Tucson Botanical Garden Monthly Docent Meeting Phenology and the Tucson Botanical Garden LoriAnne Barnett Education Coordinator, USA-NPN

Introduction to Phenology What is Phenology?

Introduction to Phenology What is Phenology?

Phenology Observation Program Overview Introduction to Phenology Why do we care? USA National Phenology Network Phenology and Tucson Botanical Garden Participate!

Introduction to Phenology What is phenology? Nature’s calendar The science of the seasons Blooms and buds Hibernation, migration, emergence Easy to observe Who observes phenology? Scientists Gardeners Agriculturists Land managers Youth Famous historical figures

Introduction to Phenology Stink bug trap crops (right) adjacent to soybean in October in north Florida Photo courtesy of: Northern Florida Research and Education Center, Mizell, R. F. Why does it matter? Growth rate and range Animal – plant – climate relationships Management strategies Health implications Agricultural uses

Introduction to Phenology History and Phenology: Traditions and Culture Beaubien, E.G Phenology of Vascular Plant Flowering in Edmonton and across Alberta. MS thesis, University of Alberta. Fisherman on the east coast of Canada would not fish for shad (Alosa sapisissima) until after the shadbush (Amelanchier spp.) flowered. The Nuu-Chah-Nulth tribe of Vancouver Island used the ripening of salmonberries (Rubus spectabilis) to predict the return of adult sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) to freshwater. Bouchard & Kennedy, Clayoquot Sound Indian Land Use. Report prepared for MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. Peacock, S. L Piikani Ethnobotany: Traditional Plant Knowledge of the Piikani Peoples of the Northwest Plains. MS thesis, University of Calgary. HUNTING

Introduction to Phenology History and Phenology Traditions and Culture: The Tubatulabal tribe of Kern County (CA) used the ripening of coffeeberry fruits (Rhamnus californica) at low elevations to indicate that pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla) seeds in the mountains were ready to harvest. Anderson, M. Kat UC Davis. HARVESTING

Introduction to Phenology History and Phenology Traditions and Culture The Magnificent Mesquite by Ken E. Rogers HARVESTING By J. Frank Dobie © Phil Dering From: Texas Beyond History

Introduction to Phenology History and Phenology Record Keeping

Introduction to Phenology History and Phenology 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 Miller-Rushing, 2012) S PECIES AND E COSYSTEMS ARE INFLUENCED BY GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE Walden Pond Thoreau

Introduction to Phenology History and Phenology Cloned Plants Project H ISTORIC L ILAC N ETWORK E STABLISHED IN THE 1950 S S ANTA R ITA E XPERIMENTAL R ANGE, G REEN V ALLEY, AZ Began in 1950s by Joe Caprio Series of lilacs and data at Experimental Ranges across US for improve predictions of crop yield, pest management and bloom dates Clones minimize variations between locations Predict the spring index and provide comparable data Became part of the UW - Milwaukee Indicator Observation Program S. vulgaris (common lilac), S. x chinensis (Red Rothromagenisis), C. florida (Appalachian Spring Dogwood)

Introduction to Phenology

Phenology Observation Program Overview Introduction to Phenology Why do we care? USA National Phenology Network Phenology and Tucson Botanical Garden Participate!

Why do we care? 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

Invasions Allergies Pests & Diseases Wildfires Diseases – Plant, animal Agriculture Festivals Ecotourism Why do we care?

… and sensitive to climate … and sensitive to climate change. “Phenology…is perhaps the simplest process in which to track changes in the ecology of species in response to climate change.” (IPCC 2007) “Because of their close connection with climate, the timing of phenological events can be accurate indicators of climate change.” (EPA 2010) Phenological patterns are important, economically and biologically

Why do we care? Planting and Propagation Pruning Pollinators Pre-emergence herbicides (Pesticides) Pupas Produce harvest Predictive viewing Plant populations Prediction of sunburn Purchase ladybugs... PHENOLOGY (P 12+ ) ©Pima Master Gardeners

Why do we care? Pollinator Garden Local Questions? Garden Tours Photograph ©How Stuff Works ©IFAS Extension Tomato hornworm

Phenology Observation Program Overview Introduction to Phenology Why do we care? USA National Phenology Network Phenology and Tucson Botanical Garden Participate!

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

A Multi-taxa, National-scale Phenology System What’s Nature’s Notebook? A national plant and animal phenology observation program. Online monitoring system ∙ Citizen Science/Scientist contributions ∙ Core protocols ∙ Dynamic data visualizations ∙ Network of partners “H AVING A REASON AND A MECHANISM FOR PAYING ATTENTION TO THE NATURAL WORLD AROUND ME ENRICHES MY LIFE.” — H ANS

Why Citizen Science? 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 Eliminates gloom and doom Citizen Science Info

USA National Phenology Network 630 plant species and 230 animal species 1815 observers reporting (6201 total) making ~250,000 observations

USA National Phenology Network Recent and unusual rise in global temperature Understand plant & animal response Record early/late spring & fall events Ecosystem shift

Phenology Observation Program Overview Introduction to Phenology Why do we care? USA National Phenology Network Phenology and Tucson Botanical Garden Participate!

Phenology at TBG Education Phenology research at the TBG can help us provide area-specific information about bloom times and year to year variations, and accurate species information, and details about pollinator/animal-plant interactions. Outreach Expertise

Phenology at TBG

Phenology and TBG Pollinator Garden Garden Tours Photograph ©How Stuff Works ©IFAS Extension Tomato hornworm Phenology Calendar!

Phenology Observation Program Overview Introduction to Phenology Why do we care? USA National Phenology Network Phenology and Tucson Botanical Garden Participate!

Jojoba Saguaro Creosote bush Velvet mesquite Honey mesquite Desert ironwood Blue paloverde Yellow paloverde Know your Native Plants!

Participate! Phenophase Definitions What is a phenophase? An observable stage in the annual lifecycle of a plant or animal that can be defined by a start and end point. Often having a duration of a few days or weeks.

Participate! Leaves Flowers Fruits

Participate! 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.

Participate! Enter Observations Online

Participate!

Participate!

Participate! Tucson Phenology Trail Currently 7 locations Biosphere 2 UA Campus Sam Hughes Neighborhood Pima Extension Offices (2) Santa Rita Experimental Range Tucson Audubon Mason Center Tumamoc Hill Madera Canyon Total of 75 Miles, start to finish 3-10 species tagged at each

Participate! Botanical Garden Participants: Denver Botanic Gardens - Colorado Highlands Botanical Garden and Biological Station – North Carolina Jensen-Olsen Arboretum – Juneau, Alaska Santa Fe Botanical Garden – New Mexico Desert Botanical Garden – Phoenix, AZ Ohio State University Phenology Garden Network – Ohio, Kentucky, Minnesota New York Botanical Garden Tucson Botanical Garden? What questions could be asked and answered by collecting phenology data at TBG?

Phenology Observation Program Collecting systematic information about species life cycles will allow us to build a long term data set. We then may begin to understand how our ecosystems are responding to a changing environment.

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