Spring Forbs Emergence Background Sheet
Background
Phenology is the study of the timing of life cycle events in animals and plants. Timing
matters! The health of species and ecosystems depends on lifecycle events happening during
the right window. Imagine if flowers bloomed before their pollinators emerged. Or if birds
migrated to feeding grounds that lacked the fruits they were intending to forage on. Rising
global temperatures and changing precipitation patterns are affecting plant phenology, even in
your own backyard. These effects have rippling effects in ecosystems.
Data Sampling & Compilation
The study extent is Cary's Fern Glen Phenology Trail. Since 2009, the Cary Staff and citizen scientists have collected observational phenology data. All year round, resident ecologist Vicky Kelly and her trained community scientists walk along the designated areas and take note of plants and their undergoing phenophase, which the National Phenology Network defines as “an observable stage or phase in the annual life cycle of a plant or animal that can be defined by a start and end point”), following the NPN's protocols and submitting this data onto their database. Collection remains ongoing. These data include averaged first-recorded emergence dates for each plant type on the Fern Glen Phenology Trail.
Data Source: Data were provided by the USA National Phenology Network and the many participants who contribute to its Nature’s Notebook program at Cary Institute. Nature’s Notebook at Cary Institute is a local implementation of the USA-NPN Nature’s Notebook program.