Natural history collections document biological responses to climate change: A commentary on DeLeo et al. (2019), Effects of two centuries of global environmental variation on phenology and physiology of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Natural history collections can complement and enhance our research programs in a variety of ways. DeLeo et al. (2019) used herbarium records to study the changes in physiology and phenology in Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae) due to contemporary climate change. Here, we discuss their approach and results as well as highlight other ways in which herbarium and natural history museum records can be leveraged for future studies.The copyright holder of the image (the herbarium sheet of Arabidopsis thaliana) is the first author, Derek Denney. This article is a commentary on DeLeo et al, 26, 523-538.