Strategy For Pilot Phenology Monitoring Project In The Northeastern United States

March 31, 2009

Strategy for pilot phenology monitoring project in the northeastern United States

Purpose  Several organizations in the northeastern United States are at various stages of developing and implementing programs to monitor the phenology of plants and animals. o These organizations include, but are not limited to: the National Park Service (NPS) Northeast Temperate Inventory and Monitoring Network (NETN), Appalachian National Scenic Trail (APPA), Acadia National Park (ACAD), Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC), Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), The Wildlife Society (TWS), and USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN).

 The goal of these monitoring efforts is to use phenology monitoring to help meet the organizations’ research, management, and education needs.

 By collaborating, we can create consistent protocols and provide a template for similar coordinated monitoring efforts in other regions.

Goals and desired outcomes

 Long-term

o Implement phenology observations at national parks and along the Appalachian Trail, which will provide a template for monitoring phenology in other parks— NPS and others—throughout the United States.

o Develop methods to train staff and volunteers in monitoring techniques.

o Develop methods to manage data, including collection, storage, and quality control.

o Educate NPS staff, park visitors, and the broader public.

o Collect data to determine long-term trends in phenology of selected species.

o Determine correlations between phenological observations and climate data.

 2009

o Find the appropriate fit for phenology monitoring and use of phenology data within NETN parks.

o Adapt and standardize existing NETN, AMC, and USA-NPN protocols for monitoring plant and animal phenology. March 31, 2009

o Identify and monitor the phenology of target species in small pilot programs at key locations.

o Train NPS staff and others on phenology monitoring techniques.

Approach  Discuss and agree on strategy for program.

 Jointly prepare plan for implementing phenology monitoring in NETN parks.

o Identify best fit for phenology monitoring in relation to current park activities.

. Possibilities include: inventory and monitoring, research and learning centers, friends-type groups, etc.

o Identify target audience(s), species, and locations.

o Identify target methods. Two possibilities include:

. Provide material at key interpretive sites and day-hiking trails, asking volunteers to monitor easy-to-observe phenological events.

. Have at least one training session to train volunteers to make observations, and/or to train park staff to assist volunteers who are making observations.

o Determine how best to collect, store, and evaluate quality of data.

 Jointly edit current monitoring guidelines for monitoring plant and animal phenology.

 NETN parks (e.g., APPA and ACAD) implement small pilot programs with support from AMC, TWS, and USA-NPN staff.

 Jointly evaluate the ability of the project to meet its goals and identify ways to improve the protocols and implementation.

o Evaluation may involve interviews, questionnaires, and data analysis.

o Evaluation should assess the following:

. Appropriate fit of phenology monitoring with park activities.

. Quality of the monitoring protocols.

. Ease and effectiveness of communicating protocols to volunteers.

. Ability of volunteers to make the observations and submit their data. March 31, 2009

. Interest of volunteers in the project.

. Quality and potential uses of the data.

. Education value of phenology monitoring.

o Evaluation should also include recommendations for improving the program in the future and implementing it at other parks. Recommendations should include:

. Who might coordinate phenology monitoring within a park

. Time and budget requirements

. Preferred methods for monitoring

. Communicating with volunteers

. Potential for interactions among monitoring, research, management, and education activities

o Aim to have evaluation complete by December 2009.

 Plan for broader implementation of training and monitoring in 2010.

Products for 2009  Draft justification statement for phenology monitoring protocols following Oakley et al. (2003) guidelines

o Responsible parties: USA-NPN and TWS staff, with assistance from NETN and AMC staff

 Draft field methods standard operating procedures for phenology protocols following Oakley et al. (2003) guidelines

o Responsible parties: NETN staff, with assistance from AMC, TWS, and USA- NPN staff

 Evaluation of pilot program

o Responsible parties: NETN, APPA, ACAD, AMC, ATC, TWS, and USA-NPN staff jointly

Primary Contacts:

- Bruce Connery, Biologist, ACAD

- Theresa Crimmins, Network Liaison, USA-NPN March 31, 2009

- Ellen Denny, IT Coordinator, USA-NPN

- Fred Dieffenbach, Environmental Monitoring Coordinator, APPA

- David Manski, Chief, Division of Resource Management, ACAD

- Abe Miller-Rushing, Wildlife Phenology Program Coordinator, USA-NPN and TWS

- Brian Mitchell, Coordinator, NETN

- Roger Moore, Professor, North Carolina State University and ATC

- Georgia Murray, Scientist, AMC

- Geri Tierney, Researcher, SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry

- Doug Weihrauch, Botanist, AMC