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Phenology is defined as a branch of science dealing with the relations between climate and periodic biological phenomena. Stated another way, phenology is the study of the response of living organisms to seasonal and climatic changes to the environment in which they live. Seasonal changes include variations in the duration of sunlight, precipitation, temperature and other life-controlling factors.
Blooming wildflowers, migrating birds, spawning fish, flashing fireflies, thunderstorms, falling leaves, harvest moons, rutting deer, frozen ponds, birth and death are all part of the cycles of life that we experience each year. Keeping track of cyclical events like these from year to year and how they relate to the weather patterns is in a large part what phenology is all about.
Following are examples of the response to seasons by plants and animals that are frequently tracked by people interested in phenology:
- Plant budding and floral blooms in the Spring, Summer and Fall.
- Spring and Fall migration patterns of some bird and mammal species.
- Denning and emergence dates of hibernating animals.
- Appearance of fireflies, mosquitoes and other insects.
- Fruiting & harvest dates of various cultivated plant species & associated insect pests.
Cyclic events such as these are tracked for specific plants and animals from year to year so that comparisons and trends can be analyzed. Observations are generally made the same site and sometimes from the same individual plant or animal. Obviously, the need for accurate record keeping of phenological data.
Data from the same site can be studied from year to year for seasonal comparisons and the role that varying temperature, moisture, sunlight, etc. plays on plant and animal phenology. Phenological observations can also be shared among other phenologists during the same year from multiple locations across the continent. This allows us to watch the progression of migrations (in the case of birds) or the "green wave" of growth (in the case of plants) as each makes its way from South to North each Spring and back again in the Fall.
People of various age, occupation and interests will find different aspects of phenology to be of value for their specific needs. Studying and tracking phenological events can be both an entertaining and educational activity for young and old alike. Phenology software like the Life Cycles program makes this a simple and educational process.
