A year long field study of a deciduous tree and its interdependence through phenology.
A guide to phenological monitoring for students, teachers, families, and nature enthusiasts.
Phenology is the observation and measurement of events in time. The passing of the seasons is one of the most familiar phenomena on Earth. Consider, for example, the onset of spring in temperate climates. As winter ends, our surroundings burst with new life — forest canopies fill with vibrant greens, flocks of birds migrate in formation to northern breeding grounds, and brilliant wildflowers and their insect pollinators appear in rapid succession across hillsides, roadsides, lake margins, and fields. Similarly, as autumn approaches, the deciduous forest canopy progresses towards a colorful demise, birds navigate their return to southern wintering grounds, and many plants ripen their last fruits before the onset of winter. 6.3 MB PDF.
The article gives a good introduction to how scientists are using plant data to study the effects of climate change.
Research how plants in your area can be used to indicate climate change. Project BudBurst is a U.S. field study campaign that engages citizen scientists in making careful observations of the phenological events such as first leafing, first flower, and first fruit ripening of a diversity of trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses in their local area.
Resources include K-12 Teacher Guide and Student Data Collection Sheet
