Transcript Learn more about how to PlantWatch in Nova Scotia.

PlantWatch Nova Scotia
Melanie Priesnitz, NS PlantWatch Coordinator
Citizen Scientists help Scientists discover how Climate Change affects nature
PlantWatch, Citizen Scientists,
Climate Change and what it means to Nova Scotia
How YOU can get involved…
What is a scientist?
Traditionally images
such as this may come to mind
Not all scientists wear lab coats!
‘Citizen scientists’
Integrating science into the community
Benefits of Citizen Scientist programs
• Track trends & data on local, regional and national levels
• An activity for all ages, great for grandparents and kids
• Great way to become familiar with local flora & fauna
• Improve partnerships and networks within communities
What is PlantWatch?
Joint Effort:
+ institutions/organizations in all 13 provinces/territories
Purpose: involves Canadians of all ages in the
observation of nature
helps scientists discover how and why plants are being
affected by change climate
encourages stewardship and respect for nature,
raises awareness of science and the environment
What do PlantWatch
citizen scientists do?
Go outside in spring and observe:
first and mid bloom dates of flowers
leafing out dates of trees
record this information on a simple form
report their findings to the PlantWatch website
Phenology
Phrenology
Phenology –The recording of data pertaining to the natural
world and how it is affected by climatic conditions.
Swedish born botanist and father of
plant taxonomy, Carl Linneaus was
one of the first in the world to begin
recording phenology in the 1700’s.
NS School kids in the 1920’s
recorded phenological events
Dr. Alexander Howard McKay, Superintendent of
Schools NS 1900’s, decided every school child should
become a naturalist!
For 23 years school kids recorded over 200 natural
events annually. We still have the data today!
How to record PlantWatch phenology
Select a site – watch same
site each year
Mark your territory – so you don’t
forget
Get outside – watch spring happen
Record the data – the form is simple
Send in via mail/internet –
you’re done (until next year…)
PlantWatch Observation Form
Name of Plant: _____________________________________
Flowering Phase
First Bloom (month/day/year): __________________________
Mid Bloom (month/day/year): __________________________
Leafing
Leafing (month/day/year): _____________________________
Plant Location
Location Name:
_____________________________
Closest city or town:
_____________________________
Province/Territory:
_____________________________
Latitude: ___ ° ___ ‘ ___ “ N Longitude: __ ° __ ‘ __ “ W
Elevation (if known): ___________(metres)
Habitat Type
[ ] Deciduous forest [ ] Marsh, bog, wetland
[ ] Coniferous forest [ ] Farmland
[ ] Mixed forest [ ] Residential garden/lawn
[ ] Tundra/barren [ ] Schoolyard
[ ] Grassland
Optional Details
Sun Exposure: [ ] sunny and open area [ ] in half shade [ ] shaded all day
Plant is located on: [ ] flat area [ ] gentle slope [ ] steep slope
Slope faces (circle one): N NE E SE S SW W NW
15 Species in NS to Watch
Coltsfoot
Mayflower
Trembling Aspen
Dandelion
Wild Strawberry
Bearberry
Red Maple
Weeping Forsythia
Tamarack/Larch
Bluets
Star-flower
Clintonia
Rhodora
Purple Lilac
Bunchberry
(Tussilago farfara)
(Epigaea repens)
(Populus tremuloides)
(Taraxacum officinale)
(Fragaria virginiana)
(Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
(Acer rubrum)
(Forsythia suspensa)
(Larix laricina)
(Houstonia caerulia)
(Trientalis borealis)
(Clintonia borealis)
(Rhododendron canadense)
(Syringa vulgaris)
(Cornus canadensis)
Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)
Also known as: crackerberry, dwarf cornel
Bloom time: May - June
General - Low, woodland plant, grows in patches.
Flowers & Fruits - Flowers are tiny and green or
cream-coloured, each plant has a single cluster
with four showy white bracts that look like petals.
The fruits are red berries that appear later in the
summer.
The flowers exhibit explosion pollination!
To Observe
When flowers open, black
central dots are visible,
(stigmas).
First bloom: when the first
flowers are open in the
observed plants (3 places)
Mid bloom: when 50% of the
flowers are open in the
observed plants.
Select a typical 1m patch of
plants. Watch the same
plants each year.
