Transcript Title of Presentation - USA National Phenology Network

How to use Nature’s Notebook
Workshop, Region 3
March 6, 2015
Erin Posthumus
Liaison to USFWS, Outreach Associate
LoriAnne Barnett
Education Coordinator
Outline
• Phenology and resource management
• USA-NPN protocols and data information system
• Steps for getting started with Nature’s Notebook
• Nature’s Notebook on the NWRS
“Phenology, in short, is a ‘horizontal science’
which transects all ordinary biological
professions.
Whoever sees the land as a whole is likely to
have an interest in it.”
Aldo Leopold
• Early spring species blooming even earlier
• Walleye spawning earlier
• Short-distance migrant birds arriving earlier
What are
some other
changes you
have noticed?
Photo: natures pics, Wikimedia commons
Phenological Changes in the Midwest
Phenology Informs Resource Management
• Changes in phenology are recognized as some of the most
sensitive biological responses to climate change
• Phenology information is a crucial component of the resource
management toolbox
• Abundance and distribution of species
• Functioning of ecosystems (e.g. carbon cycling)
• Ecosystem services (e.g. pollination)
Enquist et al. 2014 Int J Biometeorol
Phenology Informs Resource Management
Photos: Brian F. Powell
• Timing of emergence, migration, blooming, and more
• Consequences of trophic mismatch
• Spread of invasive species
Phenology Informs Resource Management
• Timing of emergence, migration, blooming, and more
• Consequences of trophic mismatch
• Spread of invasive species
Phenological synchrony and
overlap of ruby-throated
hummingbird and flowering
of 9 plant species
Kellermann et al 2014, Phenological Synchrony and Bird Migration
Phenology and Climate Change
Research, spring timing and range
A three-way mismatch
EARLIER
English Oak
EARLIER
Winter Moth
SAME TIME EACH
YEAR
Pied Flycatcher
Both et al. 2006 Nature
Phenology Informs Resource Management
• Timing of emergence, migration, blooming, and more
• Consequences of trophic mismatch
• Spread of invasive species
Chapman et al 2014, Global Change Biology
Phenology monitoring on the NWRS
• Phenology data collected and stored, but not often used
• Different protocols used throughout the Refuge system
• Data collected infrequently, on a small scale due to staff
constraints
USA-NPN – A National Phenology
Framework
• Colocated data for multiple taxa and phenophases using nationally
standardized protocols
• Georeferenced observation stations on and off Refuges landscape-level context
• Documentation through standards of practice
• Data terms of use policy
• Long-term program fosters collaboration with other organizations
Management goals/
science questions
Data collected
through other
method
Data collected
through Nature’s
Notebook
National Phenology
Database
Reports,
publications, other
deliverables
Management
decisions
Outreach and
engagement
Types of Phenology Data Collected
• Status monitoring (presence and absence of phenology stages)
Activity
Reproduction
Event
Status
Status &
Abundance
Day of year
Development
Types of Phenology Data Collected
• Status monitoring (presence and absence of phenology stages)
• For birds, mammals, fish, insects, reptiles & amphibians:
– Species presence and abundance measurements
– Multiple life cycle stages (eggs, young individuals, adults)
– Reproductive activity
– Feeding activity
• For wildflowers & forbs, deciduous frees & shrubs, evergreen
trees & shrubs, grasses, sedges & rushes:
– Leafing (leaf buds, full leaves, colored leaves)
– Flowering (flower buds, open flowers, pollen release)
– Fruiting (fruits and ripe fruits, fruit drop)
– Intensity measurements
Types of data collected through USA-NPN
USA-NPN green wave campaign
Types of data collected through USA-NPN
Audubon Starr Ranch
Types of data collected through USA-NPN
Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge
Outline
• Phenology and resource management
• USA-NPN protocols and data information system
• Steps for getting started with Nature’s Notebook
• Nature’s Notebook on the NWRS
USA-NPN
Primary goals
• Observe phenological events
• Understand how plants, animals
& landscapes respond to climate
change.
• Create a standardized dataset
for use in multiple types of
research.
Mission
• Make phenology data, models
and related information available
to scientists, resource managers
and the public.
• Encourage people of all ages
and backgrounds to observe and
record phenology.
A NATIONAL NETWORK OF
INTEGRATED
PHENOLOGICAL
OBSERVATIONS ACROSS
SPACE AND TIME.
Ground-based, multi-taxa, national-scale
observing system
• Organism-based
- status (presence/absence)
- abundance or intensity
• Standard protocols
- vetted & published
- 1000+ species (plant + animal)
• 8 data pubs to date
Denny et al., Intl J Biomet 2014
www.usanpn.org/natures_notebook
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~4,500 active observers
~7,000 active sites
4.6M+ records
Lilac data from 1956
Many taxa from 2009
Other groups in the area using Nature’s
Notebook
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Minnesota Phenology Network – www.usanpn.org/mnpn
Schaeffer Prairie Preserve
Pipestone National Monument
St. Olaf College
Belwin Outdoor Science
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
Data infrastructure
• Vetted protocols for over 1000 species
ANIMAL
Activity
Reproduction
 Active
individuals
 Feeding
 Male combat
 Mating
PLANT
Leaves
 Young leaves
 Leaves
 Colored
leaves
Development
 Young
individuals
 Dead
individuals
Method
 Individuals
at a
feeding
station
PHENOPHASES
Flowers
 Flowers or
flower buds
 Open
flowers
Fruits
 Ripe fruits
 Recent
seed or
fruit drop
…How
Many?
