LoriAnne BarnettEducation Coordinator, USA-NPN
Phoenix Phenology Trail & Phenology Observations:
Ideas for Community Participation
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Goals for today:Learn about Phenology and Nature’s Notebook
Learn how to develop a long-term program for the Phoenix
Phenology Trail
Generate and share ideas for activities
Learn where to find resources
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Phoenix Phenology Trail
Photo credit: P. Warren
©Wikimedia Commons
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Take-Aways:Observing is experiencing
Climate and lifePhenology as a lensPhoenix Phenology Trail and YOU
Photo credit: E. Alderson
Photo credit: P. Warren
WeatherDay-to-day changes in the
Earth’s atmosphere.
Climate and life
Climate is what you expect…
…weather is what you get.-Mark Twain
ClimateLong-term average
of dailyweather in a given
area.It is about…
time
Climate and life
http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/phzmweb/
NEW!!
Annual average MINIMUM temperatures – 30 years
Climate and life
Sunset Climate Zones for the WestAlso account for:
• Latitude• Hills and Valleys• Elevation• Ocean influence (humidity)• Continental air• Precipitation • Microclimates
www.sunset.com/garden/climate-zones/
Climate and life
Ecology
Distribution
Abundance
Abiotic
Biotic
Climate and life
BIOMES –World’s Major Communities Classified by major vegetation, adaptations to environment
Aquatic
Grassland
Desert
Forest
Tundra
Optimum conditions=NICHE
http://alliance.la.asu.edu/maps/AZ_biomes_web.pdf
Life Zones
Biodiversity
Climate and life
Why is climate important to ecology?
Ecology
1. Plants and animals reproduce under optimum conditions
2. Changing conditions alters species tolerance
OBSERVE Species RESPONSE:• Arrival, birth, feeding• Shifting range boundaries, new biome?• Changing morphology• Extirpation or Extinction
http://www.ipcc.ch/
Climate and life
©Walt Disney Productions
Climate and life
Reproduction DevelopmentActivity
ANIMAL > Mammal, Bird, Snake
Flowers FruitsLeaves
PLANT
Climate and life
ANIMAL LIFE CYCLE
©W
ikip
edia
ADULTLive Birth
YOUNG ADULTS
Mating
Feeding Active Individuals
Climate and life
PLANT LIFE CYCLE
ww
w.s
amso
n.ke
an.e
du
www.questgarden.com
SEED/EMBRYO
GERMINATION
GREEN GROWTH
BEAN FLOWER
RIPE FRUIT
SET SEED
LEAVES
Requires Optimum Conditions
Climate and life
Why is climate important to life-cycles?• Development relies upon internal,
environmental, and climatic cues. • Cues move the species through the
next cycle.• Changes have implications for
individual and species survival.
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Phoenix Phenology Trail
Photo credit: P. Warren
©Wikimedia Commons
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Take-Aways:Observing is experiencingClimate and life
Phenology as a lensPhoenix Phenology Trail and YOU
Photo credit: E. Alderson
Photo credit: P. Warren
Phenology as a lens
PHENOLOGYA big picture concept…That ties everything together.
Phenology as a lens
Just to be clear…
phRenology – a pseudoscience focused on
measurements of the human skull and size of
the brain
phOnology – a branch of linguistics concerned with the
organization of sounds in
language
Phenology as a lens
Who observes phenology?• Scientists
• Gardeners/Agriculturists• Land managers
• Educators, youth, adults• You
Photo credit: C. Enquist
Photo credit: P. Warren
Photo credit: S. Schaffer
A NATIONAL NETWORK OF INTEGRATED PHENOLOGICAL
OBSERVATIONS ACROSS SPACE AND TIME.
Primary goal• Observe phenological events• Understand how plants, animals &
landscapes respond to climate change• Create a standardized dataset for use
in multiple types of research.
Mission• Make phenology data, models and
related information available to scientists, resource managers and the public.
• Encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to observe and record phenology.
USA National Phenology Network
Photo credit: C. Enquist
• A Multi-taxa, National-scale• Plant and animal phenology
observation program• Citizen science• Core protocols for research
Nature’s Notebookfor scientists, naturalists,
volunteers, land managers, park
rangers, and YOU!
USA National Phenology Network
654 plant species and 243 animal species = ~900 total
2954 observers reporting (9204 total) making ~457,000 observations1
1As of 11-22-13
10, 945 sites
Phenology as a lens
Thor
eau
2012. Primack, R. B, Miller-Rushing, A.J
7 day average
61 years
2-3 week average
1999. Bradley, N.L., Leopold, C.A., Ross, J., Huffacker, W.
Jeffe
rson
Pow
ell
Northeastern US2013 Spring conditions
Northeastern US2013 Fall conditions
Phenology as a lens
Red maple (Acer rubrum)collected via Nature’s Notebook
Phenology as a lens
Pima Extension Office data
Phenology as a lens
Reproduction Development MethodActivity
ANIMAL > Mammal, Bird, Snake
• Active individuals
• Feeding
• Male combat• Mating
• Young individuals
• Dead individuals
• Individuals at a feeding station
Flowers FruitsLeaves
• Buds• Leaves• Colored leaves
• Buds• Flowers• Pollen
• Ripe fruits
PLANT PHENOPHASES
Phenology as a lens
95% or more
101 – 1,000
3 to 10
✓
Phenology as a lens
You MUST have your account completely set up online first to use the mobile apps!
