LoriAnne Barnett Education Coordinator, USA-NPN Using Nature's Notebook to teach science and climate change

Objectives of today’s webinar:  Define phenology and explain its applicability to understanding changes in habitats.  Understand the mission and objectives of the USA National Phenology Network.  Understand how to implement a long-term phenology monitoring program that can improve science and climate literacy in students.  Participate in a challenge! Poll question 1…

Photo credit: L. Barnett

Nature’s Notebook Photo credit: P. Warren Observing is experiencing Using nature as a guide Phenology & ecosystems USA National Phenology Network Program planning Photo credit: E. Alderson Photo credit: B. Powell Photo credit: P. Warren

Nature’s Notebook Photo credit: P. Warren Observing is experiencing Using nature as a guide Phenology & ecosystems USA National Phenology Network Program planning Photo credit: E. Alderson Photo credit: B. Powell Photo credit: P. Warren

Using nature as a guide Tradition and Lore “Tribes kept track of seasons by giving distinct names to each recurring full moon.” November -Beaver Moon February – Full Worm Moon May – Full Flower Moon Photo credit: B. Powell Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons unless otherwise notedPhoto credit: L. Barnett September – Harvest Moon

Using nature as a guide Acer rubrum (red maple); Photo credit: D. Hartel Observing the same individual through the seasons.

Using nature as a guide American kestrel Falco sparverius ©Wikimedia Commons Active

Using nature as a guide Jefferson Powell Thoreau

Using nature as a guide Garden re-created

Using nature as a guide Understanding outdoor recreation schedules. Photo credit: J. Garner Feeding times Following brackish waters Water temperature Spawning times related to temp - 55° - 68° F in Chesapeake Bay. April peak? Chesapeake Bay Spring Season for Striped Bass = May 16 – June 16

Using nature as a guide Reproduction Development Activity ANIMAL > Mammal, Bird, Snake, Insect Flowers Fruits Leaves PLANT Observable life stages

Nature’s Notebook Photo credit: P. Warren Observing is experiencing Using nature as a guide Phenology & ecosystems USA National Phenology Network Program planning Photo credit: E. Alderson Photo credit: B. Powell Photo credit: P. Warren

phRenology – a pseudoscience focused on measurements of the human skull and size of the brain

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 & ecosystems What is phenology? The science of the seasons Blooms and buds Hibernation, migration, emergence Easy to observe Photo credit: L. Barnett …it is the study of the timing of recurring plant and animal life- cycle stages, or phenophases, and their relationship to environmental conditions.

Phenology & ecosystems Distribution Abundance Abiotic Biotic

HABITAT Food Water Cover – shelter Space - range

Photo credit: L. Barnett Summer Monsoon Sonoran Desert – Ajo, AZ Summer Rains - > 3.0 inches Average high temp 101 °F Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons Photo credit: L. Barnett

Phenology & ecosystems Who observes phenology? Scientists Gardeners/Agriculturists Land managers Educators Youth Photo credit: C. Enquist Photo credit: P. Warren Photo credit: S. Schaffer

Using nature as a guide Camellia spp. Photo credit: Google images Norfolk Botanical Garden

Phenology & ecosystems 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

Phenology & ecosystems SEASONAL CHANGES Relationships between species Knowing when to do what Help determine species mismatch Shifting weather and climate affect all of these

Phenology & ecosystems A changing climate not only affects plant and animal species… …but HUMANS as well.

Invasions Allergies Pests & Diseases Wildfires Flu season Agriculture Festivals Ecotourism Slide courtesy of S. Mazer

Phenology & ecosystems OBSERVE Species response: Arrival, birth, feeding Shifting range boundaries Changing morphology Extirpation or Extinction Economic impacts

Nature’s Notebook Photo credit: P. Warren Observing is experiencing Using nature as a guide Phenology & ecosystems USA National Phenology Network Program planning Photo credit: E. Alderson Photo credit: B. Powell Photo credit: P. Warren

