When we see leaves falling from the trees, this tells us that it’s autumn. When the flowers begin blooming, it’s spring. Studying these plant responses to climatic cues is called phenology.
Prior to the conference, I attended a half-day workshop on phenology given by members of the California Phenology Project (CPP).
The CPP is a huge study tracking plants over the entire state of California. One of the project leaders, Prof Susan Mazer and her student Brian Haggerty, explained the logistics of organising and keeping track of this massive project in the workshop.
Prior to the conference, I attended a half-day workshop on phenology given by members of the California Phenology Project (CPP).
The CPP is a huge study tracking plants over the entire state of California. One of the project leaders, Prof Susan Mazer and her student Brian Haggerty, explained the logistics of organising and keeping track of this massive project in the workshop.
So far the CPP has 650 observers tracking 30 species for a total of 950 plants. In 2011-2012, 250,000 observations were made! That's a lot of people power! Some preliminary results are already in, and there are obvious differences in flowering time across elevations.
Using the collections of cycads in the RBG Sydney, I plan to start a cycad phenology project. Together with volunteers, we will track the reproduction/coning times of our cycads. As we collect records over many years we’ll be able to detect if climate change results in a shift in reproduction time.
Above are a few pics of New Orleans — I love the intricate lattice work and the hanging plants.
Using the collections of cycads in the RBG Sydney, I plan to start a cycad phenology project. Together with volunteers, we will track the reproduction/coning times of our cycads. As we collect records over many years we’ll be able to detect if climate change results in a shift in reproduction time.
Above are a few pics of New Orleans — I love the intricate lattice work and the hanging plants.
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