Nature's Notebook 2011: Data & participant summary

Jherime L. Kellermann; Theresa Crimmins; Ellen G. Denny; Carolyn A.F. Enquist; R. Lee Marsh; Alyssa H. Rosemartin; Jake F. Weltzin

USGS · 70045179

Nature's Notebook 2011: Data & participant summary

Jherime L. Kellermann·Theresa Crimmins·Ellen G. Denny·Carolyn A.F. Enquist·R. Lee Marsh·Alyssa H. Rosemartin·Jake F. Weltzin

View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Introduction The USA National Phenology Network The USA National Phenology Network (USA‐NPN; www.usanpn.org) seeks to engage a diverse range of citizen scientist volunteers, federal, state, and non‐governmental organizations, educators and professional research scientists to collect phenological observations of plants and animals using consistent standards and to contribute their observations to a national data repository. To guide this effort, the USA‐NPN National Coordinating Office (NCO), based in Tucson, Arizona, implemented an online monitoring program for plants and animals, Nature's Notebook , and has developed phenology monitoring protocols and an information management system, which includes the National Phenology Database (NPDb). We are developing a diversity of materials, tools, techniques, and protocols to assist decision making and education related to ecology, wildlife, human health, ecosystem services, natural resource management, biological conservation, and climate change adaptation.

Explore related subjects

USA-NPN Technical Series Report

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

Jherime L. Kellermann, Theresa Crimmins, Ellen G. Denny, Carolyn A.F. Enquist, R. Lee Marsh, Alyssa H. Rosemartin, Jake F. Weltzin. 2012. Nature's Notebook 2011: Data & participant summary. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70045179

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related USGS reports

USGS2013

Nature's Notebook 2012: State of the data

In 2012, 2,045 observers contributed 1,592 sites to the NPDb, encompassing all 50 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. At the close of 2012 the NPDb contained a total of over 1.6 million phenophase status records. More than half of these records were submitted in 2012. Observers submitted records on 547 species in 2012, including 371 plant species (comprised of 5,584 individual plants) and 176 animal species. Red maple ( Acer rubrum ) and American Robin ( Turdus migratorius ) were the most observed plant and animal species in 2012. Plant phenophases related to fruiting and flowering had the most records in 2012 and in all years combined, whereas animal phenophases related to feeding had the most records.

USA-NPN Technical Series↗

USGS2011

Nature's Notebook 2010: Data & participant summary

The USA National Phenology Network (USA‐NPN) seeks to engage volunteer observers to collect phenology observations of plants and animals using consistent standards and to contribute to the USANPN National Phenology Database (NPDb). The commencement of 2010 marked the second functional year of Nature’s Notebook , the online phenology observation program developed by the National Coordinating Office (NCO) of the USA‐NPN. The addition of animal species for monitoring was a major enhancement to Nature’s Notebook in 2010. In 2010, with minimal advertising or marketing, 796 new observers registered with Nature’s Notebook and 426 observers reported phenology observations on one or more plants or animals via the online interface. Over 200,000 data records were added to the NPDb. Observations were reported on 179 species of plants and 58 species of animals. The plant species most frequently observed include red maple ( Acer rubrum ), quaking aspen ( Populus tremuloides ), American beech ( Fagus grandifolia ), northern red oak ( Quercus rubra ), and flowering dogwood ( Cornus florida ). The animal species most frequently observed were American robin ( Turdus migratorius ), black‐capped chickadee ( Poecile atricapillus ), American goldfinch ( Carduelis tristis ), bumblebee ( Bombus spp.), and white‐tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ). As in 2009, participants tended to stay involved, reporting most phenophases for an average of nearly ten unique dates during the year. In addition, nearly two hundred participants who submitted observations in previous years continued to participate in 2010. This sustained participation suggests that the Nature’s Notebook interface and the status monitoring protocols inherent in Nature’s Notebook are both conducive to engaging the public and keeping them involved. Data submitted by Nature’s Notebook participants show patterns that follow latitude and elevation. Multiple years of observations now allow for year‐to‐year comparisons within and across species. As such, these data should be useful to a variety of stakeholders interested in the spatial and temporal patterns of plant and animal activity on a national scale; through time, these data should also empower scientists, resource managers, and the public in decision‐making and adapting to variable and changing climates and environments. Data submitted to Nature’s Notebook and supporting metadata are available for download at www.usanpn.org/results/data. Additionally, data visualization tools are available online at www.usanpn.org/results/visualizations.

USA-NPN Technical Series↗

USGS2010

2009 Observer Survey Report

The USA‐National Phenology Network (USA‐NPN) seeks to engage volunteer observers in collecting phenological observations of plants and animals using consistent standards and to contribute their observations to a national data repository. In March 2009, the National Coordinating Office staff implemented an online monitoring program for 213 plant species. In this pilot year of the program, 547 observers reported phenology observations on one or more plants via the online interface. To learn more about our participants and to improve our program and our participants’ experience, we undertook a survey of individuals registered in the USA‐NPN phenology observation program. This report summarizes the results of the 2009 observer surveys. Two populations were targeted via separate surveys: Individuals who registered with the USA‐NPN plant phenology monitoring program via MyNPN but did not submit any data in 2009 (hereafter termed “non‐reporting participants”), and Individuals who submitted phenology observations via MyNPN in 2009 (hereafter termed “reporting participants”). In general, all participants in the 2009 USA‐NPN plant phenology observation program seemed to have a generally good experience. When asked why they would or would not recommend the program to friends, the majority of comments were of a positive nature, and included explanations such as, “It is an interesting and fairly light duty activity”, “It’s a cool program!”, and “A way to contribute to science”. The most commonly indicated reason for not submitting observations among non‐reporters was getting lost in the registration process (14% of respondents). Another 14% of respondents indicated that they had collected observations but did not submit them online, indicating that more people may be engaged in understanding phenology than our estimates based on data submitted suggest. Survey participants’ suggestions for improving the program fell into several categories, including the need for a more expansive list of plants from which to pick, the ability to monitor animals, and more information on the plants, including photographs of the various phenophases to aid in identification. Participants also requested increased contact from the USA‐NPN, in the form of weekly or monthly emails or newsletters and reminders to collect and submit observations. Many of these suggestions are either already being addressed in changes being made to the monitoring system and online entry system or are planned for the future.

USA-NPN Technical Series↗