LoriAnne Barnett Education Coordinator, USA-NPN Phoenix Phenology Trail & Phenology Observations: Ideas for Community Participation

Photo credit: L. Barnett Goals for today: Learn about Phenology and Nature’s Notebook Learn how to develop a long-term program for the Phoenix Phenology Trail Generate and share ideas for activities Learn where to find resources

Photo credit: L. Barnett

Phoenix Phenology Trail Photo credit: P. Warren ©Wikimedia Commons Photo credit: L. Barnett Take-Aways: Observing is experiencing Climate and life Phenology as a lens Phoenix Phenology Trail and YOU Photo credit: E. Alderson Photo credit: P. Warren

Weather Day-to-day changes in the Earth’s atmosphere. Climate and life -Mark Twain Climate Long-term average of daily weather in a given area. It is about… time

Climate and life Annual average MINIMUM temperatures – 30 years

Climate and life Sunset Climate Zones for the West Also account for: Latitude Hills and Valleys Elevation Ocean influence (humidity) Continental air Precipitation Microclimates

Climate and life Distribution Abundance Abiotic Biotic

Climate and life BIOMES –World’s Major Communities Classified by major vegetation, adaptations to environment Aquatic Grassland Desert Forest Tundra Optimum conditions= NICHE

Life Zones

Climate and life 1.Plants and animals reproduce under optimum conditions 2.Changing conditions alters species tolerance OBSERVE Species RESPONSE: Arrival, birth, feeding Shifting range boundaries, new biome? Changing morphology Extirpation or Extinction

Climate and life ©Walt Disney Productions

Climate and life Reproduction Development Activity ANIMAL > Mammal, Bird, Snake Flowers Fruits Leaves PLANT

Climate and life ANIMAL LIFE CYCLE ©Wikipedia ADULT Live Birth YOUNG ADULTS Mating Feeding Active Individuals

Climate and life PLANT LIFE CYCLE SEED / EMBRYO GERMINATION GREEN GROWTH BEAN FLOWER RIPE FRUIT SET SEED LEAVES Requires Optimum Conditions

Climate and life Development relies upon internal, environmental, and climatic cues. Cues move the species through the next cycle. Changes have implications for individual and species survival. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons Photo credit: L. Barnett

Phoenix Phenology Trail Photo credit: P. Warren ©Wikimedia Commons Photo credit: L. Barnett Take-Aways: Observing is experiencing Climate and life Phenology as a lens Phoenix Phenology Trail and YOU Photo credit: E. Alderson Photo credit: P. Warren

Phenology as a lens PHENOLOGY A big picture concept… That ties everything together.

Phenology as a lens 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 as a lens Who observes phenology? Scientists Gardeners/Agriculturists Land managers Educators, youth, adults You Photo credit: C. Enquist Photo credit: P. Warren Photo credit: S. Schaffer

A NATIONAL NETWORK OF INTEGRATED PHENOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ACROSS SPACE AND TIME. Primary goal Observe phenological events Understand how plants, animals & landscapes respond to climate change Create a standardized dataset for use in multiple types of research. 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 Photo credit: C. Enquist

A Multi-taxa, National-scale Plant and animal phenology observation program Citizen science Core protocols for research Nature’s Notebook for scientists, naturalists, volunteers, land managers, park rangers, and YOU!

USA National Phenology Network 654 plant species and 243 animal species = ~900 total 2954 observers reporting (9204 total) making ~457,000 observations 1 1 As of , 945 sites

Phenology as a lens Thoreau Primack, R. B, Miller-Rushing, A.J 7 day average 61 years 2-3 week average Bradley, N.L., Leopold, C.A., Ross, J., Huffacker, W. Jefferson Powell

Northeastern US 2013 Spring conditions

Northeastern US 2013 Fall conditions

Phenology as a lens Red maple (Acer rubrum) collected via Nature’s Notebook

Phenology as a lens Pima Extension Office data

Phenology as a lens Reproduction Development Method Activity ANIMAL > Mammal, Bird, Snake Active individuals Feeding Male combat Mating Young individuals Dead individuals Individuals at a feeding station Flowers Fruits Leaves Buds Leaves Colored leaves Buds Flowers Pollen Ripe fruits PLANT PHENOPHASES

Phenology as a lens 95% or more 101 – 1,000 3 to 10 ✓

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

Phenology as a lens The source for this data was the USGS EROS Center ( Photo credit: Wikicommons

