Walking along the trails near her Darlings Island, New Brunswick home on a bright April morning, Lynn Browne pauses by a favourite wild strawberry patch looking for a sign of the first flower of the season. Finding none, she continues on down the path spotting a flash of yellow as the dandelion she's had her eye on opens in first bloom. She jots down the date, light exposure and a description of the habitat before resuming her walk.
Lynn is a dedicated volunteer with PlantWatch, a citizen science ecosystem monitoring program. Before the flowers bloom, PlantWatch participants select a nearby plant they wish to observe from the list of local species that have been identified as good indicators of climate change. They monitor the plant closely to observe the date the plant first blooms and submit their findings on-line or via mail. These observations are compiled in a national database. By tracking changes in blooming dates over time, otherwise known as plant phenology, the PlantWatch coordinators can better understand the impacts of climate change on the ground across Canada.
NatureWatch
PlantWatch is part of NatureWatch, a suite of similar Internet-based citizen science monitoring programs that includes FrogWatch, WormWatch and IceWatch. These programs allow participants to participate at their own pace and chosen location, even in their own backyard. Most NatureWatchers find that it is simple to incorporate nature observation into their regular routine. While quick and easy, the monitoring protocols are scientifically rigorous and cater to beginner and expert naturalists alike. The program is coordinated by Environment Canada's Ecological Monitoring & Assessment Network (EMAN) Coordinating Office and Nature Canada in partnership with a team of amazing provincial and territorial coordinators.
An "off-shoot" of the PlantWatch program is DandelionWatch, a program designed to educate youth about the environment through hands-on monitoring. By focusing on a single, ubiquitous species, the Dandelion, the program simplifies the study of plant phenology and is accessible to both urban and rural audiences. DandelionWatch is implemented in partnership with the Ontario Science Centre.
FrogWatch volunteers listen for amphibian calls in the spring and summer. The program is designed to monitor changes in abundance and distribution of amphibians as indicators of habitat loss, climate change and other environmental stressors. Classroom-ready curriculum units have been developed around the FrogWatch program.
WormWatchers dig up the dirt on earthworm diversity to monitor changes in soil health. This fun program is geared toward youth with educational units and an on-line tour through the digestive system of the Virtual Worm.
Participants in IceWatch record the dates a nearby lake or river freezes in winter and thaws in the spring. Changes in these "ice-on" and "ice-off" dates are excellent indicators of climate change. Several communities have submitted long-term records of freeze and thaw dates, some stretching back over 100 years! This time series data is particularly valuable in understanding how local aquatic ecosystems are responding to climate change.
Fast Facts
Dandelions first appeared in Canada in the 1700's when they were used in salads and as a health remedy.
Some frogs survive conditions well below freezing; the wood frog makes its own antifreeze so that it can survive even though its heart stops beating.
Over half a million earthworms can live in one hectare of soil. Together they can eat nine tonnes of leaves, stems and dead roots a year.
Seasonal differences in the length of ice cover of lakes and rivers can alter migration patterns and breeding seasons for birds, and food supplies for fish and mammals.
Citizen scientists complement the efforts of professional scientists to track ecosystem change. Citizen scientists can act as the eyes and ears of the nation. They have the capacity to be at the right place at the right time to note key changes in their regions.
Through the NatureWatch program, over 16 000 observations have been received to date. These data are then analyzed by the EMAN Coordinating Office and partners for trends.
A recent study of the long-term IceWatch data, combined with other ice phenology data, has demonstrated that the ice is breaking up earlier all across Canada. The advance in break up dates appears to be most rapid in the North, specifically the Northwest. Similarly, an analysis of the Alberta PlantWatch records revealed that the flowering date of trembling aspen has advanced in the Edmonton area by about 26 days between 1901 and 1997. This information, crucial for understanding how our ecosystems are changing, would not have been captured save for the careful attention of NatureWatch volunteers.
So, whether you are an educator, a student, a marina operator, or a naturalist, there are many opportunities to get involved and make a difference. Visit NatureWatch to find out more, then get outside and start observing!
