OPINION PIECE Non-traditional data and innovative methods for autumn climate change ecology

ABSTRACT: Changes in autumnal climate affecting ecosphere diversity and productivity are arguably as important as those during other seasons, which tend to be more closely studied. Motivated by recent calls for more research on the biological and ecological consequences of seasonal climate change, we present 3 examples of innovative biogeoscience, employing novel data sets and methodologies, which refine our ability to monitor the physiological functioning and ecosystem performance during autumn. Drawn from recent research in wildlife biology (big-game hunting), wood anatomy (tree-ring formation) and mycology (fruit-body picking), these studies provide original insights that contribute to an improved understanding of how varying environmental and climatic conditions in autumn impact the phenology, productivity and diversity of different organisms.