Amphibian and Plant Phenology at Vernal Pools (VPPP)
Contact: Mary Beth Kolozsvary (Siena College), Jennifer Purrenhage and Dave Steinberg (University of New Hampshire), Thilina Surasinghe (Bridgewater State University); Project E-mail: eren.vppp@gmail.com
Project Status: Pilot Phase (2022-2023). Accepting new participants for the Spring 2023 field season.
Description: Vernal Pool Phenology Project (VPPP): Phenological asynchrony of vernal pool-breeding amphibians and woody plants
Climate change has led to changes in phenology for a range of plants and animals. Phenological changes do not necessarily happen at the same rate, magnitude, or in the same direction for co-occurring species. Mismatches in phenology can disrupt important species relationships, resulting in potential disturbances to biological communities. An excellent example is the potential mismatch in early-spring phenology of pond-breeding amphibians, such as wood frogs and spotted salamanders, and the woody plants surrounding their breeding pools. The geographic and landscape drivers of phenology–particularly with respect to pond-breeding amphibians and woody plants surrounding forest ponds–is not well understood. Moreover, spatial asynchrony in phenology is expected to manifest within a single species, and we aim to leverage the power of the EREN network to gather phenology data across a large geographic region. In the Vernal Pool Phenology Project, participants monitor phenology of amphibians and trees at small, forested ponds across time to identify potential shifts and emerging asynchronies in the timing of important life history events.
Want to learn more? Visit their website: https://erenweb.org/active-projects/vppp/.