Training MaterialsRecording Plant Observations

www.usanpn.org/participate/guidelines 2

1. Select a site

2. Select plant and animal species

3. Select individual plants

4. Mark your site and plants

5. Record your observations of animals

6. Record your observations of plants

7. Report your data online

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• Plants: repeat observations of the same individual plants

• Animals: create a checklist for your site, look and listen for all species each time you visit

Observation considerations

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• Phenophases to observe

• Frequency of observations

• Special considerations

• Site visit details

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Observation considerations

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Phenophases to observe:

Check plant profile page:

http://www.usanpn.org/species_search

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Phenophases to observe:

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Phenophases to observe:

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Red mapleRed maple-1My Back Yard2011USA-NPN fan

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Red maple

My Back Yard2011USA-NPN fan

Red maple-1

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Red maple

My Back Yard2011USA-NPN fan

Red maple-1

• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is occurring

• No (N) – if the phenophase is not occurring

• Uncertain (?) – if you are not certain whether the phenophase is occurring

• Do not record anything if you did not check for this phenophase

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What to look for and record

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What to look for and record• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is

occurring• No (N) – if the phenophase is

not occurring• Uncertain (?) – if you are not

certain whether the phenophase is occurring

• Do not record anything if you did not check for this phenophase

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What to look for and record• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is

occurring• No (N) – if the phenophase is

not occurring• Uncertain (?) – if you are not

certain whether the phenophase is occurring

• Do not record anything if you did not check for this phenophase

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What to look for and record• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is

occurring• No (N) – if the phenophase is

not occurring• Uncertain (?) – if you are not

certain whether the phenophase is occurring

• Do not record anything if you did not check for this phenophase

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What to look for and record• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is

occurring• No (N) – if the phenophase is

not occurring• Uncertain (?) – if you are not

certain whether the phenophase is occurring

• Do not record anything if you did not check for this phenophase

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What to look for and record• Yes (Y) – if the phenophase is

occurring• No (N) – if the phenophase is

not occurring• Uncertain (?) – if you are not

certain whether the phenophase is occurring

• Do not record anything if you did not check for this phenophase

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A quick example:

Red maple

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A quick example:

Red maple

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A quick example:

Red maple

>103/1/2011

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A quick example:

Red Maple

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A quick example:

Red Maple

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>103/1/2011

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>103/1/2011

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A quick example: Red maple

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>10

P

>103/1/2011

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>10

P

P

>103/1/2011

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A quick example: Red maple

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>10

>10

P

P

3/1/2011

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333333

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Cover Sheet

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4141

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• As often as possible

• At least once a week

• All observations are valuable!

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Frequency of observations

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• Convenient for you

• Consistently

• For species on Nature’s Notebook list, during the day

Time of day of observations

What if I missed a phenophase?

• Make a note of it in the comments section of your data form

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>10

2/25/2011 3/9/2011

Flowers appeared and wilted between 2/25 and 3/9

>10

5-24

5-24

• Continue to watch• Make a note of it in the comments section of your data

form

What if a phenophase isn’t occurring?

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50-74

9/25/2011 10/9/2011

No fruits produced this season

5-24

95+50-74

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Keep looking for a phenophase, even after it has ended

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Keep looking for a phenophase, even after it has ended

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Keep looking for a phenophase, even after it has ended

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