Phenology and Environmental Change: Challenges and Opportunities

1. Phenology and Environmental Change: Challenges and Opportunities The High Plains Initiative for Integrated Phenology University of Nebraska http://csce.unl.edu/phenology/ Contact: P. Stephen Baenziger, pbaenziger1@unl.edu 402-472-1538 Supported by a Cluster Grant from the Office of Research, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Vice Chancellor Prem S. Paul

2. Background: Phenology studies the seasonal timing of different developmental stages and the life cycles of plants and animals. Understanding the processes that impact these developmental stages and forecasting phenological stages are important to growers, food processors, crop insurance and seed companies, the commodities markets, and those who enjoy the aesthetics of plants. Similarly, climate change modeling and satellite-based forecasting systems need basic phenology networks and models to interpret their spectral data, especially the “greenness” or photosynthetic response to the environment.

3. Background: In Nebraska and the High Plains region, a phenology network and the resulting models are needed to: 1) simulate alternative crop adaptation and rotations, 2) better target genotypes with value added quality traits to the landscape, 3) improve irrigation water management, 4) design new decision support systems for integrated pest management and organic agroecosystems, forecast insect and plant disease outbreaks, and 5) provide the cyberinfrastructure that can lead to information fusion for complex ecosystems and societies.

4. Background: Lilac Kharkov Wheat

5. Background:

6. NRPN: location of replicated yield trials and regional production zones. North central plains Northwest plains Northern plains Northern high plains Northwest plains unassigned Data on Kharkov Since 1935

7. SRPN: location of replicated yield trials and regional production zones. North central plains Central plains Northern high plains Southern high plains Southern plains Intermountain unassigned Data on Kharkov Since 1935

8. Phenology and Environmental Change: Challenges and Opportunities • Our audience includes biologists (ecologists, crop specialists), geologists/geographers, those involved in remote sensing, modelers, and computer scientists. • Our program was developed to bring in five speakers who are specialists in phenology, climate change, land cover, computer sciences, and data mining. • We want to have ample time for discussions and have provided some discussion questions for your use.

9. Phenology and Environmental Change: Challenges and Opportunities • Develop a common understanding of phenology and how it might be related to the environment and climate change. • Consider what types of databases and information can be used to understand phenology as an environmental indicator and for decision making. Can agricultural (crop) databases be used? • How can we coordinate the databases with computer technology to begin “mining” our data and to model ecosystems?

10. Phenology and Environmental Change: Challenges and Opportunities • How should the Nebraska efforts augment, supplement, and collaborate with the national efforts? • What would be a signature program in this area? • We intend to write a report of this meeting so we can have a citable summary of our activities. The report will also be web accessible through our website: http://csce.unl.edu/phenology/ • Should we consider having a workshop again next year?

11. Phenology and Environmental Change: Challenges and Opportunities Welcome Thank you for your Participation!