Nature’s Notebook:
Engaging volunteers in tracking seasonal &
long-term environmental change
January 5, 2016
LoriAnne Barnett
Education Coordinator
Alyssa Rosemartin
Partnerships and Applications Specialist
Primary goal
• Create a standardized, long-term
dataset for use in multiple types
of research.
UNDERSTAND HOW SPECIES AND
LANDSCAPES ARE RESPONDING TO
CLIMATE CHANGE.
Mission
• Make phenology data, models
and related information
available.
• Encourage people of all ages and
backgrounds to observe and
record phenology.
Photo credit: C. Enquist
• Standard protocols
• Web & mobile apps
• Tools for download and
visualization, with climate data
• Campaigns
• QA/QC
• Example science and
management applications
published
OMB Control #: 1028-0103
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~6,200 active observers
~7,700 active sites
6.3+ records
Lilac data from 1956
1016 taxa from 2009
Observations
RECORD KEEPING
PLANT
Leaves
Flowers
Fruits
Observable life cycle events or
PHENOPHASES
ANIMAL >> Mammal, Bird, Snake, Insect
Activity
Reproduction
Development
Method
One or more open, fresh flowers
are visible on the plant. Flowers
are considered "open" when the
reproductive parts (male stamens
or female pistils) are visible
between or within unfolded or
open flower parts (petals, floral
tubes or sepals). Do not include
wilted or dried flowers.
Velvet mesquite, Prosopis velutina
Image credit: Patty Guertin
Do you see…open flowers?
Image credit: Wikimedia commons "Cornus florida 02 by Line1
Mobile app interface
Data Analysis &
VISUALIZATION
www.usanpn.org/data/visualizations
Phenology calendar for controlling garlic mustad
Alliaria petiolata
Photo credit: Jody Shimp, Illinois Department of
Natural Resources from Invasive.org.
2015 – exceptional year
Extremes
• The western US had the earliest spring on record
• The East-West difference was the greatest on record
Schwartz preliminary data
Volunteer
ENGAGEMENT
Who observes phenology?
Photo credit: P. Warren
• Scientists
• Gardeners/Agriculturists
• Land managers
• Educators
• Youth
Photo credit: S. Schaffer
Photo credit: C. Enquist
People.
How Will Climate Change Affect the
Mid-Atlantic Region?
Birds winter ranges will change – how? Where?
Reduction in biodiversity
oaspub.epa.gov/eims/eimscomm.getfile?p_download_id=4011
Sea level
rise 1-2
inches per
decade
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_Bay
Frequent
and severe
floods and
drought
Invasive species that thrive in warmer and wetter
environments could displace beneficial Mid-Atlantic
species and create pest control problems.
 Meaningful
 Exited to
contribute
to actual
research
 Supported
 Use and
share data
collected
Image credit: L. Barnett
People.
Committed to long-term participation.
Phenology
TRAILS & NETWORKS
• Collaboration between multiple Nature’s Notebook
monitoring sites in a region
• Share a common goal for science, management, or
outreach seeking answers to questions
• Work together, with trained volunteers, to collect
observations
Image credit: L. Barnett
Image credit: L. Barnett
https://www.usanpn.org/nn/groups/pnc
What is a Phenology Network?
Phenology Networks
https://www.usanpn.org/nn/groups/pnc
Understanding Phenology
Randall Davies Audubon Center
Santa Fe Botanical Gardens
ABQ BioPark Botanic Gardens
Valle de Oro NWR
Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area
Bernardo Wildlife Area
Sevilleta NWR
Bosque del Apache NWR
Rio Grande
Phenology Trail:
Green represent the
current RGPT Partners,
yellow represent other
locations that have
expressed interest in
joining the Trail
Phenology Networks
Historic Records
Phenology Networks
Community Engagement
Tucson
Phenology
Trail
Established in 2012 and covering 75 miles in the greater Tucson area, the
Tucson Phenology Trail links UA to the community while encouraging:

active, outdoor education

asking and answering local science, management and climate questions

connection via like-minded organizations through participation in a
shared community science and research project
Indigenous Geography
PHENOLOGY NETWORKS
Indigenous Geography Phenology Networks
“Wouldn’t it be great to create a network for tribal college students
working with their faculty to do phenological observations on their native
homelands?” -Dr. Dan Wildcat at Rising Voices I
Haskell Wetlands Phenology Walk
Confederated Tribes of
Warm Springs – pilot
phenology project goals
• Find the appropriate fit for use of
phenology data on CTWS lands
• Implement monitoring
• Adopt and standardize existing
USA-NPN protocols
• Training
• Develop data management
techniques
• Kick-off meeting Spring 2016
Tulalip Tribes & Northwest Indian
College
• Seeking to develop a program that combines tribal
interests (cultural and natural) and student learning.
• Partners:
• Hibulb Cultural Center
• NWIC Native Environmental Science Program
• Natural Resource Team at Tulalip
• NEON
• USA-NPN
Challenges
• Blending western into traditional approach to
understanding
• Data management/sharing
• All data contributed to NPN belongs to the
contributor, but it is released for any and all
downstream use by anyone.
• We are open to making policy and tech/data
management changes, to support partnerships.
• Consider FOIA and IT security issues.
Resources
www.nn.usanpn.org
https://www.usanpn.org/nn/connect/project
Project planning
Developing scientific questions to answer, using Nature’s
Notebook:
 What questions do you
have about the seasons
in your area?
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Photo credit: L. Barnett
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
 What kind of
observations would
shed light on the
question?
 How to collect, store,
share and interpret
observations,
appropriately for the
question and context?
Photo credit: P. Warren
Connect with USA-NPN…
• Become an observer
• Discover new tools and
resources
• Visit a local phenology
trail
LoriAnne Barnett
lorianne@usanpn.org
www.facebook.com/USANPN
www.pinterest.com/USANPN
www.twitter.com/@loriannebarnett
www.instagram/tucson_phenology_trail
Alyssa Rosemartin
alyssa@usanpn.org