phenology walks and trails as a community and scientific resource
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Phenology Walks and Trails as a Community and Scientific Resource
• Multi-taxa, National-scale• Plant and animal phenology
observation program• Citizen science• Core protocols for research
Nature’s Notebookfor scientists, naturalists,
volunteers, land managers, park
rangers, and YOU!
Phenology Trails
What is a Phenology Walk? A phenology walk is an observation site, created online in Nature’s Notebook and on the ground, that includes a series of tagged plants and a list of animals to observe. Often phenology walks are created along an existing trail at a park, refuge, school, or other open space. Combine walks to create a virtual trail…
Photo credit: L. Romano Nature’s Notebook Plant Tag Example
Phenology TrailsWhat is a Phenology Trail? A phenology trail is a linked network of Nature’s Notebook phenology walks. Each walk has at least two plant and/or animal individuals tagged for data collection.
Linked together, these sites provide participants with places to visit, enjoy nature, collect data, and learn about supporting
organizations.
Phenology Trails
Why a trail?• Interesting way to link
phenology monitoring activities in a region
• Easy to model• Develops science and outreach
connections between organizations with similar mission
• Science, Phenology, and Climate Change Education opportunity at the local, regional, national, and global scale
Facilitate, Network, Educate – Create Connections
Organizations collaborate/share resources to collect observations
Phenology Trails
Develop a regional science/research/management question
Data collected is useful to answer the question
Participants help assess the data and answer the question
Data is valuable to the broader USA National Phenology Network
Trained participants collect observations at multiple sites
Phenology Trails
Example questions:• How is the phenology of selected species responding to
elevational gradients and the urban environment across the study sites?
• When is the best time to harvest mesquite beans for dehydrating, (knowing that those remaining on the ground too long may become toxic)?
• Which bird species are visiting the wildlife refuge prior to wetland restoration, during restoration, and after restoration? How do those species numbers compare to other regional sites?
• What plants receive the most visits from pollinators in demonstration gardens across the sites?
• How many host milkweed plants, across sites, are used by migrating monarch butterflies? And when do the monarchs arrive?
Phenology Trails
Phenology
English
Plant & People Connections Local Ecology
& Biodiversity
Habitats
Phenology Trails
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• Tumamoc Hill • Arizona Sonora Desert Museum*• Tucson Botanical Garden*
Total of 75 Miles, start to finish3-10 species tagged at each
*Coming online soon
Phenology Trails
Tucson Phenology Trailspecies being monitored• Jojoba• Velvet mesquite• Yellow paloverde• Blue paloverde• Ocotillo• Creosote• Florida hopbush• Saguaro• Penstemon (parryi)• Texas Ranger• Desert Ironwood
Tagged at each site on the trail.
Phenology Trails
When do white oak trees leaf out in the spring and, subsequently, lose their leaves in the
fall?
NASA SatelliteAerial & On-the-
ground Photography
Schoolyard habitats
Nature Centers
Refuge Biologists
Volunteer Groups
Phenology Trails can:
Link community groups Help with research and management questions
Engage volunteer groups
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Existing Phenology Walks & Trails:
Tucson ✪ Phoenix ✪ Denver ✪ AlbuquerquePortland ✪ New York
Thank you!
LoriAnne [email protected]
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 [email protected]
@loriannebarnett