PLANT ADAPTATION STRATEGIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE: ORGANISMAL, POPULATION, AND ECOSYSTEM LEVELS

І. V. Shchur, L. R. Hrytsak, Kh. M. Kolisnyk, D. A. Boiko, N. M. Drobyk

Abstract


The article summarizes current approaches to studying plant adaptation strategies to climate change at the organismal, population, and ecosystem levels. It is shown that rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations are key drivers shaping eco-physiological processes in plants and influencing ecosystem structure and functioning. The role of physiological mechanisms of adaptation is analyzed, including photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal and mesophyll conductance, and the functioning of the enzyme Rubisco in determining plant tolerance to thermal and water stress. It is demonstrated that C3 and C4 plants exhibit different adaptive strategies due to the specific features of their photosynthetic systems. Special attention is paid to phenotypic plasticity as a major mechanism of short-term adaptation, as well as to the role of genetic variability, epigenetic regulation, and gene flow in ensuring long-term population resilience. It is emphasized that traditional approaches based solely on morphological traits have limitations in predicting plant responses to climate change, as they do not fully capture the underlying physiological mechanisms. Therefore, the integration of morphological and eco-physiological traits is justified as a more robust framework for understanding plant adaptive responses. Evidence from studies on alpine plant species indicates that water availability is often a more critical factor than temperature in determining changes in plant community structure. Particular attention is given to the role of biotic interactions in shaping plant responses to climate change. Alterations in interactions between plants and herbivores, pollinators, and symbiotic organisms may disrupt co-evolutionary relationships, shift selective pressures, and reduce reproductive success. It is concluded that plant adaptation to climate change is a complex, multifactorial process driven by the interaction of physiological, genetic, and ecological mechanisms. A comprehensive understanding of these processes is essential for improving predictions of ecosystem dynamics and for developing effective strategies for biodiversity conservation under global environmental change.

Keywords


climate change; plant adaptation; ecophysiology; phenotypic plasticity; photosynthesis; water use; biotic interactions; ecosystem dynamics; genetic variability

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.25128/2078-2357.25.4.13

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