Phenology as a lens Cloned plants project: why we care T. Ault, M. Schwartz, R. Zurita-Milla Day of Year

Phoenix Phenology Trail Photo credit: P. Warren ©Wikimedia Commons Photo credit: L. Barnett Take-Aways: Observing is experiencing Climate and life Phenology as a lens Phoenix Phenology Trail and YOU Photo credit: E. Alderson Photo credit: P. Warren

Phoenix Phenology Trail Phoenix Phenology Trail and YOU Photo credit: C. Enquist

Using phenology as a theme in your outreach activities will promote science and climate literacy. Photo credit: L. Barnett

Phoenix Phenology Trail Photo credit: L. Barnett How do we teach science and climate literacy in a way people can understand and relate to and self-select to continue to participate on their own…

A series of phenology activities to collectively achieve a set of outcomes. OUTCOME = a LONG-TERM set of observations for your garden. Photo credit: L. Barnett

Phoenix Phenology Trail Phenology English Plant & People Connections Local Ecology & Biodiversity Habitats Math Social Studies Climate & Weather Art

Ecosystems Phoenix Phenology Trail Youth/School Observation Activities Lecture Series on Seasonal Change Weekly Phenology Hikes Data & Phenology Calendars Scavenger hunts Observation activities Macro- invertebrate search Macro- invertebrate search Bird & nature walks Journaling Migration patterns Bird & nature walks Local foods Birds Blooms Butterflies Bird & nature walks Ethno- botany

Ecosystems Phoenix Phenology Trail Youth/School Observation Activities Lecture Series on Seasonal Change Weekly Phenology Hikes Data & Phenology Calendars Scavenger hunts Observation activities Macro- invertebrate search Macro- invertebrate search Bird & nature walks Journaling Migration patterns Bird & nature walks Local foods Birds Blooms Butterflies Bird & nature walks Ethno- botany

Phoenix Phenology Trail When do white oak trees leaf out in the spring and, subsequently, lose their leaves in the fall? NASA Satellite Aerial & On-the- ground Photography Schoolyard habitats Nature Centers Refuge Biologists Volunteer Groups

Phoenix Phenology Trail When are mesquite beans ready for harvest? Volunteer Groups Local Partners

Phoenix Phenology Trail 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

Phoenix Phenology Trail Example: Tucson Phenology Trail Biosphere 2 Tucson Audubon Mason Center UA Campus Arboretum Sam Hughes Neighborhood Pima Extension Offices (2) Rincon Heights Neighborhood SRER Borton Elementary School Tortolita Middle School Tumamoc Hill* Tucson Botanical Garden* Arizona Sonora Desert Museum* Total of 75 Miles, start to finish 3-10 species tagged at each *Starting soon

Docents can tell the story of the our natural world through time develop programs and discovery kits for visitors use phenology as a theme for other topics promote discovery, observation, and science inquiry

Phoenix Phenology Trail Phoenix Phenology Trail and YOU Help with or establish a few sites Create an account for Nature’s Notebook and collect regular observations Recruit at least one other person to collect data You will be recognized for your efforts!

Photo credit: L. Barnett QUESTIONS?

Phoenix Phenology Trail Site: Tohono Chul Park Question: What is the seasonal resource availability for different species of butterflies? Hypothesis: If there is an abundance of host plants, there is a high probability of finding butterfly species Testing/Methodology: Observe the number of hackberry emperor butterflies weekly throughout the year Observe the phenology of the hackberries and the number of flowers/hackberries Enter hackberry and butterfly data into Nature’s Notebook Create a host plant trial for butterfly walks Train others to collect and enter data Share data using Nature’s Notebook visualization tool, and determine phenological calendar for both species

Group Activity I - Questions Photo credit: L. Barnett What plant/animals species might be highlighted at the Maricopa Extension Office for a phenology walk?

Group Activity I - Questions Photo credit: L. Barnett What is a science question that could be developed using those selected species?

Group Activity I - Questions Photo credit: L. Barnett What resources might you need to answer the science question proposed?

Group Activity II – Program Design Photo credit: L. Barnett Help us 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!

Photo credit: L. Barnett Goals for today: Learn about Phenology and Nature’s Notebook Learn how to develop a long-term program for the Phoenix Phenology Trail Generate and share ideas for activities Learn where to find resources

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