Phenology

Definition

Phenology is the study of periodic biological events in organisms as they relate to climate and seasonal changes. It examines how plant and animal life cycles are affected by environmental variations.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Phenological events include flowering, migration, breeding, and leaf-out timing.
2. Climate change has caused shifts in phenological events, leading to mismatches in ecological interactions.
3. Long-term phenological data are critical for understanding the impacts of global warming on ecosystems.
4. Phenology can serve as an indicator of climate change effects on biodiversity and ecosystem health.
5. Citizen science projects often contribute valuable data to phenological studies.

Review Questions

• What types of biological events does phenology study?
• How has climate change impacted phenological events?
• Why is long-term phenological data important for studying global warming?

Related terms

Ecotone: A transition area between two biomes where two communities meet and integrate.

Biogeography:

The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time.

Trophic Mismatch: Occurs when the timing of food availability does not align with the timing of consumer demand due to shifts in phenology.