Citizen science and expert opinion working together to understand the impacts of climate change

What is it about?

Jacaranda mimosifolia has been the most frequently observed species by ClimateWatch citizen scientists in Australia since 2009. Thus, it was chosen in this study to test expert opinion and the adequacy of citizen science records in detecting the influence of climatic conditions on this species’ flowering phenology. Phenology is the study of recurrent biological events in nature and how these relate to seasonal and interannual variations in climate. We developed models to describe the climate drivers for Jacaranda mimosifolia flowering in the southern hemisphere and identify where climatic changes will most likely alter this tree’s phenology in Australia, and benefit or challenge its reproductive ability.

Featured Image

Photo by Some Tale on Unsplash

Photo by Some Tale on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The effect of climate change on phenology has implications for the natural world. Species interactions, ecosystem functioning, and individual species survival can all be impacted. Mismatches in the phenological events of co-dependent species such as predators and prey, pollinators and plants, can cause disruption in food webs and the supply of food and natural resources. Climate change impacts on phenology can also have implications for human well-being and culture. Warming temperatures can change the timing of flowering and the amount of pollen in the air, altering allergenic pollen season. Phenological shifts can also impact agricultural production and the timing of flower festivals which attract high numbers of tourists. As such, changes in the timing of phenological events are important to monitor to detect detrimental effects of climate change on human and natural systems.

Perspectives