National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Northeast Temperate Network
Watching, Photographing,
and Listening:
Monitoring Phenology to Detect
the Effects of Climate Change
Brian R. Mitchell, NETN Program Manager
River Monitoring and Climate Change in Massachusetts
Leominster, MA May 18, 2011
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Outline
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Background
Goals & Objectives
Timeline
Collaboration
Habitats, species, and
phenophases
Methods
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Observation
Photographic
Acoustic
Integration
Conclusions
Red-eyed Vireo
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Photo by Kendal Brown
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Background
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NPS Natural Resource
Challenge
Inventory and Monitoring
Networks
Vital Signs
Northeast Temperate Network
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13 park units
24 vital signs including:
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Phenology
Climate
Water quantity & quality
Stream macroinvertebrates
Estuarine water quality
Wetland vegetation
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Background
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What is phenology?
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Recurring plant and animal life cycle stages, like flowering,
leaf fall, migration, and hibernation
Ice-out and other physical processes are NOT phenology
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Background
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Why are most people unfamiliar with phenology?
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Long tradition of use for agriculture
Viewed as static over most of recorded history
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Background
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Miller-Rushing et al. 2006. American Journal of Botany
Why does phenology
matter?
Local expression of
global change
 Phenological
mismatch is
“Phenology…
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 Migration feeding
perhaps
the simplest
 Breeding resources
process
in which to
 Invasion dynamics of
track
changes in the
pest species
ecology
of species in
 Affects to
long-term
response
climate
data sets
change.”
- IPCC 2007
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Background
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Monitoring phenology
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Helps us understand effects of climate change
Provides data needed for climate change adaptation
Educates and involves the public
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Goals
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Determine trend in
phenology of key
species, to assist
resource managers
with the detection and
mitigation of the
effects of climate
change on natural
resources
Interest and educate
visitors and volunteers
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Objectives
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Maintain list of key species
of science or management
interest
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Foundation species
Invasive species
Vulnerable to mismatch
Early spring phenophases
Special interest
Detect change in phenophase timing or abundance
Correlate phenology with
climate data
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Timeline – 2007 and 2008
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Appalachian Trail Phenology
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Initiated 2007
Elevation and latitudinal transects
Monitor focal taxa and habitats,
especially at edges of ranges
Track trends in invasive species
Compare to historical record
Strong volunteer component
Draw on methods from European
phenology networks, GLOBE, and
Long-Term Ecological Research
programs
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AM ERI CA
Timeline – 2009
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Then a funny thing happened…
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Abe Miller-Rushing and USANPN
Discussions about wildlife
phenology
Multi-method approach takes
shape
Agreed to work together to
develop plant and animal
monitoring methods
Outreach to Appalachian
Mountain Club and others
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Timeline – 2009
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Pilot observational monitoring
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USGS Status and Trends
proposal
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Acadia NP
Appalachian NST
Boston Harbor Islands NRA
PhenoCam (Richardson)
University of Vermont (Donovan)
Paperwork Reduction Act rabbit
hole
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Affects casual observers
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Timeline – 2010
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Additional funding arrives
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Field work and protocol
development
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USGS S&T funding
NPS Northeast Region
Extra NETN support
Acoustic monitoring
Observational monitoring
Northeast Regional Phenology
Network meeting
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Regional goals and objectives
Habitat-based working groups
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AM ERI CA
Timeline – 2011 and 2012
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Continue collaborations
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Continue field work
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USA-NPN
NE-RPN
California Phenology Project
Observational monitoring
Integration with automated
methods
Complete monitoring protocol
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Observational procedures linked
to USA-NPN
Acoustic and photo methods in
progress
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AM ERI CA
Collaboration – NE-RPN
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Collaborate on long-term
phenology monitoring
and education in the
Northeast
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Understand the local
and regional effects of
climate change
Motivate citizens to
make a positive impact
Protect natural
resources
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AM ERI CA
Collaboration – NE-RPN
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Promote collaboration
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Regionally and
nationally
Share methods and
results
Encourage citizen
science
Cooperate to train
observers
Secure funding
Evaluate efficacy
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Habitats
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Core Habitats
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Hardwood Forest
Vernal Pool
Additional Habitats (1 – 3
parks each)
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Freshwater Wetland
Grassland
Rocky Coast
Salt Marsh
Alpine and Subalpine
Spruce / Fir Forest
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Species
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Hardwood Forest
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Red Maple
Sugar Maple
White Wood Aster
Garlic Mustard
Eastern Tent Caterpillar
Ovenbird
Vernal Pool
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Spotted Salamander
Spring Peeper
Wood Frog
Photo by Jack Dermid
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Species
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Freshwater Wetland
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Red Maple
Purple Loosestrife
Marsh Marigold
Wood Frog
Great Blue Heron
Grassland
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Rough-stemmed
Goldenrod
Common Milkweed
Monarch Butterfly
Red-winged Blackbird
Bobolink
Rocky Coast
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Beach Rose
Rockweed
Green Crab
Common Loon
Common Eider
Salt Marsh
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Sea Lavender
Seaside Goldenrod
Black Rush
Great Blue Heron
American Black Duck
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Species
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Lakes
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Spatterdock
Mayfly
Common Loon
Great Blue Heron
Tree Swallow
Urban/Suburban
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Common Dandelion
Common Lilac
Red Maple
Spring Peeper
American Robin
Beach/Dune
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Beach Pea
Beach Rose
Horseshoe Crab
Common Tern
Willet
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Rivers/Streams?
