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Global Shift: Rise of Annual Plants Impacting Ecosystems

ByThe Short Paper

Revising the global biogeography of annual and perennial plants

This study on plant life cycles reveals surprising data: annual plants, thought to be common, make up only 6% of plant species. These plants thrive in hot, dry regions, and their prevalence is influenced by specific climate factors. Alarmingly, climate change and human disruption are favoring annuals, potentially impacting ecosystem services. The research predicts a significant increase in annual plants by 2060, raising concerns about the future of perennial plants and their contributions to ecosystems.

Poppenwimer, T., Mayrose, I. & DeMalach, N. Revising the global biogeography of annual and perennial plants. Nature (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06644-x

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06644-x

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