98th ESA Annual Meeting (August 4 -- 9, 2013)

August 03 - 09, 2013

FT 13

Plant and Animal Phenology Monitoring on the Mississippi River

Observing plant and animal life cycle events, or phenology, is a great way to increase the connection between nature and people of all ages and backgrounds. The USA National Phenology Network’s phenology monitoring program, Nature’s Notebook, is being used in thousands of locations by individuals and organizations to track phenology. Nature’s Notebook monitoring sites have been established at the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, not far from the ESA conference site. We’ll walk along a trail with marked plants at the Recreation Area, make phenology observations using Nature’s Notebook using paper data sheets and mobile apps, and discuss the variety of ways that Nature’s Notebook can be used by individuals, groups, and organizations. We will also discuss available tools (from USA-NPN) and preparations needed for establishing a phenology monitoring trail. The trail runs through floodplain forests at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. The site is dominated by forests of cottonwood, ash and silver maple and by open wetlands.