Rockweed Phenology
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What is Phenology Monitoring?
Your day-to-day observations of nature can contribute to citizen science! Plant and animal life stages that occur in an annual cycle, in rhythm with the changing seasons, are called phenophases. Phenology is the study of the timing of these changes. Scientists have found that phenological changes are some of the most sensitive indicators of local effects of global climate change. Monitoring these changes can provide knowledge of how species respond to climate change and can help predict future changes to better prepare ourselves and our environment for the changing climate.
The challenge is that long-term data on phenophases can take a lot of time and effort to collect. In fact, it is nearly impossible to gather many types of phenology data without the help of citizen scientists - so the work you do is very important!
Rockweed, or knotted rack, is an especially important species to monitor. Observing rockweed throughout its seasonal reproductive cycle can provide a lot of information about water quality conditions during the rockweed’s life. CRV works with Maine Sea Grant's Coastal Signs of the Seasons program to equip volunteers to contribute important data about seasonal changes in rockweed throughout the spring and summer.
What do rockweed phenology monitors do?
Join our rockweed phenology monitoring efforts!
The spring/summer 2018 rockweed monitoring season has wrapped up. Sign up for our monthly email newsletter to learn about upcoming trainings in spring 2019, and contact Wells if you'd like to learn how to be involved!
Links, resources, and partner organizations
You can read all about the rockweed phenology program conducted by our partners at Maine Sea Grant, and learn more about nationwide citizen science phenology monitoring by browsing the National Phenology Network website. Finally, check out this article about rockweed monitoring on the Gundalow Company blog, written by one of our own Coastal Research Volunteers.
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