reduced chilling, which cause plants leafout more slowly, thus decreasing freeze tolerance. Here, we assessed effects of and over-winter chilling on sapling phenology, growth tissue traits, across eight temperate tree shrub species a laboratory experiment. We found that delayed – extending period greatest risk for damage increased shoot apical meristem, decreased leaf toughness thickness. Longer accelerated leafout, even under conditions. Thus, compensated adverse phenology. Despite did see any major reordering sequence leafout. Our results suggest climate change impact forest communities temporal reassembly, rather impacts from coupled change.