Phenology 101 with Erin Posthumus - North Carolina Wildlife Federation

Phenology is nature’s calendar—when cherry trees bloom, when a robin builds its nest and when leaves turn colors in the fall. Phenology is a key component of life on earth. Many birds time their nesting so that eggs hatch when insects are available to feed nestlings. Likewise, insect emergence is often synchronized with leaf out in host plants. Changes in phenological events like flowering and animal migration are among the most sensitive biological responses to climate change. Across the world, many spring events are occurring earlier—and fall events are happening later—than they did in the past. However, not all species are changing at the same rate or direction, leading to mismatches. How plants and animals respond can help us predict whether their populations will grow or shrink – making phenology a “leading indicator” of climate change impacts.

Erin Posthumus coordinates outreach and communication efforts for the USA-NPN and Nature's Notebook. She is also the USA-NPN's liaison to the US Fish & Wildlife Service and is working with National Wildlife Refuges across the country to implement phenology monitoring to meet their resource management goals.

Learn more about NCWF Community Wildlife Chapters at www.ncwf.org/chapters

#biology #nature #wildlife #conservation