Nature's Altered Seasons

Early cherry blossoms and flower blooms and record high temperatures nationwide highlight a phenomenon everyone already seems to know, but science has confirmed -- spring is coming earlier in the year almost everywhere. During this lecture, Dr. Jake Weltzin gives an overview of the USGS sponsored USA National Phenology Network, a national effort to help track the timing of plant and animal activity as an indicator of environmental variation and climate change. This unique project engages both professional and "citizen" scientists to document life cycles of nature. This presentation describes results of some of the research to date and explains how anyone can participate as a “citizen scientist,” tracking plants and animals in their own backyard!