PS 64-67
Foundations of an ongoing citizen science monitoring plant phenology at Pepperwood in Sonoma Couny, California
Phenological observations are crucial to assessing the biological impacts of climate change. However, a large number of observations are needed, representing diverse taxa, and they must span a period of several years. These requirements are often difficult to meet given the constraints of academic research. Citizen science research projects are an alternative way to collect these phenological data while simultaneously increasing public science literacy and engagement. In partnership with the USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN) and California Phenology Project (CPP), we established a long-term, volunteer-based plant phenology monitoring program at a preserve in Northern California to meet both of these goals.
Results/Conclusions
In the first year of regular phenology monitoring at Pepperwood, volunteers submitted over 16,000 observations to the Nature's Notebook online database. This includes phenological data collected during the most severe drought on record for Northern California, establishing critical climate and plant response data that will be compared to future years. These data can also be analyzed by comparing the same taxa across multiple sites within the statewide CPP network as a geographic proxy for climate change. Significant relationships between plant phenology and climatic conditions have been detected using this method. For example, Baccharis pilularis fruit ripening is delayed by high monthly maximum temperatures in spring (p<0.05, N=29). Accumulated growing degree days and accumulated precipitation are also suggested as significant climate variables to track along with the phenology of observed plants.