Jake F. Weltzin, Kathryn Thomas, Brian Haggerty, Theresa Crimmins, Ellen Denny, Abe Miller-Rushing, Alyssa Rosemartin The USA National Phenology Network: A Practical Tool for Research, Management and Education in the Face of Climate Change

Agenda Introduction to USA-NPN and overview of applications (11:30-12) Applications break-out groups (12-1:15) –Research (Kathryn Thomas) –Decision support (Jake Weltzin) –Education (Brian Haggerty)

Outline What is phenology & why does it matter? What is the USA National Phenology Network? Applications for research programs & historic datasets Applications for management & decision support Applications for education programs Using the USA-NPN data entry interface

Cause and consequence of seasonal biological events Phenology

“Phenology…is perhaps the simplest process in which to track changes in the ecology of species in response to climate change.” (IPCC 2007)

Changes in spring timing for many organisms Parmesan and Yohe 2003 Nature Parmesan and Yohe Meta-analysis 677 species examined years (med = 45) 62% advanced in timing Camille Parmesan

Response depends on the type of organism Parmesan 2007 GCB Change in spring timing (days/decade) N = 203

English Oak Winter Moth Pied Flycatcher Both et al Nature EARLIER SAME TIME EACH YEAR EARLIER A three-way mismatch

Outline What is phenology & why does it matter? What is the USA National Phenology Network? Applications for research programs & historic datasets Applications for management & decision support Applications for education programs Using the USA-NPN data entry interface

A new data resource—a national network of integrated phenological observations across space and time Understand how plants, animals and landscapes respond to environmental variation and climate change Develop decision-support tools and techniques to facilitate human adaptation to climate change Engage the public in scientific discovery and increase the understanding of the changing natural world through phenology monitoring

National-scale science and monitoring initiative Agencies, NGOs, academia, the public Integrates with other science/monitoring networks Target: 100,000 observation locations Plants + animals; contemporary + legacy data Education & outreach Integration across spatial and temporal scales NPN in a nutshell

Native American Tribes Scientists Specialized Networks Specialized Networks Public Agencies Public Agencies NGOs Educator s Citizen Scientist s Citizen Scientist s National Coordinating Office Information Management Monitoring Programs Communications Resource Managers Services for stakeholders

Outline What is phenology & why does it matter? What is the USA National Phenology Network? Applications for research programs & historic datasets Applications for management & decision support Applications for education programs Using the USA-NPN data entry interface

Henry David Thoreau, Walden Pond, Concord, MA plant species, first flowering, 8 years, 1850s Richard Primack & Abe Miller-Rushing, Concord, MA - 42 plant species, first flowering, 4 years, Average flowering date: 7 days earlier - Culprit: rising winter and spring temperatures Thoreau on Walden Pond RichHankAbe

Outline What is phenology & why does it matter? What is the USA National Phenology Network? Applications for research programs & historic datasets Applications for management & decision support Applications for education programs How to use the USA-NPN data entry interface

Predictive services: fire, invasions, dust, runoff Health: allergies, disease Natural resources: management, migrations, pests Conservation: mutualisms, reserve planning Agriculture: plant & animal production, biocontrol Ecosystem services: carbon, water & nutrient dynamics Recreation: hunting, leaf-peeping, bird-watching Management & Decision Support Applications

Local extinctions in Concord, MA Willis et al PNAS Change in phenology Decline in population asters, bladderworts, buttercups, dogwoods, lilies, mints, orchids, violets What’s declining? Vulnerability assessments

Outline What is phenology & why does it matter? What is the USA National Phenology Network? Applications for research programs & historic datasets Applications for management & decision support Applications for education programs Using the USA-NPN data entry interface

Educator’s Clearinghouse

The Phenology Handbook can be tailored for a variety of audiences

Great introduction to phenology monitoring Engage public in global change data collection Educational materials on-line Observations for any plant species

Outline What is phenology & why does it matter? What is the USA National Phenology Network? Applications for research programs & historic datasets Applications for management & decision support Applications for education programs Using the USA-NPN data entry interface

USA-NPN Information Management System Decision- support Research Education Search Synthesis Visualizations Work platform Datasets Products Data Contemp- orary Legacy Partners Ancillary Data curation User interface Database system Metadata

215 plant species Search by state or partner Calibration Species Cloned Plant Project Species

1.Review site & species selection guidelines 2.Select plants to monitor 3.Register yourself 4.Register your site 5.Register your individual plants 6.Get instructions & data sheets 7.Make & record observations 8.Report observations online

Register your site

Register your plants

1. Research (Kathryn Thomas) 2. Decision support and management (Jake Weltzin) 3. Education (Brian Haggerty) Break-out groups