Understory vs. Overstory: Tremont Community Science Data in Action

Written by Tyler Thomas, Manager of Science Literacy and Research at Tremont

One of Tremont’s long-term community science projects focuses on phenology, the study of the timing of the annual life cycles of living things. The timing of these events can be influenced by environmental factors such as temperature and rainfall, so phenology is an important way to observe the impacts of climate change. At Tremont, volunteers monitor designated phenology plots to track the annual life cycles of trees, wildflowers, and migratory songbirds.

Tremont’s observations are submitted to the National Phenology Network, which collects and organizes data that is freely available to researchers to use to advance science and inform management decisions. We are excited to share that the NPN recently informed Tremont that some of our observations were used in a publication: Distinct latitudinal patterns of shifting spring phenology across the Appalachian Trail Corridor by Jordon C. Tourville, Georgia L. D. Murray, and Sarah J. Nelson.

Researchers have observed that plants are blooming and leafing out earlier in the spring – something we’re seeing at Tremont, too. This study asked whether understory plants, like spring wildflowers, are keeping pace with surrounding trees. The study results contain some good news: understory plants are advancing their timing at about twice the rate of trees, giving them more time to grow before the forest canopy shades them out. Check out NPN’s summary for more details.

A huge shout-out to Erin Canter, former Manager of Science Literacy and Research, as her efforts to add wildflower observations to Tremont’s phenology plots likely contributed to the publication. Additionally, we are grateful to Mac Post for all his leadership with this project, as well as our incredible phenology volunteers who collect data throughout the year. 

If you are interested in joining Tremont’s phenology team, please fill out a volunteer application and send an email to [email protected].