The key findings of the research call into question the applicability of the traditional four-season model. The data obtained showed that even regions located close to each other can have significantly differing timelines for major seasonal changes, such as the beginning and end of the growing season. For example, this is observed on mountain slopes in the tropics or in areas with a Mediterranean climate, where seasonal processes can be asynchronous over relatively short distances.
Diversity Instead of Uniformity
The main factor influencing vegetation growth in high latitudes (for example, in most regions of Europe and North America) is temperature. At the same time, in tropical and arid ecosystems, local conditions—availability of light and water—play a much more decisive role than average temperature indicators.
This diversity of seasonal cycles can contribute to a high level of biodiversity, especially in tropical zones. The separation of reproductive cycles can lead to the formation of new species. In practice, such information can explain why in Colombia, for instance, coffee plantations located just a day's journey apart can have uncoordinated fruiting cycles, as if they were in different hemispheres.
Scientists' Opinion
“Seasonality is often perceived as a simple rhythm—winter, spring, summer, autumn—but our work shows that the natural calendar is much more complex,” notes Drew Terasaki Hart. She emphasizes that in regions where the forms and timelines of seasonal cycles vary significantly, this is particularly noticeable. “Understanding these nuances can have a serious impact on ecology and evolution in these areas.”
This research is not the only one of its kind. It resonates with the work of other scientists who claim that anthropogenic impacts and climate change not only shift seasons but also create new climatic phenomena, such as the "haze season" in Southeast Asia or the "garbage season" in Bali. It also aligns with the fact that many cultures historically used more granular calendars, dividing the year into 24 seasons or even 72 micro-times to more accurately reflect changes in nature.
Thus, the work of the CSIRO team provides a new tool for understanding life on Earth. The map of seasonal rhythms opens new perspectives not only for fundamental research in ecology and evolutionary biology but also for applied fields such as agriculture, forestry, and epidemiology. It reminds us that nature does not function according to a simplified template but rather follows a complex, multi-layered score that we are just beginning to decipher.
