Why should we care?

Phenology is an important subject to study, because it helps us understand the health of species and ecosystems. Animals and plants do not live in bubbles--every species has an impact on those in its food chain and community. The timing of one species' phenological events can be very important to the survival of another species.

If one year has an unseasonably warm winter, frogs might mistake the high temperatures as a sign of spring. Therefore, several frog species could breed much earlier in the year than expected. If a late winter storm passes through, then all of the frogs that emerged from hibernation and their offspring could die. The drop in the number of frogs will impact the predators that feed on frogs, such as raptors and snakes. The impact will be felt throughout the food chain and the entire ecosystem.

Farmers depend on insects to pollinate crops, such as blueberries, apples and squash. There is a delicate balance between the insects and the crops--the crops need to flower around the same time that the insects finish developing in adults. If the crops flower too early, then the pollinator insects could still be larvae. There could be no pollinators to make our fruits and vegetables grow!

For more information: https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Conservation/Phenology.aspx

Page created and maintained by Caitlin Roseberry