Tucson Phenology Monitoring Project Add Your Title Here Citizen Science Phenology Observation Program

Overview Intro to Phenology USA National Phenology Network Research and Education Application Using Nature’s Notebook

Phenology is: Phenology refers to recurring plant and animal life cycle stages, or phenophases, such as leafing and flowering, maturation of agricultural plants, emergence of insects, and migration of birds. Intro to Phenology Phenology, in short, is a “horizontal science” which transects all ordinary biological professions. Whoever sees the land as a whole is likely to have an interest in it. Leopold, A., and S.E. Jones A phenological record for Sauk and Dane Counties, Wisconsin, Ecological Monographs 17(1): phenophases

Intro to Phenology What is phenology? Nature’s calendar Blooms and buds Hibernation, migration emergence Why does it matter? Growth rate and range Animal – plant – climate relationships Management strategies Leading indicator of climate change impacts

Applications of Phenology Data Conservation Resource management Agriculture Ecosystem services Science Health Value of phenology Phenology data helps us understand how plants, animals and landscapes respond to environmental variation and climate change. Decision-support tools

Intro to Phenology Observation Who observes phenology? Famous historical figures Historical data sets Gardeners Nature enthusiasts Scientists How can our community be involved? Science process Climate literacy Outdoor experiences

Intro to Phenology Phenology and Climate Change Research, spring timing and range Photo by Scot Miller 43 species at Walden Pond bloom 7 days earlier than 150 years ago Blueberries flower 21 days earlier 27% of the species are no longer there Importance of legacy datasets (Primack and Rushing, 2012) S PECIES AND E COSYSTEMS INFLUENCED BY GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

Intro to Phenology Phenology and Climate Change Research, spring timing and range Types of observed shifts Timing of migratory bird arrivals (Root et al. 2003, Gordo 2007) Timing of animal emergence (Inouye et al. 2000, Parmesan et al. 2003) Timing of egg laying (Brown et al. 1999) Changing Migration Patterns 1977: 3,000 Brant overwintered in Alaska Today: 40,000 overwinter (Ward et al. 2009)

Intro to Phenology Phenology and Climate Change Research, spring timing and range A three-way mismatch English Oak Winter Moth Pied Flycatcher Both et al Nature EARLIER SAME TIME EACH YEAR EARLIER

Intro to Phenology

Phenology Observation Program Overview Intro to Phenology USA National Phenology Network Research and Education Application Using Nature’s Notebook

USA National Phenology Network

USA-National Phenology Network

A NATIONAL NETWORK OF INTEGRATED PHENOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ACROSS SPACE AND TIME. Primary goal To encourage observation of phenological events and understand how plants, animals and landscapes respond to environmental variation and climate change. 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

Network Tools Standard methods for data collection Basic and applied research Decision-support tools Education and outreach Nature’s Notebook Legacy Datasets Citizen Science Project USA National Phenology Network

What Is Citizen Science? Engages volunteers Expands ability of scientists Teaches scientific methods Public and professional scientists Research teams Educate and generate data Meet science & research goals

USA National Phenology Network Public Participation in Scientific Research (PPSR) From Cornell Lab of Ornithology Citizen science, volunteer monitoring and other forms of organized research projects in which members of the public engage are included in the field Invasive plants, birds, bees/pollinators, earthquakes, infectious disease, astronomy, weather, wildlife, acid rain, oil spills, wildlife, rainfall, archaeology, pollution, “old weather” Citizen Science Info

A Multi-taxa, National-scale Phenology System What’s Nature’s Notebook? A national plant and animal phenology observation program. Thousands of passionate citizen scientists across the US share their observations with researchers, resource managers and others who use this information to understand our changing planet, make scientific discoveries, and create new tools.

USA National Phenology Network Online monitoring system ∙ 630 vetted plant species ∙ 230 vetted animal species ∙ Core protocols ∙ Abundance & intensity reporting ∙ Metadata & QA/QC methods ∙ Dynamic data visualizations ∙ Possible species additions by request

USA National Phenology Network 630 plant species and 230 animal species 4107 observers (1196 reporting) at 5526 sites making 97,237 observations Summary as of 12/2011

USA National Phenology Network Phenology Monitoring Methods EventDate First arrival5-Apr First egg22-Apr Event Monitoring Captures First instance of phenological event Phenology of species with predictable series of events Does not capture Sampling Frequency Estimated error in event date Unusual events Repeat events Duration of phenological stages

USA National Phenology Network Phenology Monitoring Methods Abundance and Intensity Captures Sampling frequency Error around date estimate Absence Unusual events Multiple occurrences of a phenophase in one year Phenophase duration Do you see…29-Mar5-Apr11-Apr17-Apr22-Apr28-Apr5-May15-May Adults present? NYYYYYYY Nest with eggs? ?NNYYNNY

USA National Phenology Network Event ActivityReproductionDevelopment Day of year Phenology Monitoring Methods Status & Abundance Status

USA National Phenology Network Engage observers with Nature’s Notebook and data collection through providing directed scientific outdoor experiences. 1.Science and Climate Literacy 2.Science-Nature-Self Relationships 3.The Integration of Science and Education USA-NPN Education Program Goals

USA National Phenology Network USA-NPN Education Program Connect people to nature - Nature Deficit Disorder Agency engagement programs Formal/informal education Climate and science literacy Move beyond 'gloom and doom' of climate change

