Transcript The Urban Tree Phenology

www.UrbanTreePhenology.org
A special project of Project BudBurst
and Urban Forestry South
© 2007-2009 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, All Rights Reserved
Urban Tree Phenology
Urban Tree Phenology (UTP) connects
• urban forest professionals
• arborists
• and the general public
with the scientific research community
through direct observations of urban tree
phenophases.
© 2007-2009 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, All Rights Reserved
Urban Tree Phenology
Phenology is the study of life cycles events
of plants and animals initiated and driven by
environmental factors.
Phenophases are the observable stages in
the annual life cycle of a plant or animal
(Examples include First leaf, First flower, First ripe fruit,
Leaf color, Leaf senescence)
© 2007-2009 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, All Rights Reserved
Urban Tree Phenology
The purpose of Urban Tree Phenology is
develop a better understanding of plant
responses in our changing environments.
Changing environments may be caused by
climate change, land development, the urban
heat island effect, and management
practices.
© 2007-2009 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, All Rights Reserved
Why Urban Tree Phenology?
1. Climate Change
Tree phenophases are directly affected by changes in temperature,
precipitation patterns and the length of day
2. Urban Tree Management
Accurate recordkeeping and observations
can support more effective urban forest management
3. Public Health
Long-term UTP can provide data to study the effectiveness of urban
forests to better manage tree relationships with human health issues
(e.g., allergies, asthma, and skin cancer)
4. Urban Heat Island Research
UTP can provide data to support research
Into urban heat islands, climate change, and ???
Photographs courtesy of NCAR, EPA, and Wikimedia.
© 2007-2009 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, All Rights Reserved
Example Phenophases
First Needles
Ponderosa Pine
First Leaf
Tulip poplar
First Flower
Red Maple
50% Leaf Fall
American Elm
All Leaves Unfolded
Blackgum
Photographs courtesy of Adam A. Agosta, Mary S. Bowen and G. Suanne Bacque,
Louisiana State University AgCenter; Dr. Paul Alaback, University of Montana; Chris Evens
and Richard Webb, Bugwood.org; Steve Baskauf, Vanderbilt University
First Ripe Fruit
Southern live oak
Full Flower
Eastern serviceberry
© 2007-2009 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, All Rights Reserved
Example UTP Species
Southern live oak
Bald cypress
Red maple
Willow oak
Chinese elm
Photographs courtesy of David K. Northington and Sally and Andy
Wasowski, Lady Bird Wildflower Center; Wikipedia; © 2005 Louis-M.
Landry; G. Suanne Bacque, Louisiana State University AgCenter
Eastern whitepine
Tulip poplar
© 2007-2009 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, All Rights Reserved
Helpful Materials
Phenophase
Field Guide
UTP Site
Description
Checklist
Global Positioning
System (GPS)
UTP Guide
Camera or
camera-enabled
smart-phone
© 2007-2009 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, All Rights Reserved
Overview of Phenological Investigation
Preparation for Observations
Select tree species
Identify optimal site & individual trees
Register online
Make Field Observations
Record date of phenophase
Take photographs
Submit
Observations
Online
© 2007-2009 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, All Rights Reserved
Urban Tree Phenology
Join us in collecting important climate change and
tree management data on the timing of leafing and
flowering of urban trees in your area through the
Urban Tree Phenology. This national field campaign
targets native tree species and their cultivars
across the country.
www.UrbanTreePhenology.org
Presentation created by Karl C. Clarke, UCAR.
Slide background photographs courtesy of Sally and Andy
Wasowski, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
and Dr. Paul Alaback, University of Montana.
© 2007-2009 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, All Rights Reserved