Objective
The timing and duration of leaf emergence in temperate trees are critical for ecosystem functioning, biodiversity, and climate regulation. While phenologists have long studied the mechanisms driving leaf phenology and its response to warming climates, one key factor—winter chilling—remains poorly understood. Winter chilling influences not only when leaves emerge but whether they can emerge at all. Recognized since the 1920s, this process requires trees to experience sufficient cold conditions over winter to break dormancy and enable spring leaf emergence. Although spring leaf emergence is advancing with climate warming, insufficient winter chilling could eventually override spring warming effects, delaying or even halting leaf emergence.
The project aims to: (1) experimentally quantify chilling temperature thresholds for over 200 woody species across temperate and boreal forests, including the relative importance of day versus night temperatures in dormancy release; (2) quantify biogeographic variation in chilling sensitivity linked to regional winter temperature variability; and (3) integrate experimental findings with 15–25 years of unique long-term common garden observations from species across the globe, as well as satellite observations. These insights will inform the development of refined phenology models, which can then be incorporated into dynamic global vegetation models to predict phenological shifts and their effects on forest productivity and ecosystem dynamics under future climate scenarios.
By combining large-scale experiments, extensive observational datasets, and advanced modelling techniques, this interdisciplinary project bridges local empirical studies with global modelling. Its findings will advance phenology models, enhance carbon flux predictions, and support strategies to mitigate biodiversity loss and ecosystem disruptions in temperate and boreal forests under a rapidly changing climate.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
6300 Zug
Switzerland
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.