Phenology as a lens
The source for this data was the USGS EROS Center (http://phenology.cr.usgs.gov/)
Photo credit: Wikicommons
Phenology as a lensCloned plants project: why we care
www.usanpn.org/nn/cloned-plants
T. Ault, M. Schwartz, R. Zurita-Milla
Day of Year
Phoenix Phenology Trail
Photo credit: P. Warren
©Wikimedia Commons
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Take-Aways:Observing is experiencingClimate and lifePhenology as a lens
Phoenix Phenology Trail and YOU
Photo credit: E. Alderson
Photo credit: P. Warren
Phoenix Phenology Trail
Phoenix Phenology Trail and YOU
Photo credit: C. Enquist
Using phenology as a theme in your outreach activities will promote science and climate literacy.
You are a PHENOLOGIST!
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Phoenix Phenology Trail
Photo credit: L. Barnett
How do we teach science and climate literacy
in a way people can
understand and relate to
and self-select to continue
to participate on their own…
A series of phenology activities to collectively achieve a set of outcomes.
OUTCOME = a LONG-TERM set of observations for your garden.
Develop a “phenology program”
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Phoenix Phenology Trail
Phenology
English
Plant & People Connections Local Ecology
& Biodiversity
Habitats
MathSocial Studies
Climate & WeatherArt
Ecosystems
Phoenix Phenology Trail
Youth/School Observation
Activities
Lecture Series on Seasonal
Change
Weekly Phenology
Hikes
Data & Phenology Calendars
Scavenger hunts
Observation activities
Macro-invertebrate
searchBird & nature walks
Journaling
Migration patterns
Bird & nature walks
Local foods
Birds
Blooms
Butterflies
Bird & nature walks
Ethno-botany
Ecosystems
Phoenix Phenology Trail
Youth/School Observation
Activities
Lecture Series on Seasonal
Change
Weekly Phenology
Hikes
Data & Phenology Calendars
Scavenger hunts
Observation activities
Macro-invertebrate
searchBird & nature walks
Journaling
Migration patterns
Bird & nature walks
Local foods
Birds
Blooms
Butterflies
Bird & nature walks
Ethno-botany
Theme:
Phenology
Phoenix Phenology Trail
When do white oak trees leaf out in the spring and, subsequently, lose their leaves in the
fall?
NASA SatelliteAerial & On-the-
ground Photography
Schoolyard habitats
Nature Centers
Refuge Biologists
Volunteer Groups
Phoenix Phenology Trail
When are mesquite beans
ready for harvest?
Volunteer Groups
Local Partners
Phoenix Phenology Trail
Short term (within a year) Engage participants in
collecting observations, year round, on mesquite trees
Develop activities for youth and adults at sites to encourage observations of mesquite trees
Medium term (within 3-4 years) Share data with participants,
develop a phenology calendar for the mesquite tree
Encourage participants to recruit others to collect observations
Long term (5+ years) Make general
recommendations for safe harvest times
GO
ALS
and
OU
TCO
MES
Phoenix Phenology Trail
Example: Tucson Phenology Trail• Biosphere 2• Tucson Audubon Mason Center• UA Campus Arboretum• Sam Hughes Neighborhood• Pima Extension Offices (2)• Rincon Heights Neighborhood• SRER• Borton Elementary School• Tortolita Middle School• Tumamoc Hill* • Tucson Botanical Garden*• Arizona Sonora Desert Museum*
Total of 75 Miles, start to finish3-10 species tagged at each
*Starting soon
Why is phenologyimportant to local trail programs?
Docents can • tell the story of the our natural
world through time• develop programs and
discovery kits for visitors• use phenology as a theme for
other topics• promote discovery,
observation, and science inquiry
Phoenix Phenology Trail
Phoenix Phenology Trail and YOU
Help with or establish a few sites
Create an account for Nature’s Notebook and collect regular
observations
Recruit at least one other person to collect data
You will be recognized for your efforts!
Challenge!
Photo credit: L. Barnett
QUESTIONS?
Phoenix Phenology Trail
Site: Tohono Chul Park
Question: What is the seasonal resource availability for different species of butterflies?
Hypothesis: If there is an abundance of host plants, there is a high probability of finding butterfly species
Testing/Methodology:• Observe the number of hackberry emperor butterflies weekly throughout
the year• Observe the phenology of the hackberries and the number of
flowers/hackberries• Enter hackberry and butterfly data into Nature’s Notebook• Create a host plant trial for butterfly walks• Train others to collect and enter data• Share data using Nature’s Notebook visualization tool, and determine
phenological calendar for both species
Group Activity I - Questions
Photo credit: L. Barnett
What plant/animals species might be highlighted at the Maricopa Extension Office
for a phenology walk?
Group Activity I - Questions
Photo credit: L. Barnett
What is a science question that could be developed using those selected species?
Group Activity I - Questions
Photo credit: L. Barnett
What resources might you need to answer the science question proposed?
Group Activity II – Program Design
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Help us design a PHENOLOGY PROGRAM .
• What is your science question?• What outcomes do you want to achieve?• What are the activities you can do?• What are the resources you already have?• Who would be potential partners?
Long-term observations help the USA-NPN and can help local programs!
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Goals for today:Learn about Phenology and Nature’s Notebook
Learn how to develop a long-term program for the Phoenix
Phenology Trail
Generate and share ideas for activities
Learn where to find resources
Thank you!
LoriAnne [email protected]
You’re invited to connect with USA-NPN…
• Sign up for a phenology e-newsletter (quarterly)
• Join the Nature’s Notebook community and become an observer: Contribute to science while having fun!
• Discover new tools and resources for work or play
LoriAnne [email protected]
@loriannebarnett
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