Leaves
Fruits
red maple
Photo: Ellen G Denny
Flowers
Open flowers : 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.
For Cornus florida, ignore the four large, white bracts and watch for
the opening of the small flowers in the center of the bracts.
Photo: Derek Ramsey via Wikimedia
Commons
Do you see…open flowers?
Do you see…..Flowers or Flower Buds?
Less than 3
3 to 10
11 to 100
101 to 1000
1001 to 10,000
Select the most appropriate bin
Write the bin on the line
More than 10,000
What percentage of all fresh flowers are open?
Less than 5%
5% - 24%
Select the most appropriate bin
Write the bin on the line
25% - 49%
50% - 74%
75% - 94%
95% or more
Reproduction
Method
common loon
Photo: P199, Wikimedia Commons
Activity
Breaking leaf
buds
Leaves
Increasing leaf size
Colored leaves
Flowers or Flower Buds
Open Flowers
Fruits
Ripe Fruits
Recent fruit or
seed drop
DECIDUOUS PLANT PHENOPHASES
Breaking leaf
buds
Leaves
Increasing leaf size
Colored leaves
Flowers or Flower Buds
Open Flowers
Fruits
Ripe Fruits
Recent fruit or
seed drop
DECIDUOUS PLANT PHENOPHASES
Data infrastructure
• Online interface and mobile applications
Enter Observations Online
Data infrastructure
• Tools for Bulk Data Upload, Data Download, and Visualization
Data infrastructure
• Tools for Bulk Data Upload, Data Download, and Visualization
Data infrastructure
• Tools for Bulk Data Upload, Data Download, and Visualization
Coming Fall 2015
Quality Assurance/Control
Available at
www.usanpn.org/pubs/reports
Quality Assurance
• Training materials, including USGS Technology Enabled
Learning Course (coming Spring 2015)
Quality Assurance
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Species identification information
Species-specific phenophase definitions
Animal survey method and time spent reported
Phenology calendars allow users to visualize their data
Quality Control
NPDb Quality Control Measures
Timeline
 Correction of implausible latitude, longitude,
Phase 1
and elevation
 Flag conflicting status records
Available
 Flag species out of range
Phase 2  Flag intensity values that do not advance in
the expected progression
Fall 2016
 Plausibility assessment of phenophase
activity based on prior records
Phase 3
 Flag phenophases out of order, for a limited
set of species in temperate climates
Fall 2018
Outline
• Phenology and resource management
• USA-NPN protocols and data information system
• Steps for getting started with Nature’s Notebook
• Nature’s Notebook on the NWRS
How to get started with Nature’s Notebook
1. Register with Nature’s Notebook
2. Join the USFWS group, your Region and Refuge
3. Develop a plan for monitoring
• What are your management goals?
• What will you monitor?
• Who will collect data?
• How often will you collect data?
4. Create a site or sites for your Refuge
5. Add animals and plants to monitor
6. Train staff and volunteers
Observation Deck
Nature’s Notebook Group functionality
• All staff, volunteers can
contribute data to sites at a
Refuge
• Data are tagged with Refuge,
Region, and USFWS
Allows you to:
• Download data for your Refuge
• Compare data to other
Refuges
• Compare data from Refuges to
sites across the country
Nature’s Notebook Group functionality
• Administrators set up sites, add plants and animals, edit sites and
species
Nature’s Notebook Group functionality
• Administrators set up sites, add plants and animals, edit sites and
species
Nature’s Notebook Group functionality
• Administrators manage users and their data
Nature’s Notebook Group functionality
• Administrators and Data Entry technicians can enter and edit
others’ data
Summary of Our Resources
• Vetted protocols
• Data infrastructure
• Training on data collection, entry
• Nature’s Notebook webinar series
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Data download and visualization
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Incentives for volunteers
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Curricula for schools
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Collaboration with other organizations to
leverage area resources
Outline
• Phenology and resource management
• USA-NPN protocols and data information system
• Steps for getting started with Nature’s Notebook
• Nature’s Notebook on the NWRS
Tetlin NWR
• Phenology data
collected since 2010
• Data collected by
Refuge staff
• Data collected on 31
species of birds,
mammals, amphibians,
insects, and plants
Don Edwards SF Bay NWR
• Phenology data
collected since 2010
• Data collected by staff
and visitors
• Data collected on eight
native California plant
species
• Focus on outreach and
improving public’s
understanding of
climate change
Canaan Valley NWR
• Data collection will
begin February 2015
• Data will be collected
by Refuge volunteers
• Data will be collected
on a suite of plant
species at southern
end of range,
compared to other
parts of range
Valle de Oro NWR
• Phenology data collected
since 2013
• Data collected by volunteers
• Data collected on native and
