Impact of Climate Change on Plant Growth

Climate change creates challenges to plant ecosystems worldwide by altering global temperature and atmospheric CO2concentrations. This study investigates how climate change influences seagrass metabolism, temperate phenology, and developmental traits across diverse taxa. Drawing on published temperatureresponse curves for Zostera marina, longterm phenological datasets for temperate trees, and controlled experiments on CO2enrichment. This essay synthesizes findings on metabolic balance, seasonal timing, and morphological adjustments. Results indicate that rising water temperatures reduce the photosynthesistorespiration ratio in eelgrass, thereby constraining growth; 72% of temperate species show significant spring phenological advancement at a rate of approximately one day per decade; and elevated global CO2concentration enhances leaf cell expansion, root branching, and stomata regulation via genemediated pathways. These responses vary with species thermal tolerances and vernalization requirements, causing heterogeneous shifts in distribution and productivity. This essay highlights that multifactorial interactionstemperature, CO2and water availabilitymust be integrated to forecast plant resilience accurately. By bridging ecophysiological experiments with regional modeling, this work highlights critical knowledge gaps in phenological drivers. These insights advance the ability to anticipate climatedriven vegetation changes and inform adaptive conservation strategies.