Patterns of phenology for plants and animals control ecosystem processes, determine land surface properties, control biosphere-atmosphere interactions, and affect food production, health, conservation, and recreation. Although phenological data and models have applications related to scientific research, education and outreach, agriculture, tourism and recreation, human health, and natural resource conservation and management, until recently there was no coordinated effort to understand phenology at the national scale in the United States. The USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN; www.usanpn.org) is an emerging and exciting partnership between federal agencies, the academic community, and the general public to establish a national science and monitoring initiative focused on phenology as a tool to understand how plants, animals and landscapes respond to climate variation, and as a tool to facilitate human adaptation to ongoing and potential future climate change. USA-NPN will (1) integrate with other formal and informal science observation networks (e.g., NEON, LTER, Ameriflux, NPS I & M, OBFS, GEO, public gardens, conservation groups) including regional phenology networks; (2) utilize and enhance remote sensing products, emerging technologies and data management capabilities; and (3) capitalize on myriad educational opportunities and a new readiness of the public to participate in investigations of nature on a national scale.
Results/Conclusions
The National Coordinating Office of the USA-NPN began operation in August 2007 at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. The first year of operation of USA-NPN produced many new phenology products and venues for phenology research and citizen involvement. A new web-page allows on-line data entry and access to new phenology products. Program developments include the plant phenology program, with 200 vetted local, regional, national plant species with descriptions and monitoring protocols; Project BudBurst, a Field Campaign for Citizen Scientists with 3500 registered observers monitoring 4500 plants; and the establishment of the Northeast Regional Phenology Network (www.nerpn.org). USA-NPN is developing a wildlife phenology program for the 2010 season, and recently established a Biophysical Program and an on-line educational clearing house to teach phenology in the classroom. Future directions include integration with national and international, formal and informal science networks; enhancing availability of remote sensing of phenology products and services; and improvement of tools for data entry, download and visualization.