Phenology Observation Program Overview Intro to Phenology USA National Phenology Network Research and Education Application Using Nature’s Notebook

Research and Education Recent and unusual rise in global temperature Understand plant & animal response Record early/late spring & fall events Ecosystem shift Multiple and long-term observations Regional and continental scale data

Research and Education Combined Techniques Satellite/Remote Sensing Photographs Hand-recorded data

Research and Education Data visualization

Research and Education NPN dataset – Used to broaden the investigation (Fredl et al, Unpublished) Common deciduous forest trees Data from only 100s of sites, though time-series variable (sometimes sparse or discontinuous) Can we detect the anomalously warm spring of 2010 in the NE US on organismal phenology? NPN data visualization tool Emerging leaves or first leaf date (FLD) Q: Advanced FLD in 2010 relative to 2009 and 2011? A : YES

Research and Education Friedl’s study region and USA-NPN’s data a project of the USA-NPN

Research and Education a project of the USA-NPN Expanded view of data points

Early in 2010

Research and Education Detect anomalous seasonal temps Detect changes in phenology Preliminary analyses Operate at scale from individual to region Winnow dataset Output graphics for presentation Output data for more detailed/statistical analyses Viz tool can be used to…

Research and Education Research needs Standard, Long-term, accessible data set Interactive tools for visualization Plant and animal species data for multiple locations Focal species Results Better understanding of changes Analysis of impacts Communication

Research and Education Phenology is a teaching tool used to teach the scientific process Citizen science programs can assist with limited staffing Volunteers or partnerships with agencies can make monitoring more robust

Phenology Observation Program Overview Intro to Phenology USA-NPN and USFWS Partnership Research and Education Application Using Nature’s Notebook

Application Community Phenology Trail Community Phenology Trail Neighborhood University Community Space/ Library Local Extension Office Local Natural Area Schoolyard/ Habitat Garden

Application Workshops & Tours How to observe Local species talks Campus plant and tree walks Demonstration gardens Master Gardener Class with Phenology chapter Phenology Trails and Phenology Gardens Neighborhood Association Partnerships

Application National Parks using Nature’s Notebook Phenology in the Parks

Application National Wildlife Refuges using Nature’s Notebook Kenai Peninsula NWR, Alaska Leah Eskelin, Park Ranger Gulf of Maine Coastal Program Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office

Application Cooperative Extension and Nature’s Notebook

Application Personal Interactions Backyard observations Trail observations Share your data set Data analysis Join the conversation! “H AVING A REASON AND A MECHANISM FOR PAYING ATTENTION TO THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND ME ENRICHES MY LIFE.” — H ANS

Phenology Observation Program Overview Intro to Phenology USA-National Phenology Network Research and Education Application Using Nature’s Notebook

Get Started!

Using Nature’s Notebook

1.Select and delineate a site 2.Select plant and animal species 3.Tag individual plants 4.Record your observations of animals and plants 5.Report your data online Five Steps:

Using Nature’s Notebook 1. Select and delineate a site A site is the area within which you will look for your species you choose to observe. When you select a site, such as your yard or a nearby natural area, consider these guidelines: Convenience and easily accessible. Representative location of the environmental conditions for your area. Flat, gentle slope..

Using Nature’s Notebook 1. Select and delineate a site Uniform habitat Appropriate size - < 15 acres Plants and animals? Your backyard PROPER PERMISSION! Agency may already be participating No trespassing More than 20 feet from building

Using Nature’s Notebook 2. Select Plant and Animals Choose from list Calibration species Ecological importance Big-picture Proper identification Data quality! One - three plants for variation Use comments 3. Tag your plants! Ease of location Can always find them!

Using Nature’s Notebook Creating a site at home, after you’ve tagged plants

Using Nature’s Notebook

4. Record Observations To make observations, you will need: Phenophase definitions and instructions

Using Nature’s Notebook 4. Record Observations YES NO UNCERTAIN No record if you did not check

Using Nature’s Notebook 4. Record Observations To make observations, you will need: Phenophase definitions and instructions Datasheets, clipboard, pencil: You can download and print a datasheet for each plant or animals from the profile page Binoculars (optional)

Using Nature’s Notebook Frequency of Observations As often as possible At least once a week All observations are valuable ! Time of Day Convenient Consistent Daytime Keep looking for a phenophase even if it has ended.

Using Nature’s Notebook 62 Plants: Make repeat observations of the same individual plants for as long as you are recording data.

Using Nature’s Notebook Animals: Create a checklist for your site, look and listen for ALL species EACH time you visit. In some cases there may be many animals (mammals, amphibians, insects, etc.) that could visit your site.

Using Nature’s Notebook Why? Phenophases may be triggered by moisture and not just temperature Negative data is valuable Conditions may change rapidly More data = better analysis Climate shift may be changing when events occur

Using Nature’s Notebook 5. Enter Observations Online As frequently as possible Follow the step-by-step questions Enter data for all species collected each time

Using Nature’s Notebook

1.Select and delineate a site 2.Select plant and animal species 3.Tag individual plants 4.Record your observations of animals and plants 5.Report your data online REVIEW Five Steps:

Using Nature’s Notebook Resources available to you: Online training materials for Nature’s Notebook at home Volunteer/community engagement tips Plans for implementation of Phenology Gardens and Trails Smart phone applications Assistance from the USA-NPN Education Specialist on how to tailor Nature’s Notebook to your needs

Thank you! LoriAnne Barnett USA-NPN Education Coordinator 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