Larch (Larix laricina)
Also known as: tamarack, hackmatack
Bloom time: April - May
General - Medium-sized conifer; grows up to 20 m
tall. Larch is our only native conifer that sheds its
needles annually.
Flowers & Fruits - Male and female cones can
appear on the same branches, observe male cones
only for PlantWatch.
Male cones: small, less noticeable mounds of
yellow-brown pollen sacs that wither and fall after
shedding pollen.
Female cones: pinkish-purple mini-cones about 1
cm long.
To Observe
First bloom: when the first
pollen is being shed by the
male cones on the observed
tree (3 places).
Mid bloom: when 50% of the
male cones are abundantly
shedding pollen.
Leafing: when the tufts of
needles are lengthening
considerably and starting to
spread open at the tip (3
places).
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Also known as: swamp maple
Bloom time: March - April
General - Small to medium-sized deciduous tree
with grey bark. Flowers appear before the leaves.
Flowers & Fruits - Flowers emerge from dark red
buds in early spring and form dense, short-stalked
clusters.
Male and female flowers usually grow on different
branches of the same tree, but they can appear on
separate trees.
Male flowers are red and long
Female flowers are yellowish green and small
Observe only the male flowers for PlantWatch.
To Observe
First bloom: when the first
male flowers are open on the
observed tree (3 places).
Mid bloom: when 50% of the
flowers are open on the
observed tree.
Leafing: when the first leaves
push out of the bud and
unfold completely (3 places).
Remember look for male
blooms before leaves
To Observe
1 metre square patch of
dandelions at least 10m away
from buildings, watch same
patch each year
First bloom: when the first
flowers are open in the
observed plants
Mid bloom: when the first
seed-head opens, forming a
white, fluffy ball of seeds
Make sure your patch is not
mowed until you have made
your observations.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Also known as: pis-en-lit in french
Bloom time: April – June
+ sporadically throughout season
General - Common plant, introduced to Canada
from Europe for food and medicine.
Flowers & Fruits - Flower heads are yellow and
the flower stem is hollow and leafless.
After full bloom, white, fluffy, round balls of seeds
appear. The parachuted seeds are blown away
by the wind.
How to get started
Go to: http://www.plantwatch.ca
Click on ‘submit observations’
and register yourself as an observer
http://botanicalgardens.acadiau.ca
Who looks at the PlantWatch data?
Researchers across Canada studying
climate change and phenology
Liette Vassieur, Robert L. Guscott, Peta J. Mudie. 2001 Monitoring of
Spring Flower Phenology in Nova Scotia: Comparison over the last
century. Humboldt Field Research Institute Northeastern Naturalist
8(4):393-402
Elisabeth Beaubien. 2003 Plant Phenology in Western Canada: Trends
and links to the view from Space. EMAN Environmental Assessment and
Monitoring Journal. Volume 88 Nos. 1-3
Melanie Priesnitz 2010? Plant Phenology in Nova Scotia – data trends
from 1810-2010. . . For this to become a reality I need YOUR help!
NS PlantWatch Data collected to date
R
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Pu
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1892-1923
1996-2001
2002
2003
2004
B
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f lo
Tr
em
w
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bl
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A
sp
en
R
ed
M
ap
le
170
165
160
155
150
145
140
135
130
125
120
115
110
105
100
95
90
M
First Bloom date (Julian calendar)
SUMMARY OF MEAN BLOOM TIMES FROM 1892 - 2004
PlantWatch Species
Atlantic Canada & Climate Change
Atlantic Canada may not see the same warming as
central, western, and northern Canada, however
predictions show that secondary effects may be
particularly significant:
•rising sea levels
•extreme weather events
•more sever storms
•coastal erosion
•changes in rainfall patterns
•insect pests over-wintering
•increased forest fires
Climate change could have a wide range of
impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans
Will plant and animal communities be able
to adapt quickly enough to survive ? ? ?
By getting involved with PlantWatch you will:
Help scientists to
understand affects
of climate change
Be a part of history
Learn about plants
and nature
Get outside for fresh
air & exercise
Learn about science and the environment, teach others
Become more observant of the world around you
Have fun and spend time with family & friends
?
Melanie Priesnitz, NS PlantWatch Coordinator
Harriet Irving Botanical Gardens, Acadia University
[email protected]