Natures Notebook Engaging volunteers in tracking seasonal long
Nature’s Notebook: Engaging volunteers in tracking seasonal & long -term environmental change January 5, 2016 Lori. Anne Barnett Education Coordinator Alyssa Rosemartin Partnerships and Applications Specialist
Primary goal • Create a standardized, long-term dataset for use in multiple types of research. UNDERSTAND HOW SPECIES AND LANDSCAPES ARE RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE. Mission • Make phenology data, models and related information available. • Encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to observe and record phenology. Photo credit: C. Enquist
• Standard protocols • Web & mobile apps • Tools for download and visualization, with climate data • Campaigns • QA/QC • Example science and management applications published OMB Control #: 1028 -0103
• • • ~6, 200 active observers ~7, 700 active sites 6. 3+ records Lilac data from 1956 1016 taxa from 2009
Observations RECORD KEEPING
PLANT Leaves Flowers Fruits Observable life cycle events or PHENOPHASES ANIMAL >> Mammal, Bird, Snake, Insect Activity Reproduction Development Method
YES NO ?
One or more open, fresh flowers are visible on the plant. Flowers are considered "open" when the reproductive parts (male stamens or female pistils) are visible between or within unfolded or open flower parts (petals, floral tubes or sepals). Do not include wilted or dried flowers. Velvet mesquite, Prosopis velutina Image credit: Patty Guertin Do you see…open flowers?
Image credit: Wikimedia commons "Cornus florida 02 by Line 1 Mobile app interface
Data Analysis & VISUALIZATION
www. usanpn. org/data/visualizations
Phenology calendar for controlling garlic mustad Alliaria petiolata Photo credit: Jody Shimp, Illinois Department of Natural Resources from Invasive. org.
2015 – exceptional year Extremes • The western US had the earliest spring on record • The East-West difference was the greatest on record Schwartz preliminary data
Volunteer ENGAGEMENT
Who observes phenology? Photo credit: P. Warren • Scientists • Gardeners/Agriculturists • Land managers • Educators • Youth Photo credit: S. Schaffer Photo credit: C. Enquist
People.
How Will Climate Change Affect the Mid-Atlantic Region? Birds winter ranges will change – how? Where? Reduction in biodiversity oaspub. epa. gov/eimscomm. getfile? p_download_id=4011 Sea level rise 1 -2 inches per decade https: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Chesapeake_Bay Frequent and severe floods and drought
Invasive species that thrive in warmer and wetter environments could displace beneficial Mid-Atlantic species and create pest control problems.
ü Meaningful ü Exited to contribute to actual research ü Supported ü Use and share data collected Image credit: L. Barnett People. Committed to long-term participation.
Phenology TRAILS & NETWORKS
• Collaboration between multiple Nature’s Notebook monitoring sites in a region • Share a common goal for science, management, or outreach seeking answers to questions • Work together, with trained volunteers, to collect observations Image credit: L. Barnett https: //www. usanpn. org/nn/groups/pnc What is a Phenology Network?
Phenology Networks https: //www. usanpn. org/nn/groups/pnc Understanding Phenology
Randall Davies Audubon Center Santa Fe Botanical Gardens ABQ Bio. Park Botanic Gardens Valle de Oro NWR Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area Bernardo Wildlife Area Sevilleta NWR Bosque del Apache NWR Rio Grande Phenology Trail: Green represent the current RGPT Partners, yellow represent other locations that have expressed interest in joining the Trail
Phenology Networks Historic Records
Phenology Networks Community Engagement Tucson Phenology Trail Established in 2012 and covering 75 miles in the greater Tucson area, the Tucson Phenology Trail links UA to the community while encouraging: ü active, outdoor education ü asking and answering local science, management and climate questions ü connection via like-minded organizations through participation in a shared community science and research project
Indigenous Geography PHENOLOGY NETWORKS
Indigenous Geography Phenology Networks “Wouldn’t it be great to create a network for tribal college students working with their faculty to do phenological observations on their native homelands? ” -Dr. Dan Wildcat at Rising Voices I
Haskell Wetlands Phenology Walk
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs – pilot phenology project goals • Find the appropriate fit for use of phenology data on CTWS lands • Implement monitoring • Adopt and standardize existing USA-NPN protocols • Training • Develop data management techniques • Kick-off meeting Spring 2016
Tulalip Tribes & Northwest Indian College • Seeking to develop a program that combines tribal interests (cultural and natural) and student learning. • Partners: • Hibulb Cultural Center • NWIC Native Environmental Science Program • Natural Resource Team at Tulalip • NEON • USA-NPN
Challenges • Blending western into traditional approach to understanding • Data management/sharing • All data contributed to NPN belongs to the contributor, but it is released for any and all downstream use by anyone. • We are open to making policy and tech/data management changes, to support partnerships. • Consider FOIA and IT security issues.
Where to begin?
Resources www. nn. usanpn. org https: //www. usanpn. org/nn/connect/project
Project planning Developing scientific questions to answer, using Nature’s Notebook: ² What questions do you have about the seasons in your area? Photo credit: L. Barnett Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons ² What kind of observations would shed light on the question? ² How to collect, store, share and interpret observations, appropriately for the question and context? Photo credit: P. Warren
Connect with USA-NPN… • Become an observer • Discover new tools and resources • Visit a local phenology trail Lori. Anne Barnett lorianne@usanpn. org www. facebook. com/USANPN www. pinterest. com/USANPN www. twitter. com/@loriannebarnett www. instagram/tucson_phenology_trail Alyssa Rosemartin alyssa@usanpn. org
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