Phenology as an integrator of ecological dynamics in a rapidly warming Arctic

The study of phenology is a unifying discipline in ecology. Although studied most commonly as a response to environmental variation such as climate change, phenology is a conceptually powerful integrator of ecological dynamics across levels of biological organization. Here, we will present data from two long-term study sites in Greenland, where spring is advancing rapidly due to recent warming. Our results highlight important features of phenology as an integrator of ecological dynamics in the Arctic, from variation at the plant species level in time and space, to species interactions across trophic levels between plants and herbivores, to the importance of phenology in ecosystem carbon exchange. Beyond its role as a response variable and integrator of ecological dynamics, we suggest phenology is an important driver of ecological response to climate change.