understanding seasonal and long-term changes around us through phenology nature’s rhythms:...
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Understanding seasonal and long-term changes around us through PHENOLOGY
Nature’s rhythms:
LoriAnne Barnett
Education Coordinator
Important things we’ll discuss today:What is PHENOLOGYWhat are plant and animal life cycles?What do we know about seasonal
changes in the desert?Why do we have certain plants and
animals here?What can Nature’s Notebook help us
understand?
What’s PhenologyPhenology refers to recurring plant and animal life cycle stages, such as leafing and flowering, maturation of agricultural plants, emergence of insects, and migration of birds. It is also the study of these seasonal changes, especially their timing and relationships with weather and climate.
http://ed.ted.com/lessons/phenology-and-nature-s-shifting-rhythms-regina-brinker
What do I know about …
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Climate & Weather?
Climate is what you expect,Weather is what you get.
-Mark Twain
ClimateLong-term average of daily
weather in a given area.• The average annual rainfall
in Phoenix, AZ is ~8.0 inches.
• The average July high temp is 106°F.
• December is the average coolest month at 44-66°F .
WeatherDay-to-day changes in the
Earth’s atmosphere.
• It rained last Thursday. • There was a hard frost on
January 15 in Tucson.• Sunday will be sunny and
96°F.
It is all about time …
Why is climate important to ecology?
Ecology
Climate drives what occurs where, what lives where, and how those species respond to their environment.
Ecology
Distribution
Abundance
BIOMES –World’s Major Communities Classified by major vegetation, adaptations to environment
Aquatic
Grassland
Desert
Forest
Tundra
http://alliance.la.asu.edu/maps/AZ_biomes_web.pdf
Life Zones
Biodiversity
Acer rubrum (red maple); Photo credit: D. Hartel
Observing the same individual through the seasons
PLANT LIFE CYCLE
GREEN GROWTHRequires Optimum Conditions
PLANT LIFE CYCLE
FLOWER
Requires Optimum Conditions
PLANT LIFE CYCLE
SET SEED Requires Optimum Conditions
American kestrelFalco sparverius
Reproduction
©Wikimedia Commons
©Wikimedia Commons
Reproduction
Active
CompletePupa
INSECT
www.askabiologist.asu.edu
LARVA
PUPA
ADULT
Reproduction Development MethodActivity
ANIMAL >> Mammal, Bird, Snake, Insect
Flowers FruitsLeaves
PLANT
Observable life cycle events orPHENOPHASES
UNDERSTAND HOW SPECIES AND LANDSCAPES ARE
RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
Primary goal• Create a standardized, long-term
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.
Photo credit: C. Enquist
Phot
o cr
edit:
L. R
oman
o
MethodActivity
ANIMAL
Active individuals
Feeding
Individuals at a feeding station
Flowers FruitsLeaves
Leaves Colored leaves
Open flowers Recent seed or fruit drop
PLANT
PHENOPHASES
YES
NO
?
Leaves
Flowers
Fruits
Gambel Oak
Acorn Woodpecker
Photo from All About Birds
Breaking leaf buds
Leaves
Increasing leaf size Colored leaves
Flowers or Flower Buds
Open Flowers
Fruits
Ripe Fruits
Recent fruit or seed drop
DECIDUOUS PLANT PHENOPHASES
Class Assignment!Create a Nature’s Notebook
phenology monitoring project!
①Saguaro
②Candy barrel cactus
③Buck-horn cholla
④Tree cholla
⑤Velvet Mesquite
⑥Yellow paloverde
⑦Desert ironwood
⑧Brittlebush
⑨Beavertail pricklypear
Identify:
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Homework Assignment!
Nature Journal Worksheet
Important things we’ll discuss today:What is PHENOLOGYWhat are plant and animal life cycles?What do we know about seasonal
changes in the desert?Why do we have certain plants and
animals here?What can Nature’s Notebook help us
understand?
Connect with USA-NPN…
• Sign up for a phenology quarterly e-newsletter
• Become an observer
• Discover new tools and resources
LoriAnne [email protected]
www.facebook.com/USANPN
www.pinterest.com/USANPN
www.twitter.com/@loriannebarnett