Best Practices for Phenological Research

 By Richard B. Primack

 

“I have lived some thirty years on this planet, and have yet to hear the first syllable of valuable or even earnest advice from my seniors. They have told me nothing, and probably cannot tell me anything to the purpose.” Henry David Thoreau in Walden.

 

The study of phenology, the seasonal timing of recurring life history events, is increasingly used to investigate the effects of climate change and other environmental changes on species and ecosystems. The field of phenology is rapidly expanding as new sources of data become available, such as digitized museum specimens, citizen science networks, historical data sets, and long-term weather records.

Figure 1. Japan has a wealth of historical and modern records of the timing of the cherry blossom festival.

We recently wrote a paper that aims to help researchers, especially those new to the field of phenology, understand what’s needed for effective phenological studies. We present ten best practices that can help researchers overcome common challenges and advance the study of phenology through better planning, data collection, analyses, and interpretation. These practices are appropriate whether researchers use existing data, collect new data, or combine new and past data. 

Figure 2. Changes in population size can have a strong effect on when the first migratory or flowering individual is detected in the spring.

Best practices:

1.     Ensure clear and consistent data collection protocols. 

2.     Be aware of data quality and biases. 

3.     Match data precision and duration to the question or application. 

4.     Utilize citizen science data and programs to maximize research benefits. 

5.     Avoid errors when combining or comparing disparate data sets. 

6.     Account for long-term changes in the study species. 

7.     Account for external factors that affect the study system. 

8.     Use statistics and models appropriate for the data and questions. 

9.     Ensure appropriate data are available when studying phenological mismatches. 

10.  Base new phenological theories on more comprehensive evidence. 

 

Here is a link to the full article: LINK