I am establishing and expanding a citizen science network for observing changes in plant phenology in response to climate change. As a first step in this long-term data collection process, a web site has been created as a central repository of data. A variety of plants have been selected to be observed based on their wide distribution in central New York, distributional sensitivity to temperature, and ecological role. A major effort is being made to recruit participants for this effort, including the distribution of mailings to cooperative extension agents, master gardeners, master foresters, and plant oriented clubs. Further, I have given a series of presentations throughout the past year in a variety of venues to advertise this effort. Participants have been given a phenology recording manual. Measurements began in the early spring of 2007 as an initial trial to test the recording procedures and system. Users are registering on the Web site and are entering their observations into an on-line database. Tools are in the process of being developed to allow participants to query this database for current information about the distribution, ecology, and phenology of each species, giving users immediate feedback about how their observations may be influencing the conclusions about the effects of climate on plant phenology and distribution.

The annual average temperatures in the northeastern US (NE) have increased 1.4°F in the last 30 years. The length of the growing season, number of days between the last frost of spring and the first frost of winter, has been increasing in an unprecedented way since 1990. Since the successful growth and reproduction of plants is tightly coupled to the length of the growing season, this change is likely to cause an enormous shift in competitive interactions among plants, and subsequently in the ranges over which various species remain successful members of the plant communities. Further, temperatures are expected to continue to rise.
Analysis of historical records (1960-2001) of lilacs from 72 sites across the NE documented an advance in first flower date of 4 days since the 1960s, an advance of 6 days for grape and 8 days for apple. Evidence exists that climate change could encourage invasive weeds, insects, or pathogens, and potentially increase extinction rates of native species that cannot migrate or disperse their seeds to new suitable habitats. Climate change could alter the synchrony of pollinators and plant bloom.

I am establishing a network of observers to take measurements of plant phenology, the seasonal biological events influenced by the environment, to produce a database of key plant events such as bud break, leaf emergence, flowering, leaf out, canopy closure, the onset of fall coloration, and leaf drop. This is beginning the process of collecting large amounts of data on plant performance in many different habitats and environmental situations, data from which the ways these changes will affect many different plant species will be projected. An initial set of 70 volunteers were recruited to make observations. The number of interested participants has now been increased to over 100.
A major effort is being made to recruit participants for this effort, including the distribution of mailings to cooperative extension agents, master gardeners, master foresters, and plant oriented clubs. Further, I have given a series of presentations throughout the past year in a variety of venues to advertise this effort. Participants have been given a phenology recording manual. Measurements began in the early spring of 2007 as an initial trial to test the recording procedures and system.

One of the most dramatic ways of increasing science literacy in this country is through direct involvement of the public in scientific data gathering. The scientific establishment has been hesitant to embrace data collections made through citizen participation because of the potential of errors in data gathered by untrained personnel. However, the power of large databases can more than compensate for errors that may be made by the non-expert. Real success in citizen science comes from the increase in awareness and ownership of the scientific process by the general populace. Through their careful observations as participants in this program, people are being made aware that the effects of global change are occurring right in their own backyard, and that these effects could greatly impact the plants and ecosystems they care about.
I am establishing a network of dedicated citizen observers of plant phenology, equivalent to the "weather spotters" network used for mete"rology, that is "eginning the long-term monitoring of a large number of plant species potentially affected by global warming. Phenology data is useful only when large numbers of observations have been made because these measures vary greatly under the influence of factors such as the age of the plant, day length, soil conditions, pests, diseases, and competition from other plants. Through this network, data is being collected that will allow the influence of these factors on plant phenology to be understood.