Spring Budburst Study

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Spring Budburst Study

• A Research project
• Model Secondary School for the Deaf
• Indiana School for the Deaf
• Spring 2007

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Phenology

• The study of the seasonal timing of life cycle
  events
• Observe changes in plants and animals
• In our study native tree species
• Determine the dates when critical events in the
  plants annual growth cycle occur.
• In our study bud burst
• Watch a Terra satellite movie.

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Leaf buds
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Bud Burst Phenology

• Budburst is an example of a phenological cycle.
• The buds pop open at about the same time each
  year.
• Assumes that the climate is similar year to year.
• Past MSSD research - poster display for 2002

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Background - Why study Budburst?

• The timing of budburst is influenced by
  temperature and/or moisture.
• The data will help researchers understand
  climate change
• Analysis of satellite data indicates change in
  the growing season in some regions - getting
  longer.
• Could indicate that the planet is warming
• We need ground-based data of specific species to
  know things that cannot be seen from space.

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Climate Change

• Seasons have been very stable for past 500
  years.
• Natural variations The climate has been warmer
  colder in the past history of the Earth. Warm
  winters cold winters are natural.
• Why is the atmosphere changing now? Because of
  human activity?
• Phenological studies help us understand what is
  happening.

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Our research questions

• On what date will bud burst happen in 2007 in DC?
  Will it be the same in Indiana?
• How does 2007 compare with 2002?
• What controls budburst in DC moisture or
  temperature? Same in Indiana?

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Procedure I

• Students will observe when budburst occurs on
  selected trees in Washington D.C Indiana

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Procedure - cont.

• Select and mark a branch on the south side of the
  tree. (use a compass)
• Find the Genus species of the tree.
• Describe the tree (circumference height )
• Start at least 2 weeks before you expect
  budburst - What date for MSSD?
• Visit the tree daily observe the buds

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What controls budburst?

• The trees do not read the calendar!
• Trees respond to the local environmental
• Budburst occurs when the trees sense certain
  temperature or moisture conditions
• Which controls budburst in Washington, D.C.?

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Scientists learn from student measurments

• Scientist can use our observations of budburst
  along with our temperature and precipitation data
• Map annual dates of budburst across the
  continents
• Establish the weather patterns that control
  phenology in your area and across the world.
• Better understand how global vegetation responds
  to interannual climate variability

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Moisture or Temperature?

• Many plants in different areas of the world
  require a set amount of warming to initiate
  growth and minimize their risk of frost damage.
• Growing degree summation (GDS) is a common
  measure of warming used by scientists.

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Growing Degree Summation

• You need the maximum and minimum temperature data
  for your school from January first (if you live
  in the northern hemisphere)
• or July first (if you live in the southern
  hemisphere) up to and including the date of
  budburst.

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Moisture Availability

• Comparing the input of water to the surface with
  the amount of water that could leave the surface.
• If input gt output then its a moist environment
• If input lt output, then its a drought

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Moisture Availability

• Input precipitation (both solid and liquid)
• Outputs evaporation and transpiration.
• Transpiration is the process of water loss from
  plants while they absorb CO2 for photosynthesis.
• (Specific calculations later)

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Procedure II

• We will record atmospheric conditions every day.
  GLOBE Atmosphere protocols.
• Temperature, rainfall, snowfall, cloud cover,
  cloud type
• Starting now!!

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Homework

• Read about climate change.
• Outline the information in the handout.
• http//www.naturescalendar.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/783
  21DC5-E689-4578-9321-24F19F27F917/0/climatechange.
  pdf