invasive trees, 15 focal bird
species
• Data used to meet
management goals
• Focus on outreach and
community involvement
Photo credit: LA Barnett
Valle de Oro NWR - Pilot Refuge
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Established in 2012
South valley of Albuquerque, NM
First urban wildlife refuge in Southwest
Restoration activities along Rio Grande
Community engagement
Photo credit: LA Barnett
Valle de Oro Management Objectives
• Document the change in species richness and abundance of
animals in response to restoration efforts
• Understand shifts in phenology of animals and plants
• Manage invasive species
Valle de Oro Outreach Objectives
• Provide a unique long-term environmental education and
recreation opportunity
• Fulfill the goals of America’s Great Outdoors initiative – reconnect
people of all ages to the natural world
Phenology Monitoring Implementation
Jun
2013
Photo credit: LoriAnne
Barnett
• Valle de Oro NWR selected as pilot Refuge
• Refuge Manager, Jennifer Owen-White, hired
Implementation Plan:
• Ecosystem approach to monitoring
• List of focal species
• Steps to implementing monitoring
• Outreach and education activities
Jun
2013
Aug
2013
Volunteers recruited and
trained:
• Master Naturalists
• Master Gardeners
• Friends of Valle de Oro
• Local schools
Jun
2013
Aug
2013
Oct
2013
Focal species
added:
• Weekly monitoring
by volunteers
• Modifications to
sampling design
• Field testing of
smartphone apps
Volunteer effort saves
Valle de Oro over $500
per month in
data collection alone
(https://www.independentsector.org/volu
nteer_time)
Jun
2013
Aug
2013
Oct
2013
Dec
2013
Rio Grande Phenology Trail
• Valle de Oro NWR
• ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden
• Santa Fe Botanic Gardens
• Whitfield Wildlife Conservation
Area
Jun
2013
Aug
2013
Oct
2013
Dec
2013
Jun
2014
Rio Grande Phenology Trail
• Valle de Oro NWR
• ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden
• Santa Fe Botanic Gardens
• Whitfield Wildlife Conservation
Area
Jun
2013
Aug
2013
Oct
2013
Dec
2013
Jun
2014
Rio Grande Phenology Trail
All sites currently monitor:
• Rio Grande cottonwood
• Siberian elm
Jun
2013
Aug
2013
Oct
2013
Dec
2013
Jun
2014
• Modifications
made to
sampling design
based on initial
year of
monitoring
Jun
2013
Aug
2013
Oct
2013
Dec
2013
Jun
2014
Nov
2014
Preliminary Findings
• Invasive Siberian elm leafs out and fruits earlier than
native Rio Grande cottonwood
→ Time restoration activities to avoid peak seed dispersal
Preliminary Findings
→ Document changes in phenology, species richness and abundance
→ Inform Visitor Services
Documentation and Resources
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Phenology Monitoring Implementation Plan
Project Summary and Recommendations Document
SOP for Phenology Trails Implementation (coming soon)
SOP for Phenology Data Summary and Reports (coming soon)
Outreach materials including:
• Fact sheets on focal
species/vegetation types
• Kiosk templates
• Curricula for engaging
school groups in phenology
www.usanpn.org/fws/VdO
Recommendations from VdO Pilot
• Monitoring Design:
– Match sampling design with available volunteer effort
– Ask local stakeholders about area species of interest
– Be prepared to change design after a trial period
Recommendations from VdO Pilot
• Monitoring Design
• Volunteer Training and Support:
– Identify a volunteer coordinator to manage scheduling, etc.
– Organized volunteer training and field trip to field sites
– Volunteers ideally need 8 hours of training over 2 days
Recommendations from VdO Pilot
• Monitoring Design
• Volunteer Training and Support
• Volunteer Management:
– Designate a staff person or volunteer coordinator in charge
– Use online options for scheduling
– OR have volunteers commit to a regular time
Recommendations from VdO Pilot
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Monitoring Design
Volunteer Training and Support
Volunteer Management
Volunteer Data Quality:
– Even when volunteers have training, may need to check data
– Use Nature’s Notebook functionality for data editing
Recommendations from VdO Pilot
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Monitoring Design
Volunteer Training and Support
Volunteer Management
Volunteer Data Quality
Maintaining Volunteer Motivations:
– Commit to a schedule for soliciting feedback from volunteers
– Share the results of data collection back with volunteers
– Host local check-ins to encourage camaraderie and feedback
– Leverage other organizations in Phenology Trail for volunteer
support
www.usanpn.org/fws/VdO
Connect with USA-NPN…
• Sign up for our FWS enewsletter
• Sign up for our Local
Phenology Leaders
listserv
• Discover new tools and
resources
USA-NPN and USFWS
Partnership Team:
Erin Posthumus
NPN USFWS Liaison
[email protected]
520-622-0363
LoriAnne Barnett
NPN Education Coordinator
[email protected]
www.facebook.com/USANPN
www.pinterest.com/USANPN
www.twitter.com/@loriannebarnett
Jana Newman
USFWS I&M Chief
[email protected]