U NDERSTAND HOW SPECIES AND LANDSCAPES ARE RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE. Primary goal Create a standardized dataset for use in multiple types of research. Mission Make phenology data, models and related information available. Encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to observe and record phenology. USA National Phenology Network Photo credit: C. Enquist

Nature’s Notebook for scientists, naturalists, volunteers, land managers, park rangers, and YOU! Photo credit: L. Romano

USA National Phenology Network Plant and animal species = 943 total 3112 observers reporting (9655 total) making 482,343 observations 1 1 As of ,440 sites

USA National Phenology Network Reproduction Development Method Activity ANIMAL > Mammal, Bird, Snake, Insect Active individuals Feeding Male combat Mating Young individuals Dead individuals Individuals at a feeding station Flowers Fruits Leaves Young leaves Leaves Colored leaves Flowers or flower buds Open flowers Ripe fruits Recent seed or fruit drop PLANT PHENOPHASES

USA National Phenology Network Leaves Flowers Fruits Gambel Oak

USA National Phenology Network Enter Observations Online

You MUST have your account completely set up online first to use the mobile apps!

Red maple (Acer rubrum) in 2013 collected via Nature’s Notebook USA National Phenology Network

Nature’s Notebook Photo credit: P. Warren Observing is experiencing Using nature as a guide Phenology & ecosystems USA National Phenology Network Program planning Photo credit: E. Alderson Photo credit: B. Powell Photo credit: P. Warren

Photo credit: L. Barnett

Photo credit: P. Warren

Program planning Develop your own scientific questions to answer, using Nature’s Notebook:  What questions do you have about seasonality in your backyard?  What evidence do we have that there are seasonal changes? Why?  Create a list of observations you’ve made, plan to record them in Nature’s Notebook as regularly as possible for at least a year Based upon inquiry lessons in science.education.nih.gov Photo credit: L. Barnett Photo credit: P. Warren Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Program planning Phenology Plant & People Connections Local Ecology & Biodiversity Habitats Climate & Weather Poll question 2…

Program planning Phenology English Community Engagement and Civics Math Social Studies Service Learning Art Poll question 3…

Photo credit: L. Barnett 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!

Program planning Tucson Phenology Trail Jojoba Velvet mesquite Yellow paloverde Blue paloverde Ocotillo Creosote Florida hopbush Saguaro Penstemon (parryi) Texas Ranger Desert Ironwood +++ Cultural importance Photo credit: Wikimedia

Program planning When are mesquite beans ready for harvest? Volunteer Groups Local Partners

Program planning Science questions to answer: 1.Is the monsoon season correlated with the dropping of ripe mesquite beans? 2.When is the best time to harvest mesquite beans to get the most beans per effort? 3.How far into the monsoon season is it safe to collect beans for harvest? Photo credit: P. Guertin Photo credit: P. Warren

Program planning 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 GOALS and OUTCOMES

Life Science Middle School (6-8)High School (9-12) Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems Growth, Development and Reproductions of Organisms Natural Selection and Evolution Earth and Space Sciences Middle School (6-8)High School (9-12) Earth’s Systems Weather and Climate Human ImpactsHuman Sustainability Next Generation Science Standards and Nature’s Notebook

Program planning Resources: Curriculum by audience: Start a local project: Planning worksheets Ways to connect Phenology Data: Visualization tools Downloadable excel How to Observe: Handbook Online tutorials for everything Botany 101 guide and Phenophase primer coming soon!

Challenge! 1.Create an account for Nature’s Notebook 2.Use Nature’s Notebook as a project within your Climate Stewardship action plan 3.Cross-collaborate with educators in your region to develop a long-term phenology monitoring program. Utilize both formal and informal organizations

USA National Phenology Network Pause to create an account in Nature’s Notebook 11,440 sites

Objectives of today’s webinar: Define phenology and explain its applicability to understanding changes in habitats. Understand the mission and objectives of the USA National Phenology Network. Understand how to implement a long-term phenology monitoring program that can improve science and climate literacy in students. Participate in a challenge! Poll questions 4 & 5…

Photo credit: L. Barnett QUESTIONS?

Thank you! LoriAnne Barnett 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