What is Phenology?

Phenology refers to "the science of appearance". In the simplest terms, phenology is the study that measures the timing of life cycle events in all living things. Life cycle events are also known as phenophases. In plants, this includes first leaf, budburst, first flower, last flower, first ripe fruit, seed dispersal, and leaf color change, among others. In animals, the phenophases include mating, offspring production, molting, hibernation, and migration, among others.

Plants and animals have life cycle events that seemingly occur like clockwork every year:

• Frogs and salamanders breed and their offspring go through metamorphosis.
• Flowers bloom.
• Male ungulates (deer, elk, pronghorns, etc.) grow antlers to begin the rut and breeding season.
• Birds migrate back and forth between their breeding grounds and their wintering grounds.
• The leaves of deciduous trees change color and fall off.
• Some mammals, such as bears, groundhogs and ground-squirrels, hibernate through the winter.
• Butterflies go through metamorphosis.

Phenological observations have been used for centuries to maximize crop production, prepare for seasonal allergies, and anticipate optimal wildflower viewing conditions. Today, this well established science is used to track the effect of global warming and climate change on organisms and to make predictions about the future health of the environment.

For more information: https://www.windows2universe.org/earth/climate/what_is_phenology.html

Page created and maintained by Caitlin Roseberry