Training Materials
Recording Plant Observations
1. Select a site
2. Select plant and animal species
3. Select individual plants
4. Mark your site and plants
5. Record your observations of animals
6. Record your observations of plants
7. Report your data online
www.usanpn.org/participate/guidelines
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• Plants: repeat observations of the same
individual plants
• Animals: create a checklist for your site,
look and listen for all species each time
you visit
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Observation considerations
•
•
•
•
Phenophases to observe
Frequency of observations
Special considerations
Site visit details
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Observation considerations
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Phenophases to observe:
Check plant profile page:
http://www.usanpn.org/species_search
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Phenophases to observe:
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Phenophases to observe:
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Red maple
Red maple-1
My Back Yard
2011
USA-NPN fan
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Red maple
Red maple-1
My Back Yard
2011
USA-NPN fan
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Red maple
Red maple-1
My Back Yard
2011
USA-NPN fan
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What to look for and record
• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is
occurring
• No (N) – if the phenophase is
not occurring
• Uncertain (?) – if you are not
certain whether the phenophase
is occurring
• Do not record anything if you did
not check for this phenophase
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What to look for and record
• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is
occurring
• No (N) – if the phenophase is
not occurring
• Uncertain (?) – if you are not
certain whether the phenophase
is occurring
• Do not record anything if you did
not check for this phenophase
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What to look for and record
• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is
occurring
• No (N) – if the phenophase is
not occurring
• Uncertain (?) – if you are not
certain whether the phenophase
is occurring
• Do not record anything if you did
not check for this phenophase
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What to look for and record
• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is
occurring
• No (N) – if the phenophase is
not occurring
• Uncertain (?) – if you are not
certain whether the phenophase
is occurring
• Do not record anything if you did
not check for this phenophase
16
What to look for and record
• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is
occurring
• No (N) – if the phenophase is
not occurring
• Uncertain (?) – if you are not
certain whether the phenophase
is occurring
• Do not record anything if you did
not check for this phenophase
17
What to look for and record
• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is
occurring
• No (N) – if the phenophase is
not occurring
• Uncertain (?) – if you are not
certain whether the phenophase
is occurring
• Do not record anything if you did
not check for this phenophase
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A quick example:
Red maple
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A quick example:
Red maple
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A quick example:
Red maple
3/1/2011
>10
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A quick example:
Red Maple
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A quick example:
Red Maple
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3/1/2011
>10
24
3/1/2011
>10
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A quick example:
Red maple
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3/1/2011
>10
>10
P
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28
3/1/2011
>10
>10
P
P
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A quick example:
Red maple
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3/1/2011
>10
>10
P
P
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Cover Sheet
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35
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Frequency of observations
• As often as possible
• At least once a week
• All observations are valuable!
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Time of day of observations
• Convenient for you
• Consistently
• For species on Nature’s Notebook list,
during the day
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What if I missed a phenophase?
• Make a note of it in the comments section
of your data form
2/25/2011
>10
3/9/2011
>10
5-24
5-24
Flowers appeared and wilted between 2/25 and 3/9
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What if a phenophase isn’t occurring?
• Continue to watch
• Make a note of it in the comments section of your data
form
9/25/2011
10/9/2011
50-74
50-74
No fruits produced this season
5-24
95+
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Keep looking for a phenophase, even
after it has ended
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Keep looking for a phenophase, even
after it has ended
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Keep looking for a phenophase, even
after it has ended
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