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Macroalgae?
Brook Trout?
Dragonfly?
Common Merganser?
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Phenophases
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1
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Subset from USA-NPN
Base on questions
Supplement with speciesspecific photographic guides
Currently developing NETN
phenophase lists
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Casual observers
Staff and volunteers
Automated recorders
All
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Phenophases
Wood frog egg mass
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Animal phenophases vary
by species
Spotted Salamander
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Spring peeper
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Egg masses
Vocalizations
Wood frog
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Adults, vocalizations,
and egg masses
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Methods – Observation
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Vision
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Status
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Casual visitors fill out log
forms
Methods drafted and
ready for testing
Awaiting Interior and
OMB approval
Challenges
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Recruiting participants
Maintaining sites and
entering data
Data quality
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AM ERI CA
Methods – Observation
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Vision
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Status
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Staff or volunteers collect
data throughout season
Methods drafted and
piloted
Currently used in 5 parks
Challenges
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Recruiting participants
Getting sufficient site visits
to be useful
Data quality
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Methods – Photographic
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Vision
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Status
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Casual visitors use picture
posts and submit photos
online
Program is up and running
(http://picturepost.unh.edu/)
No posts in parks yet
Challenges
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Approval for installation
Management and
interpretation of photos
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Methods – Photographic
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Vision
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Status
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Time lapse PlantCam
systems to monitor plants
and trees
AMC tested in 2010
NPS beginning to evaluate
Challenges
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Capturing all phenophases
Changing camera specs
Management and
interpretation of photos
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AM ERI CA
Methods – Photographic
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Vision
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Status
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Webcam-based Phenocam
system for forest stands and
indivdual trees
Program is up and running
(http://phenocam.unh.edu/)
NPS site at Acadia
Challenges
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Equipment costs
Needs infrastructure
Management and
interpretation of photos
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Methods – Acoustic
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Vision
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Status
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Schools build and deploy
automated recorders and
then analyze data
Evaluating Olympus ARU
against Song Meter
Challenges
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$250 per unit still out of
reach of schools
Calibration of mics
Automated data analysis
Data archiving
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AM ERI CA
Methods – Acoustic
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Vision
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Status
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Staff deploy Song Meters
and analyze data
Deployed at 12 sites in
four parks
Similar (larger) project in
Southeast Coast parks
Challenges
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Equipment costs
Staff time for deployment
Automated data analysis
Data archiving
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AM ERI CA
Methods – Integration
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Vision
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Purpose
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At least one site per park uses multiple
methods
Estimate reliability of observer data
Evaluate effects of changes in observer
methods
Automated methods will be gold standard…
but gold is expensive!
Status
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Analyzing 2010 observer and acoustic data
Will collocate observers and automated
methods in 2011
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Conclusions
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Phenology is the local expression of climate change
Phenology monitoring
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Educates the public
Involves the public in stewardship
Provides information needed for adaptation
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Conclusions
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Collaboration is essential
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Nationally consistent
methods make data
comparable
No single organization can
collect enough data
Work together to solve
challenges
Automated tools allow for
evaluation of observerbased methods
Full protocol expected 2012
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Northeast Temperate Network
54 Elm Street, Woodstock, VT 05091
http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/netn/
802-457-3368
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
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