Elevated carbon dioxide (eCO 2 ) acts as a fertiliser for photosynthesis, driving an increase in gross primary production (GPP). However, it is unclear how effectively increased GPP propagates along the ‘carbon (C) cascade’ to increase net primary production (NPP) and vegetation C stocks ( C veg ) in different plant compartments. Vegetation models were criticised for being overly sensitive to photosynthesis (source‐driven), ne...

The Earth is greening in many regions under elevated atmospheric CO 2 concentrations, along with increasing temperature and land use changes. However, despite the continued rise in CO 2 , greening has stagnated or even reversed in some regions, suggesting a reduced capacity of the land surface to act as a carbon sink. Here, we show that declining water availability and rising atmospheric water demand have coincided with region...

Phenotypic plasticity can lead to compensation for potentially adverse effects of variation in the thermal environment so it is important to understand the impacts of changes in mean and fluctuations in temperature on plastic responses. Here we establish the current state of knowledge of how thermal variability influences the expression of phenotypic plasticity in ectothermic animals. Our quantitative synthesis of 46 studies c...

There is a diverging perception of climate tipping points, abrupt changes and surprises in the scientific community and the public. While such dynamics have been observed in the past, e.g., frequent reductions of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation during the last ice age, or ice sheet collapses, tipping points might also be a possibility in an anthropogenically perturbed climate. In this context, high impact—low l...

An ostracod assemblage from the Late Ordovician (Katian) Phu Ngu Formation of northern Vietnam, South China paleoplate, yields typical Baltic and Laurentian‐affinity genera together with some endemic forms. Detailed paleontological and sedimentary analysis of the Phu Ngu Formation suggests it was deposited in a deeper marine forearc setting, below storm wave base, but with (at least intermittently) oxygenated sea‐bottom condit...

Climate change is altering temperature means and variation, and both need to be considered in predictions underpinning conservation. However, there is no consensus in the literature regarding the effects of temperature fluctuations on biological functions. Fluctuations may affect biological responses because of inequalities from non‐linear responses, endocrine regulation or exposure to damaging temperatures. Here we establish...